Nieuwendyk, Hicks quotes

Here are a few quotes from Joe Nieuwendyk and Tom Hicks during today's press conference.

Tom Hicks on Nieuwendyk:

"Joe Nieuwendyk is a winner, he's smart - went to Cornell - and he's very deliberate I've learned. I think Joe has the talent this organization needs to ... return us to our Stanley Cup championship of ten years ago."

On Nieuwendyk not having GM experience:

"Is it a risk to the give the guy his first job? It was a risk to give Bob Gainey his first job. Any successful GM has to have their first job. I think at this point Joe is ready and he's got a five-year contract, so we expect him to do it the right way."

When asked if the Stars had set a budget for next season:

"I think there's a trend throughout hockey that people are not necessarily spending to the cap automatically and we won't either. We haven't set the final budget. We want to let Joe do his job for two or three weeks and then we'll set the final budget."

Joe Nieuwendyk on goals:

"Our goals are simple goals and they are championship goals. It's my intention that the Dallas Stars are seen as the first class and professional organization that it was my great privilege to be part of for so many years as a player."

Nieuwendyk on how he sees a Joe Nieuwendyk team playing:

"I think with the group of forwards we have here a lot of the onus is going to be on them. You look at Detroit - the way they backcheck and the way they play - their forwards do a lot of the work and allow the game to be relatively simple for the [defense]."

Nieuwendyk on how quickly the Stars can return to contender status:

"I think it can happen pretty quick. I think the team that fell out of the playoffs is not what this team is all about. I look at the core group of players here, the age of all the players and it is a solid group."

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