FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Glen Gulutzan has returned to a much different situation in Dallas, and the Stars now have a more seasoned coach that has been close to a Stanley Cup title since they let him go 12 years ago.

Unlike Gulutzan’s initial stint with the Stars, this isn’t a first-time head coach overseeing an aging team basically run by the league while going through bankruptcy, an ownership change and a lockout-shortened season during a postseason drought.

“He was a young guy thrown in a tough situation. Team wasn’t great, a lot of veteran players at the end of their career trying to hold on,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said. “But to see his maturing level now … when we hired him, I got a lot of calls and they miss him, and that says a lot.”

When the Stars open their season Thursday

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