Dallas Stars Daily Links: Jim Lites The Right Man To Lead Business Side Of Stars

Mac Engel isn't what you'd call a regular at Dallas Stars media availability. Heck, I'm not all that sure he even showed up to Tom Gaglardi's introductory press conference last week.

But he is one of the bigwigs among DFW area columnists, and he chimed in on a fairly interesting topic in Stars-land on Tuesday - the re-hiring of Jim Lites as president.

Say whatever you want about this man, but he deeply cares about this sport and this franchise in this market. He's 58, has plenty of money, and really doesn't need the work. This is a legacy decision.

So the story is all rolling along nicely with some pretty solid quotes from Lites and generally good points about how the Stars were alienating some fans all the way back to the move to the American Airlines Center.

And then, well, there's this.

Check that, Jim. They have to win in the playoffs, something this team hasn't seen three years running.

If this team doesn't make the playoffs this spring, GM Joe Nieuwendyk should be fired. And I like Joe. A lot.

Now Mac, I will defend you on many things. But a team with the lowest payroll in the NHL this year and a very low payroll the year before who finished in ninth place and one stinking win out of playoff spot does not a terrible GM make. I get the point he's trying to make - the city responds to winners and that's the ultimate job of a GM. But Nieuwendyk has been hamstrung by his budget over the past few seasons and still done a relatively solid job. He deserves a chance to show what he can do with a little more freedom.

After the jump, a quiet news day in Stars world, Razor takes on Rayzor and Jordin Tootoo does his best vampire impersonation.