The Dallas Stars' reinvention under Glen Gulutzan begins with brute force
The Dallas Stars hired Glen Gulutzan this summer with one mission in mind, to push the franchise over the playoff hump and he has a very specific way of doing that.
In his early interviews, Gulutzan has been clear about what he wants to change, focusing less on tactics and more on mindset. For him, the Stars need to treat the regular season as preparation for the grind of playoff hockey.
Gulutzan has called the postseason «hand-to-hand combat» and says Dallas must add physicality gradually, raising the intensity «1 degree through 82 games.»
His background makes that message hit differently. As an Edmonton assistant, he saw first-hand how Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl transformed from regular-season stars into more physical two-way threats during deep playoff runs.
General manager Jim Nill has backed this philosophy by re-signing Radek Faksa and adding Nathan Bastian, players valued for toughness over goals.
The plan mirrors how the Florida Panthers reinvented themselves into a hard-nosed champion, but Gulutzan insists this isn't just about running opponents through the boards.
How Gulutzan defines toughness for the Dallas Stars' top players
When asked by D Magazine what «toughness» really means, Gulutzan explained:
«It's not just hitting. It's the heavy corners, holding pucks, finishing checks. It's about making those things habits.»
That means star forwards like Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, and Mikko Rantanen can't simply pile up points in the regular season.
Gulutzan wants them to embrace the grind shift by shift, so there's no sudden «playoff switch» when April arrives.
«No coach is going to make a team 25 percent better,» he said. «But 1 percent better each game adds up.»
Personally, I think this approach makes sense for Dallas. The Stars don't need to overhaul their identity, but they do need their elite players to set the tone physically when games tighten.
That's what will determine if this season ends differently than the past three springs.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 23 | 21 ANSWERS The Dallas Stars' reinvention under Glen Gulutzan begins with brute force Do you think Glen Gulutzan's focus on physicality will finally get the Dallas Stars over the playoff hump? | ||
| Yes | 15 | 71.4 % |
| No | 6 | 28.6 % |
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