Heika: Jim Nill has decisions to make with Stars coaching staff

The biggest question the Stars face this summer is what to do with the coaching staff.
Stars GM Jim Nill has to decide whether he wants to retain head coach Rick Bowness and his entire staff of assistants, retain Bowness and change some assistants, or start fresh.

Bowness, 67, has been on one-year deals and said he actually thought about retiring when he left Tampa Bay in 2018. However, he joined the Stars as an assistant coach at the time and was promoted to head coach in December 2019. He said the process has definitely sparked his fire for coaching.
"That excitement and that pressure and everything, man, that's what we live for and that's what we sign up for," Bowness said when asked about the thrill of a seven-game series against Calgary. "I just loved it. I'm not emotional, but at the end of that game, I have tears in my eyes because it's over. Everyone lays it on the line and gives you everything you can, and it's tough to walk out of that rink losing in overtime of Game 7."

Bowness said he looks forward to his discussions with Nill, and he seemed to indicate he'd coach somewhere.
"I still love it," Bowness said. "I'll have options. If I want them, the options will be there. I'm confident of that."
Nill has been at the helm of the Stars for nine seasons and has one more year left on his deal. He also wants to continue his journey with the Stars.
"I love this franchise. I love this city. I think we've got a special thing going here," Nill said. "I'm excited about the future. I hope I'm part of it and go from there. But it's not something I'm worried about. It's not something I'm sitting around at home worried about my situation. I'm very comfortable, been in the league a long time, I'm comfortable with where I'm at."
Nill will meet with owner Tom Gaglardi and management, and they'll discuss all options. He said he's impressed with what Bowness has been able to do as a head coach. Bowness took over after then-head coach Jim Montgomery was fired, and the transition was challenging. In addition to changing in the middle of the season, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the league and forced a lot of adjustments.

Bowness was elevated to bench boss, John Stevens started running the defense in place of Bowness and Derek Laxdal was called up from the AHL to become an assistant coach. That group, along with Todd Nelson, helped the Stars get to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final in the Edmonton bubble.
Then, last season, the Stars dealt with more COVID-related shutdowns and an ice storm in the Metroplex, as well as injuries to key players Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov. The Stars ended up missing the playoffs. This season, the league went back to 82 games, Dallas fought into the seventh spot in the West, and took Pacific Division champion Calgary to Game 7 overtime before losing 3-2.
"Rick was thrown into a tough situation, and he took it on," Nill said. "He's really never had a normal year, he's handled the situation very well, the players respect him. We had 98 points this year, that's a pretty good year, so he's done a good job."
Bowness received praise from several players, and his ability to communicate with them is a key positive in his style.
"We obviously love Bones," said Seguin. "He's the ultimate man, family guy and person to be around to learn from and talk to. You can only control what you can control, and I don't know his plans, but he's awesome."
Bowness said he definitely wants to win a Stanley Cup if he can but added that the real legacy he wants to leave is his relationship with players and peers.
"That's still the driving force, but as you get older, you also want to leave an impact on the game. Your legacy becomes just as important to me," he said. "Do I want a Cup? Absolutely. Is it going to define me? No, it won't. I won't let that happen."
The Stars have plenty of time to make decisions, but Nill said he should have a clearer picture in the next week or so.
"I need to sit down with our ownership group and talk to them about the plan moving forward, and we'll make that decision from there," Nill said. "I'm hoping in the next five to six days to know what direction we're heading in."
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heikais a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.