It was April 2013, and things looked bleak for Texas hockey. The Dallas Stars were closing out yet another failed season that ended without a postseason berth, making it five straight seasons without playoff hockey in Dallas.
The team just couldn’t seem to get it together. And when things aren’t working, it’s not the players on the ice that take the heat; it’s the front office and coaching staff.
And take the heat they did. Within hours of the Stars closing out their season with a 3-0 loss at home to the Detroit Red Wings, GM Joe Nieuwendyk was relieved of command.