Official word has come down this morning confirming the news that Dave Tippett has been fired by the Dallas Stars, with Marc Crawford hired as his replacement.

We'll have much, much more on this later. You can read my analysis on why Dave Tippett was fired here.

My first gut punch thoughts are that this is a desperate move by a G.M. to change things up, and not necessarily the right move to improve the team.

Follow the jump for the full press release from the Dallas Stars:

FRISCO, Tex. - Dallas Stars General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk announced today that the club has hired Marc Crawford as the 20th head coach in franchise history, and relieved Dave Tippett of his head coaching duties.

The Dallas Stars will hold a press conference on Thursday to formally introduce Crawford as Head Coach. It will take place at 2 pm (Central Time) at American Airlines Center, in the interview room directly across from the Stars' dressing room. Media may park in Lot F (north side of arena) and enter through the main Administration Doors on that side of the building. Both Nieuwendyk and Crawford will be at the press conference.

Crawford, 48, is the 16th winningest coach in NHL history with 470 career victories, and has also coached the 15th most games in league history at 987, over 13 seasons with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings. He has posted a 43-40 all-time mark in Stanley Cup Playoff games, including the 1996 Stanley Cup championship with Colorado, as well as five division titles and six seasons of 40-or-more wins. Crawford remains the youngest recipient of the Jack Adams Trophy as NHL Coach of the Year (1995 with Quebec, at the age of 34).

"I am very excited that we have been able to secure Marc Crawford as head coach of the Dallas Stars," Nieuwendyk said. "Marc is a winner with extensive experience in this league, and I am confident he will get the most out of our hockey club. I look forward to working with him as we prepare for the 2009-10 season and beyond. Dave Tippett did a very good job in his six seasons here with the Stars, however it was my feeling that our team needed a new direction moving forward."

Crawford remains the all-time winningest coach in Vancouver Canucks history with 246 wins over seven seasons from 1999-2006. The Canucks made the playoffs in four of his last five seasons as head coach. Crawford began his NHL coaching career with Quebec in 1994 and, after the Nordiques relocated to Denver in 1996, became the third-youngest coach in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup.

The native of Belleville, Ont., served as the head coach for Team Canada at the 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan, finishing first in its pool and advancing to the semifinals before losing to the eventual champions, Czech Republic. Crawford spent three seasons as the head coach of St. John's in the American Hockey League from 1991-94, where he won the 1993 Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as AHL Coach of the Year, and two campaigns with the Cornwall Royals of the Ontario Hockey League from 1989-91.

Prior to beginning his coaching career, Crawford was selected in the fourth round (No. 70 overall) of the 1980 Entry Draft by Vancouver, and skated in 176 career NHL games, all with the Canucks, recording 19 goals and 31 assists for 50 points. He made his NHL debut with Vancouver during the 1981-82 season, which he split between the Canucks and the Dallas Black Hawks of the Central Hockey League.

"I'm very excited and honored to have been selected as head coach of the Dallas Stars," said Crawford. "This is a winning organization and I look forward to building upon the success that it has earned over the years. This club has a great deal of potential, and I'm eager to get to work in restoring the franchise to among the league's elite."

Tippett, 47, posted a record of 271-162-59 in six seasons (2002-2009) as head coach of the Stars. He led the club to two division titles (2002-03 and 2005-06), playoff appearances in five of his six seasons, including five straight from 2002-03 through 2007-08, and the Western Conference Finals in 2008.

Tippett was hired as the 19th head coach in franchise history on May 21, 2002 from the Los Angeles Kings, where he had spent the previous three seasons as an assistant coach. He had previously served as general manager/head coach of the Houston Aeros in the International Hockey League, leading the club to the 1999 Turner Cup championship.

Additionally, Mark Lamb was relieved of his duties after six seasons as an assistant coach with the club. The remainder of the coaching staff will continue to be evaluated.

CRAWFORD'S CAREER COACHING RECORD

REGULAR SEASON PLAYOFFS
Season Club League Gms W L T/OL Gms W L
1989-90 Cornwall OHL 66 24 38 4 6 2 4
1990-91 Cornwall OHL 66 23 42 1 - - -
1991-92 St. John's AHL 80 39 29 12 16 11 5
1992-93# St. John's AHL 80 41 26 13 9 4 5
1993-94 St. John's AHL 80 45 23 12 11 6 5
1994-95^ Quebec NHL 48 30 13 5 6 2 4
1995-96* Colorado NHL 82 47 25 10 22 16 6
1996-97 Colorado NHL 82 49 24 9 17 10 7
1997-98 Colorado NHL 82 39 26 17 7 3 4
1998-99 Vancouver NHL 37 8 23 6 - - -
1999-00 Vancouver NHL 82 30 29 23 - - -
2000-01 Vancouver NHL 82 36 28 18 4 0 4
2001-02 Vancouver NHL 82 42 30 10 6 2 4
2002-03 Vancouver NHL 82 45 23 14 14 7 7
2003-04 Vancouver NHL 82 43 24 15 7 3 4
2005-06 Vancouver NHL 82 42 32 8 - - -
2006-07 Los Angeles NHL 82 27 41 14 - - -
2007-08 Los Angeles NHL 82 32 43 7 - - -

NHL TOTALS 987 470 361 156 83 43 40

# Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award winner (AHL Coach of the Year)

^ Jack Adams Award winner (NHL Coach of the Year)

* Stanley Cup champions