Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill seems to exude a stoicism that comes from devoting 35 years to the NHL (9 as a player, roughly 26 as a scout and executive).
But this past spring, he watched the team he constructed complete one of the most epic collapses in NHL regular-season history. On Feb. 17, Dallas occupied second place in the Central Division and third place in a deep Western Conference. Over the next 21 games, Ken Hitchcock's team picked up just 16 points before being eliminated from playoff contention on April 1.