Avalanche rival's new head coach reveals the one reason why they couldn't beat the Oilers in the playoffs
Photo credit: The Hockey News
Glen Gulutzan, the new head coach of the Colorado Avalanche's divisional rival, Dallas Stars, has identified the one key factor that led to their playoff downfall against the Edmonton Oilers last season, offering a candid explanation of what ultimately cost them a shot at the Stanley Cup Final.
Earlier this month, Gulutzan was officially names head coach of the Stars following the dismissal of Pete DeBoer.
Glen Gulutzan reveals why the Dallas Stars couldn't beat the Edmonton Oilers in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Taylor Newby from The Hockey News writes one of the most glaring issues during DeBoer's tenure as head coach of the Stars was the inability to adjust offensively once opponents figured out how to shut down their attack. This breakdown became especially evident in back-to-back playoff runs, first against the Vegas Golden Knights and then against the Oilers, where the Stars' offence stalled at critical moments.
"The system had worked all year and multiple series, until it didn't. But that is where Gulutzan's insight can be very useful to the Stars. Not only did he get to see the system and now it did not adapt, he was on the coaching staff to the very team that ended the Stars season two years in a row." -Newby
Gulutzan addressed that very issue in a recent conversation with Stars senior staff writer Mike Heika, acknowledging the need for better in-series adjustments and more dynamic offensive strategies when facing teams that successfully neutralize their top scorers.
"Really, what I would like to do, and what did in Edmonton, was we were able to adapt and create offense against different defenses. I wouldn't say we completely changed, but if we had a road trip and we are going to LA and then going to Vegas, we knew we wanted to do things differently in the O-zone." -Gulutzan
Adaptability is a fundamental trait for any NHL coach, but it's evident that this was a missing component in the Stars' approach, particularly under DeBoer, when the offence was neutralized in critical playoff moments.
"There is also an added advantage to having a coach that tailored a system to the Stars strengths. Hopefully Gulutzan can also use knowing what shut the Stars and their talent down as a way to grow in their weak areas and prevent other teams from being successful at what seemed to have been the Stars downfall." -Newby
However, due to some salary cap constraints, Gulutzan won't have as deep a roster as DeBoer did. Still, the Stars are widely expected to remain among the league's top-performing teams.
Gulutzan also emphasized the importance of maximizing contributions from players like Mavrik Bourque and Nils Lundkvist, an approach that could prove for the Stars as they look to generate meaningful production from low-cost roster spots.
While everything sounds promising in theory, the real test will come once the puck drops. Still, for most Stars fans, Gulutzan appears to be zeroing in on the right priorities.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 1 | 15 ANSWERS Avalanche rival's new head coach reveals the one reason why they couldn't beat the Oilers in the playoffs Do you think Glen Gulutzan is the right coach to get Dallas to the next level in the NHL playoffs? | ||
| yes | 6 | 40 % |
| no | 9 | 60 % |
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