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Report: Stars to fire GM Nieuwendyk, hire Detroit’s Nill

2011 Hockey Hall Of Fame Induction

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 14: 2011 Hall of Fame inductee Joe Nieuwendyk is interviewed by the media during a photo opportunity at the Hockey Hall Of Fame on November 14, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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Some big off-ice developments emerging this evening, as Dallas appears ready to part ways with general manager Joe Nieuwendyk.

According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, Nieuwendyk will be relieved of his duties and replaced by Detroit Red Wings assistant GM Jim Nill.

Nieuwendyk, 46, was named Stars GM in 2009 and oversaw a stretch in which Dallas has failed to make the playoffs in four straight seasons.

He also pulled the trigger on several big trades, none larger than the deal that sent James Neal and Matt Niskanen to Pittsburgh in exchange for Alex Goligoski.

Neal has gone on to become one of the NHL’s elite wingers and scored a career-high 40 goals last year.

Nieuwendyk also traded longtime Star Brenden Morrow, and was largely responsible for not offering franchise legend Mike Modano a contract extension after the 2009-10 season (Modano went on to play the final year of his career in Detroit).

In Nill, the Stars get a veteran front office man who has worked alongside Wings GM Ken Holland since the mid-90s. He was part of four Stanley Cup winners in Detroit and has been mentioned as a candidate for a number of vacant GM jobs over the last few years.

Ansar Khan of MLive.com notes that Nill was offered the Montreal Canadaiens’ GM job last summer, but turned it down for family reasons.

Dreger also notes there’s been no decision made about head coach Glen Gulutzan’s future with the club.

In an odd twist, Dallas and Detroit are squaring off tonight in a huge game for the Wings’ playoff fate. If Detroit gets at least one point, it clinches a postseason berth.