Glen Gulutzan's new philosophy could finally push the Dallas Stars past their playoff wall
Photo credit: Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Stars hired Glen Gulutzan this summer with one goal in mind: turn a perennial contender into a Stanley Cup winner. For the past three years, Dallas has fallen just short, bowing out in the Western Conference Final. Gulutzan believes the way to change that outcome isn't through sweeping tactical changes, but through a new mindset.
In his first interviews as head coach, he's been blunt about what the Stars must do differently. He calls the postseason «hand-to-hand combat» and insists Dallas needs to build toward that style of play all season long. His vision is to raise the team's intensity gradually - as he put it, «1 degree through 82 games.»
That perspective comes from experience. While serving as an assistant in Edmonton, Gulutzan witnessed how Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl evolved into more physical, two-way players during playoff runs. Now he's asking the Stars' core to follow the same path.
How Gulutzan defines toughness for Dallas Stars stars like Robertson, Hintz, and Rantanen
Gulutzan clarified what he means by «toughness» in an interview with D Magazine:
«It's not just hitting. It's the heavy corners, holding pucks, finishing checks. It's about making those things habits.»
To support that philosophy, general manager Jim Nill re-signed Radek Faksa and brought in Nathan Bastian, players who add grit and reliability over pure scoring. The plan mirrors the approach of the Florida Panthers, who transformed themselves into a hard-nosed champion. But Gulutzan insists it's not about reckless hitting - it's about building a mentality shift across the lineup.
That means stars like Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, and Mikko Rantanen must embrace more of the grind instead of relying solely on offense. Gulutzan explained it best:
«No coach is going to make a team 25 percent better. But 1 percent better each game adds up.»
Personally, I think this approach makes perfect sense. Dallas doesn't need to abandon its skill-based identity, but if the top players commit to physical habits during the regular season, they won't be caught off guard when playoff intensity arrives.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 3 | 19 ANSWERS Glen Gulutzan's new philosophy could finally push the Dallas Stars past their playoff wall Do you think Glen Gulutzan's focus on toughness will finally get the Dallas Stars past the Western Conference Final? | ||
| Yes | 15 | 78.9 % |
| No | 4 | 21.1 % |
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