Dallas Stars, Les Jackson Agree To Two-Year Contract Extension

Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News reported earlier this morning that the Dallas Stars and Les Jackson, director of scouting and player development, have agreed to terms on a new two year contract that will keep him as Joe Nieuwendyk's "right hand man" through the summer of 2013.

Jackson has been with the team in some capacity for 23 years. He was assistant general manager with the Stars when the team first came to Texas and acted as assistant general manager in Atlanta when the Thrashers had just entered the league, but eventually returned to Dallas.

Everyone is of course familiar with Jackson's stint as Co-GM of the Dallas Stars along side Brett Hull from 2007-2009 when the two famously made the trade for Brad Richards and signed Sean Avery to a four year contract. What's interesting about this extension, as Mr. Heika points out, is that it was Jackson's first opportunity to leave the Stars since being demoted and being replaced by Joe Nieuwendyk.

Instead he has chosen to stay and is part of the Dallas Stars family. Any residual resentment stemming from those events several years ago has either dissipated or was never there in the first place.

Jackson told the Morning News "Honestly, I just feel this is my family and this is where I belong. I've been a part of what we're building here for a long time and I want to be a part of what we're building long into the future. I believe in the Dallas Stars, and this is where I feel at home.''

Please check out Heika's blog on the Dallas Morning News site for more quotes from Les Jackson and Joe Nieuwendyk on the agreement.

The Stars have been steadily building exciting things through the draft for us to talk about and Les Jackson has been at the center of all of it. This is good news for the fan base, as long term stability is key for the health of any franchise. Nieuwendyk and Jackson appear to work well together and have good things coming to Dallas through the system.