Stars Hire Joe Nieuwendyk As GM, Replacing Two-Man Operation

Nieuwendyk Signs Five-Year Contract With Stars As New GM

RISING STAR: In Dallas, Tim Cowlishaw notes Hicks is hoping that Nieuwendyk can "re-energize that franchise" as Rangers President Nolan Ryan has done with the MLB team. Hicks is "looking for Nieuwendyk to bring the same kind of role model influence that Ryan has brought" to the Rangers (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/1). The MORNING NEWS' Heika reports Hicks was "not upset with the job being done by the current administration," but it was just that Nieuwendyk, a "rising star in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, became available" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/1). SI.com's Allan Muir wrote you "won't find anyone in hockey with a bad word to say of Nieuwendyk," who is "thoughtful, well spoken and all class." However, his "paucity of front office experience suggests a bit more seasoning might have helped him," and a "more seasoned executive might have been a better choice for the Stars" (SI.com, 5/31). In Toronto, Damien Cox noted the Stars approached the Maple Leafs "several weeks ago for permission to talk to Nieuwendyk and interviewed him last week" (TORONTO STAR, 5/31). Also in Toronto, Lance Hornby notes there is "no compensation heading to Toronto for Dallas taking Nieuwendyk before his contract expired," because the NHL "ended such practices a few years ago." Nieuwendyk has been "tabbed as one of the bright young ex-player hockey minds" (TORONTO SUN, 6/1).

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