Dallas Stars Daily Links: Star Search — Head Coach Edition

When you’re looking for a new employee as crucial as a head coach, you will do well to take your time – or so the Dallas Stars believe.

GM Jim Nill says that other NHL coach searches won’t affect the Stars’ timeline, no matter how fast the Calgary Flames, New York Rangers, or any other hypothetical team chooses to move. The Dallas Morning News’ Mike Heika took a look at the search status last night:

“We’re aware of the environment and we understand the situation, but we also want to be thorough and take our time,” Nill said. “I think the process will be good for us to better understand the candidates, but to also look at ourselves and see where we are as an organization.”

Heika hypothesizes a preliminary list that includes recently fired Rangers coach Alain Vigneault, former Stars bench bosses Dave Tippett and Glen Gulutzan, and former Vancouver Canucks head coach Willie Desjardins,

...Nill said last week he wants to study every level of coaching experience, and reiterated that he will cast a wide net in interviewing candidates -- and that those candidates need not have previous NHL coaching experience. That means he could look at coaches from the AHL, from colleges, and from the ranks of NHL assistants.

Among those candidates could be Toronto Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe, Grand Rapids Griffins coach Todd Nelson, Manitoba Moose coach Pascal Vincent, University of Denver coach Jim Montgomery, or St. Louis Blues associate coach Craig Berube.

“Some of the people we would like to talk to are still in the playoffs, so we’ll have to be patient there,” Nill said

So does Vigneault get a second chance to jilt Dallas, as he did in 2013 before the Lindy Ruff hire? What of Whiteboard Willie, who led the Texas Stars to the 2014 Calder Cup and was many fans’ choice to take the reins in Big D? Or do you favor Keefe, Montgomery, or another newcomer?

Mike has more. [SportsDayDFW]

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More Stars

You could make the case that the player who struggled most with the shortcomings of Hitch Hockey was Jason Spezza. Will Speznasty’s trademark creativity bloom anew under a new coach – and help carry him through difficulties brought on by injury and aging?

Not every big moment is glorious. Brenden Morrow and Marty Turco help tell the story of one the most unfortunate third jerseys ever in a Lost Defining Moment. #HailMooterus

Around the League(s)

#Murder In the Mountains

• The Nashville Predators and the Colorado Avalanche are making a show of it, but the Perds still took Game 4 with a 3-2 win in Pepsi Center. The Avs have one more chance to fight back on Saturday – a Nashville win in Bridgestone Arena will end the series.

The Pittsburgh Penguins took a three-game advantage by blanking the Philadelphia Flyers 5-0, and an ugly series got merely depressing.

Sidney Crosby should be happy – he set a new Pens playoffs points record (173), surpassing the 172 previously held by Mario Lemieux. [NHL]

Not even the legendary Patrick Warburton could bring enough mojo to get the New Jersey Devils past the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Bolts won Game 4 with a 3-1 score and could punch their ticket on Saturday.

The San Jose Sharks took the Battle of California, delivering the coup de grâce unto the Anaheim Ducks with a 2-1 victory at home in Game 4.

The Sharks will now meet their fellow first-round sweepers, the Vegas Golden Knights, in the second round. TWO TEAMS ENTER, ONE TEAM LEAVES....

And you only thought of him as a scary, supervillain-esque destroyer of men. Patrik Laine shows his civic pride, talks about how Call of Duty helps him stay close to his friends, and asks why anyone wouldn’t want to live with their Mom in this tribute to his new home.

Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey has joined the playoffs’ ever-growing suspension list. He’ll sit one game for an uncalled cross-check on Minnesota Wild center Eric Staal that cost the Wild the match on Tuesday, according to head coach Bruce Boudreau.

And elsewhere, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals are fighting even more playoffs fatigue than normal – the first three games of their series have gone to extra minutes. [NHL]

The NHL has started rolling out the nominees for 2018 postseason awards. Say hello to Patrice Bergeron, Sean Couturier, and Anze Kopitar, your Selke Trophy finalists.

Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park (and Beautiful Boise)

The 2018 Calder Cup playoffs begin today for the Texas Stars, and no one is more ready than starting goalie Mike McKenna.

Captain Curtis McKenzie, the T-Stars’ goals leader for the season, has grown into his new role in a big way. Here he discusses the job ahead:

Meanwhile, Ringo the Ringtail is still perfecting his playoffs chops.

But the news isn’t great for the Idaho Steelheads, who lost Game 3 in North Texas last night and are in danger of being swept by the dominant Allen Americans. They will play at least one more game in Allen Event Center on Friday, April 20.

Finally

Did you know that you – yes, you – can enjoy a ridiculous hockey superstition in your own everyday life? Hockey Night in Canada shows you how. Enjoy.