I am working on a story for the official site and talked with Stars owner Tom Gaglardi this afternoon. Here are a few quotes from Gaglardi about what’s been going on with the team recently.
On the team’s offseason moves
“It’s amazing how much has changed in a short period of time. All of a sudden we went from being shallow in the center position to having real depth. That was a huge weakness of ours and I am really excited. It’s what we needed. We lost some good players though. We paid a price to get it done, but I really think our team has improved. To get a young guy like Tyler Seguin, it’s not very often that a franchise gets the opportunity to add a guy of that caliber. You don’t see those types of guys traded very often. The price was large, we had to give up Loui Eriksson and three good prospects, but it’s what we needed to do and had to do. I am thrilled that Jim (Nill) got those deals done.”
On adding two young players like Tyler Seguin and Valeri Nichushkin, the first round draft pick
“We got two players that are likely elite. Those guys are hard to find. We’ve got great prospects and great depth, but to add what Nichushkin could potentially be and we already know what Tyler Seguin is and what he can be having played three years in the league, that’s what is so exciting about it. We’ve gotten so much better. We added (Shawn) Horcoff and (Rich) Peverley to beef up our center position to go along with Vern Fiddler and Cody Eakin. Then we’ve added these two young pieces, especially when you draft a guy that has a solid chance to make your team in Nichushkin, and that’s even more exciting. … We’ve addressed a bunch of our needs. Sergei Gonchar on defense. That makes our defense that much deeper and better. I think that’s a big difference maker for us as well. It’s been a dynamic makeover.”
On Valeri Nichushkin, whom he had a chance to meet at the draft
“I really liked him. If I not had been able to spend an hour with him – we spent well over an hour with him – I don’t think the comfort level would have been there. That was a really prudent thing to do. I am glad we did that. It gave me a real comfort with the kid. Although he doesn’t speak English, he did speak and he was convincing about his commitment to the National Hockey League and that he wanted to live in North America. He wasn’t concerned about anything other than wanting to play in North America. He’s confident and he’s got amazing ability. I just got a really good feeling for him. We left that meeting and our staff were even more comfortable if that opportunity came to us. I have to tell you the consensus was that that was a great meeting, but there is no way he falls below five, so if we want that kid we are going to have to trade up for him. In the end, we just couldn’t trade up. We tried and then the way it worked out he fell to us at ten. I feel very fortunate about that.”
On new head coach Lindy Ruff
“In my mind there is no substitute for experience. I’ve been really impressed with Lindy. I didn’t know him before. I’ve spent some time with him the last few weeks and what a treasure trove of know-how. He is still a young guy. He’s 53-years-old. We think he should be old and over-the-hill because he’s coached for so long, but he’s still a young guy with lots to do and lots to prove. He’s hungry to win, he’s excited about the opportunity and we’re excited to have him. I think he is going to make a difference. His teams played hard, his teams played well and they overachieved maybe more so than they did anything in Buffalo. He got a lot out of those teams. Aside from that, they were exciting teams to watch. He always had a strong power play, good offensive systems, lots of scoring chances, lots of puck possession. I like the way he coaches. I think there are coaches that coach a style that isn’t that exciting to watch and then there are coaches that coach a style that is more exciting to watch. I put Lindy in the latter category.”
On GM Jim Nill
“Not afraid to make a decision. He is one of the most prepared people I have ever met in any industry. I am impressed, really impressed. He is as advertised and more. “
