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Dallas Stars Daily Links: The Story Behind Stars Assistant GM Mark Janko

Posted on by Tyler Mair

Given the recent chaos that was the NHL Trade Deadline, many Dallas Stars fans have been focused on Stars’ General Manager Jim Nill. But often when it comes to an NHL team’s front office, we tend to forget that the GM isn’t the only person there.

Saad Yousuf of The Athletic recently put together an interesting story about the life of Mark Janko, one of the Stars’ Assistant GMs. Unlike many NHL executives, Janko wasn’t a former player or coach. In fact, he never even played ice hockey; his background is in public relations:

“I just fell in love with it,” Janko said. “I fell in love with public relations, I fell in love with the National Hockey League and I was just eager. I was a sponge that was soaking in as much as I could.”

After moving to Dallas in 1999, Janko worked for approximately nine years in the Stars’ public relations department. Over that time he befriended Les Jackson, who eventually gave him the opportunity of a lifetime in 2008.

Jackson approached Janko about coming up to the hockey operations side of the business. Jackson wanted another pair of eyes on the hockey side and groomed Janko into that role.

Jackson approached Janko about coming up to the hockey operations side of the business. Jackson wanted another pair of eyes on the hockey side and groomed Janko into that role.

“I always felt that Les saw things in me that maybe I didn’t see,” Janko said. “When he was the general manager, he wanted to reward me and he saw a hard-working kid that cared passionately about the organization and doing the right things, so he pulled me up to hockey operations.”

You can read more behind the paywall: [The Athletic]

Stars Stories

This is all I’m going to say about last night:

If you’re like me, you probably still haven’t gotten over the Mats Zuccarello injury. So here’s your chance to relive the “good ol’ days”:

Mike Heika and Daryl Reaugh discuss the trade deadline, the Stars’ playoff chances, and more in their latest podcast:

Central Census

The St. Louis Blues now have a realistic shot at second in the division, thanks to a 2-0 win over the Nashville Predators last night. [On the Forecheck]

Elsewhere, the Minnesota Wild leapfrogged the Stars with a 3-2 win over the struggling Winnipeg Jets. [Hockey Wilderness]

Only one point away from spamming the Draft Lottery Simulator…

Here’s your occasional reminder that Miro Heiskanen and Rasmus Dahlin aren’t the only NHL rookie defensemen (though they are the best):

The ESPN crew was, umm, a little harsh towards the Dallas Stars:

Disclaimer: the following video does not represent the views of all New York Islanders fans. Or at least that’s what they want you to think…

Finally…

Just remember, everyone, if you’re ever feeling down about the Stars, just remember that it could be worse. They could be the Ottawa Senators:

Talking Points