With the pending announcement that the Stars have hired Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill to take over their head GM job from Joe Niewendyk, I decided yesterday to solicit input from longtime Detroit Red Wings scout Mark Howe about Nill.
Unfortunately, I was tied up at the Philadelphia Flyers' cleanout day media availability session with general manager Paul Holmgren at the time Howe called me back. However, the Hockey Hall of Fame inductee graciously left me a lengthy message on my cell phone regarding the hiring of Nill after 19 seasons in the Red Wings organization and of his take on Joe Nieuwendyk.
Anyone who knows Mark Howe even casually knows that he is a straight shooter. Although he is very friendly and accommodating to people, he doesn't sugar coat his opinions when asked for them. If he praises someone, he really means it. If he criticizes, he'll explain his reasons.
Howe gave Nill a glowing recommendation, saying that Nill is someone he's truly enjoyed working with and whose own opinions are ones that he values because he's very astute.
"Frankly, I was surprised no NHL team hired him as GM until now. He knows team management from the bottom up. He's very well-organized and structured, and is very good talent evaluator," said Howe.
Nill has actually has had many offers in the past to leave the Red Wings, including several recent offers and interview requests for general manager posts. Due to the health of his wife, who has been battling cancer, and loyalty to the Detroit organization, he declined to consider these offers. But when the general managership opened in Dallas, he accepted the general manager offer relayed by Stars' CEO Jim Lites, himself a former longtime Red Wings employee.
"Jim knows the game and management from all sides and all levels. He's gained a lot of background and experience to be an outstanding NHL general manager," said Howe.
In regard to the Stars decision to replace Nieuwendyk now, Howe said that he did not know the specific rationale for the change but "Joe is someone else I have always liked and respected. I think he did a pretty good job in Dallas under some tough circumstances."
One advantage that the 55-year-old Nill has over the 46-year-old Nieuwendyk is the sheer number of years and variety of post playing career front office work that he's done. Nieuwendyk, however, did a sufficiently solid job in Dallas that he is likely to get another crack at the job at some point for another team.
**********
KINDLE USERS: Please subscribe to Stars Buzz; a one-stop feed for all things Dallas Stars-related at HockeyBuzz. Content is automatically updated whenever a new blog is published. For more information,
click here.
Dallas Stars Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»