Wandering Back from the Wilderness

A DCHL Stalwart Returns

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA- The DCHL JETS are Champions for the second time in Franchise History (albeit their first victory was won as the COLORADO Avalanche). The parades are over and the dust of celebration has settled amidst a field of confetti, puddles of heartfelt tears, and yes: confusion.

General managers normally do not resign after a championship, they retire or they extend, but as the great philosopher KEVIN GARNETT once stated “[in the DCHL] anything is possible.” Furthermore, what does it mean that one of the DCHL’s most winningest GMs (by Cups at least) gets replaced by, none other than his former Central Division rival?

The hints were there all week: engraved pucks with the former LoneStar Puck logos being shopped over the border using eBay. Rumors of a known DCHL influence returning. Cans of Pace salsa being sold by the case. A new WINNIPEG based website projecting ROOPE HINTZ’ current trade value. And scores of formerly bitter WINNIPEG residents seeking to buy up out of print issues of the LONESTAR PUCK. The signs were there all week.

Yes, the former GM of the DALLAS STARS has indeed returned from exile to helm the franchise that bested 2 of his 3 best teams during his DALLAS tenure. What was the motivation? Was it fate? Was it destiny? Was it an old tale of enemies becoming friends and friends becoming enemies? Or is it something else?

Could it be a revenge tale to punish the new DALLAS GM for ruining the STARS and trading away Tyler Seguin AND Moritz Seider before his DCHL debut?

Could it be to show up NotElliott for failing to adequately break his own story? (The news of the return was broken by the DETROIT GM hours prior to the official announcement, that by the time it was announced, NOBODY was waiting for).

Could it be a chance to take a good team and steward it into a long period of success? Particularly since the typical new DCHL GM seeks to strip every team down to the bolts first.

Or could it be any myriad of other factors. We might never know.

What we do know is that RFA extensions were submitted and the likes of TOMAS HERTL, JAKE “Mr. Playoffs” GUENTZEL, and others will be returning. The JETS maintain their 1^st round picks. The JETS have some decent prospects. And the JETS also have weaknesses in the roster despite their success.

The next phase of one GM’s career now coincides with a new phase in the existence of a rich DCHL franchise. Where this story goes, only time and many simulations ahead can tell.

-TIMOTHY T. REX