Stars GM seeks veteran head coach, has already talked to 3 candidates

Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill has made it quite clear which type of head coach he's looking for as the successor to Lindy Ruff.

"Looking for an experienced guy, looking for a good coach," said Nill, according to Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News.

Nill hasn't wasted any time reaching out to potential candidates, either.

"Right now I've had three people I've been talking to," said Nill. "I'm hoping this is going to happen pretty quickly. These guys are all good coaches."

Based on Nill's comments assessing the poor defensive game of his team, it appears a coach with a defense-first mindset would be ideal.

This leaves one candidate who might have a leg up on the rest of the competition: Ken Hitchcock.

Though this is just speculation, but Hitchcock would be a great fit. He's coached in the NHL for over 20 years, has a reputation as a defensive wizard, and is without a job. He checks off all of Nill's boxes.

Hitchcock, of course, coached the Stars to their lone Stanley Cup title in 1999. He followed that up with stints in Philadelphia, Columbus, and St. Louis, before being relieved of his duties earlier this year.

Bob Hartley, Ron Wilson, Brent Sutter, and Mike Keenan would also fit the description, though Hitchcock seems like the best match given his history with the organization.