As Lindy Ruff gathers his belongings to end a disappointing final season in Dallas, it's unlikely Stars brass will prolong any sort of going away party.
That's not out of disrespect to Ruff, who won't have his contract extended for a return next season, the club announced Sunday. Instead, general manager Jim Nill has already made it clear he's not after a rebuild, rather a quick fix for a talented core one season removed from winning the Central Division.
Nill will spend his summer looking for a new personality behind the bench, but perhaps an unemployed familiar face can fit the bill.
Ken Hitchcock learned first hand this season that sometimes a new coach is needed to galvanize a team, as he was let go by the St. Louis Blues in February in favor of Mike Yeo, who got the club back on track after a prolonged slump.
Hitchcock, who owns the fourth most coaching wins in league history, commanded the Stars for seven seasons, and led the franchise to its only Stanley Cup in 1999, then a second final a year later. He may need to be convinced, as he was set on retiring after this season at 65 years old, but there's no way a midseason firing is how he imagined things would end.
Dallas only managed 79 points this season, a result of putrid defense, goaltending, and special teams. The Stars managed the 30th-ranked penalty kill (73.9 percent), the second most goals allowed (260), and the worst team save percentage (89.35 percent) in all situations.
Now, Hitchcock can't stop the puck - neither can Kari Lehtonen or Antti Niemi, apparently - but his notoriously demanding coaching style could surely aid the Stars in terms of tightening up as a unit, especially when it comes to special teams.
A quick fix as Nill demands likely rules out the possibility of a new coach, and when it comes to experienced bosses in the open market, Hitchcock is definitely toward the top of the list. Former Panthers coach Gerard Gallant is available, but Las Vegas needs a coach, too.
Whether Hitchock wants to return to the game remains to be seen, but a core of forwards featuring Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin seems highly enticing from the outside looking in. Not to mention, quality, young blue-liners Esa Lindell, John Klingberg, and Julius Honka in the fold.
The framework for a contending team in Dallas is in place, the Stars just need someone to lead the renovation, and Hitchcock could be exactly that.
