Dallas Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan joins Neil Smith and Vic Morren for comprehensive discussion on unique rehire 13 years after being fired by Jim Nill, Vegas Wranglers ECHL days with midnight games for shift change workers and rowdy 1:30am fans, coaching evolution from chief cook and bottle washer in ECHL to managing massive NHL staffs, seven years in Edmonton building NHL-record 32.4% power play with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Calgary years with Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk filling gap working with younger stars, exploiting Dallas weaknesses in playoffs now helping him fix them as head coach, two great power play units creating internal competition with Neil Graham running it, needing one degree more grit and physicality like Florida's blueprint, Panthers playing playoff hockey from October never changing for postseason, and Hudson Bay Saskatchewan vs La Paw Manitoba birth confusion. Plus working with legends like Tortorella, Hitchcock, Tippett, and why 82-game preparation matters for game 83.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[00:00] - Welcome: NHL Wraparound training camps opening week
[01:00] - Summer coolers: blanket coverage throughout NHL continuing
[02:00] - Dallas Stars: last three springs well positioned, something went wrong
[03:00] - Glen Gulutzan: looking to change narrative spring 2026
[04:00] - Probably main reason: change in Dallas, couldn't push over goal line
[05:00] - Taking over 106-point team: been to Final Four three years in row
[06:00] - Don't usually get that: usually rebuild, especially for guy like myself
[07:00] - First time Dallas: Texas Stars AHL coach, brought up
[08:00] - Made management change: second year, led to leaving Dallas
[09:00] - Conversations with Jim Nill: still same guy you fired few years ago
[10:00] - Walked into same room: fired in when came to interview
[11:00] - Dawn on me: walking into that room, situation little different
[12:00] - 13 years ago 2013: only worked with Jim
[13:00] - Joe Nieuwendyk GM hired me: Joe here, when Joe let go
[14:00] - Jim came in: about three weeks Jim Nill and I met before let me go
[15:00] - Contract was up: month left, either gonna resign or let go
[16:00] - Talked three weeks: players and team, young coach back then
[17:00] - Tuesday after long weekend: hey I'm gonna let you go
[18:00] - Bring in somebody else: at that time right decision
[19:00] - Just young coach: needed little bit more experience
[20:00] - Don't know that back then: certainly happened
[21:00] - Little rapport with Jim: 13 years later see each other Dallas
[22:00] - I was in Edmonton: opened his door bring me back
[23:00] - Little surreal: come back my old office, few chuckles
[24:00] - Reminders from previous stay: everything looked same
[25:00] - Most striking: development camp on, Dennis Suart second equipment guy
[26:00] - Now head guy: Jason Bradman head team ops, great relationship
[27:00] - Mark Janko, Scott White: assistant GMs, rapport with them
[28:00] - Scott White GM in Texas: real good rapport
[29:00] - Poke head in development camp: Jordie Benn had in Texas rookie
[30:00] - Verne Fiddler: alumni, had Verne here
[31:00] - American League staff: Max Fortunus, Travis Morin assistants
[32:00] - Had both guys Texas: Toby Petersen, had him here Dallas
[33:00] - Surrounded by guys: been around, players coached, moved into coaching
[34:00] - Felt very comfortable: all these people around, at some point coach
[35:00] - Four head coaches: Neil, could have seen rehiring somebody let go?
[36:00] - Think so: especially if hired young guy
[37:00] - Problem in my time: got hired 35 GM Rangers
[38:00] - Everybody hire: older than me, Roger Neilson Hall of Fame
[39:00] - Got me through first few years: wouldn't...
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