GM Joe's last rites; a stinking Red Wing to be hired

[The Frugal Gourmet]

lol. While I get what you are saying, no we did not only lose Zubov.

Actually, it's amazing how one or two great guys can have an immense effect on the team. The Stars were about a 10th seed before Zubov and Nieuwendyk and then all of a sudden they were the best team in the NHL. We were a conference finalist, and then a couple of defensive guys gone and we were not even a playoff team.

It's probably theoretically possible for us to scrape into the playoffs with this core and a little more. But I think if we can find some way to get our hands on an impact player, this thing could turn around over night.

[mookie1010]

We lost Zubov and then later lost Hagman. We were fucked.

[ScubaSteve]

Alright, I am on board with this guy. Dan asked what he though of Jamie Benn and he shrugged and said "eh, he's not a bad player."

A ringing meh.

[Troy McClure]

Alright, I am on board with this guy. Dan asked what he though of Jamie Benn and he shrugged and said "eh, he's not a bad player."

A ringing meh.

He's been watching Yzerman, Shanahan, Larionov, Fedorov, Hull, Datsyuk, and Zetterberg. His bar for special is higher than ours.

[The Frugal Gourmet]

It is good to know. The Sharks realizing the Marleau should probably be their second line guy was the key to moving into a perennial playoff spot.

[Troy McClure]

Actually, now that I've heard it, the Benn point wasn't as negative or indifferent as you inferred. Benn's name came up when he was talking about great players like Zetterberg drafted late. He pointed to Robitaille and then noted Benn who is not a bad player.

[ScubaSteve]

I choose to take "not a bad player" as a meh.

[wonko80]

According to Todd, "not a bad player" is the same as "elite player" if he's good at teamwork.

[Troy McClure]

I took it more as the somewhat joking way people use "he's not bad" to answer questions about guys they like. He certainly didn't go raving about Benn or anyone. Dillon was the only name I think I heard come up during the whole Nill press conference. Benn's was the only one to come up during Nill's interview, but it wasn't like he was going out of his way to talk about Benn.

All we heard today was lots of generic talk about direction.

[ScubaSteve]

He seemed very direct. I like the "I'm here to win, and I'm GOING to win" attitude. Time will tell if he's blowing smoke or not, but I like the attitude.

[Stars2099]

I'm pro hockey stache

[The Frugal Gourmet]

My favorite part of the interview was when he was all: "Jamie Benn is the elite player we are going to build this franchise around... the next Mike Modano, if you will".

[SaintAngerBH]

I took it more as the somewhat joking way people use "he's not bad" to answer questions about guys they like. He certainly didn't go raving about Benn or anyone. Dillon was the only name I think I heard come up during the whole Nill press conference. Benn's was the only one to come up during Nill's interview, but it wasn't like he was going out of his way to talk about Benn.

All we heard today was lots of generic talk about direction.

Good. They need to stop touting Jamie Benn as the next Wayne Gretzky and move his ass back to wing already.

[FrozenFailure]

My favorite part of the interview was when he was all: "Jamie Benn is the elite player we are going to build this franchise around... the next Mike Modano, if you will".

He is the next Modano. That means we're going to get him a perennial Selke calibre winger and a 700 goal HHOF winger with hockey IQ off the charts. Oh. Wait, we have Eriksson. And we had Michael Ryder. Crap.

Actually this is a good first step. Not pumping Benn's tires too much.

[CycloneGU]

My favorite part of the interview was when he was all: "Jamie Benn is the elite player we are going to build this franchise around... the next Mike Modano, if you will".

I say Benn gets traded this summer.

Cyclone

[The Frugal Gourmet]

And whom will we get back for Jamie Benn?

[FrozenFailure]

And whom will we get back for Jamie Benn?

Brad Richards.

[The Frugal Gourmet]

FIRE NILL!!!

[Jason]

On if he thinks the Stars are weak at center

Jim Nill “It is a weakness and we need to address that. I always laugh that in Detroit we lost Nick Lidstrom and (Brian) Rafalski and people want to know who is going to fill the void. Well, you don’t go down to Kmart and the blue light special doesn’t come on and you say, I’ll grab that defenseman and that defenseman. It doesn’t work that way. We’re going to have to draft and develop. There may be a trade we have to make, but they do need some centermen here. That’s one of the weaknesses here. You build your team center, defense and net. The defense is good here, the goaltending is fine and now we just need to fill a couple holes up top.”

[Eskimo Spy]

The defense is good here?!?!?!

[ScubaSteve]

The Cowboys defensive line, I think he meant. Apparently it's a position of strength.

[Jason]

The defense is good here?!?!?!

He's probably including the defenseman prospects to, which the Stars have several which are very good.
At the center position it's terrible.

[CycloneGU]

The defense is good here?!?!?!

See what Jason said. The prospects are clearly talented. Centers are still a weakness.

Cyclone

[ScubaSteve]

Are we declaring Faksa a bust already?

[CycloneGU]

And whom will we get back for Jamie Benn?

Brad Richards.

Deal.

[The Frugal Gourmet]

Actually, those are pretty astute observations from someone who so far has probably only had about 5 minutes to look at this roster.

He'll eventually come to realize that the only decent goaltender is injured all the time and the defense could use a bonafide big game player.

[Jason]

Are we declaring Faksa a bust already?

Faksa is not a bust, but there are legit questions about his offense. If Faksa's offense isn't good enough he'll be a useful third line center at least. From what I've read Faksa sounds like Michal Handzus, with the potential to have a better offense. Second round pick Devin Shore is much more talented offensively. That's about it in terms of centers.

[The Frugal Gourmet]

Also, Nill actually has no clue about any of this. I bet the average fan knows more about the Stars right now than he does. He just got the job and hasn't cared a lick about the organization until now.

Get used to vague platitudes for the next few months.

[BigAl]

Is there a way to send him an invite to register here, so he'll have some reliable input on how to run a franchise?

[The Frugal Gourmet]

Is there a way to send him an invite to register here, so he'll have some reliable input on how to run a franchise?

Mmmm... bad idea at this point. Would be like staring into the sun. The sheer magnitude of hockey brilliance would quickly overwhelm the uninitiated.