[May 17, 2012] Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas, Mac Engel column Tweet DALLAS, May 17, 2012 (Fort Worth Star-Telegram - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Bob Gainey is a man who looks like he took Age and punched him in the face. Bob is the one guy The Grim Reaper may take a pass on. The last time we saw Bob at a news conference in the lower level of the American Airlines Center was the latter portion of a lost 2002 season, when he resigned as the Dallas Stars' general manager. "That's kind of fitting then," Gainey said on Wednesday morning. Even today, at 58, he projects a "Don't mess with me" vibe. Looking as fit and stately as he did the day he left the Stars, Gainey was formally introduced as a senior adviser to the franchise he was once so instrumental in building. His responsibilities will be varied, from helping the general manager to increasing this team's presence in the community. The Stars now have Joe Nieuwendyk as the general manager, Gainey as a special adviser and Jim Lites as team president. When is Ken Hitchcock coming back? With owner Tom Gaglardi firmly in place, the Stars have ostensibly hired everyone necessary to get this franchise winning the way it did when Bob's voice struck fear into the hearts of every single player on that team. But... enough Dallas Stars news conferences for the guys who wear suits and more for the guys who wear sweaters. Adding Gainey is a nice move, but what this team really needs is another forward and another defenseman. Watching the Stanley Cup playoffs, it has become apparent that the "ownership situation" that was used so frequently to explain this team's lack of success, while once valid, became a convenient excuse for this team's inability to reach the postseason. The St. Louis Blues tied for the second-most points in the NHL during the regular season, yet were without an owner. The NHL owns the Phoenix Coyotes, who have made the playoffs three years running, won this most recent Pacific Division and now is in the Western Conference Finals. What should be obvious now is that this Stars roster is not good enough, and that we have to consider the possibility these young prospects, with the exception of Jamie Benn, are in need of more development, or are not the answer (see Daley, Trevor). This is not a clear lobby for the Stars to go dumb and sign a free agent to a 12-year contract, but all of these front-office additions aren't making anything on the ice look any different. Things keep changing for the Stars; yet the type of change so necessary for this team to regain local relevance remains lacking. "We need to get better, obviously. That's a process, unfortunately. I wish there were quicker ways to get there," Gaglardi said. "The only way to get there is young players and the draft and developing players. Free agency is one route to get better, but it has pitfalls and [the signing has] to be very smart, and some lucky, to benefit that way. The best way I know how to get better is to have great management." Gaglardi does not sound like a man eager to commit to a player for seven to 10 years, which is the length of contracts the top free agents are receiving. That means the Stars will not be going after winger Alex Semin of the Capitals or forwards Olli Jokinen, Chris Kelly and Zach PariseThey won't go after them even though the NHL is going to have a new collective bargaining agreement, and every single GM is praying this new deal will somehow make long-term contracts obsolete. Until notified otherwise, you have to assume this model is unchanged. If you want a free agent, not only do you have to overpay but overcommit, timewise. Maybe a guy like Jokinen won't require a 30-year deal. Neither should Jaromir Jagr. (Don't laugh; he can still play.) "It's skinny every year [in free agency] and that's why those contracts get crazy," Nieuwendyk said. "Do we want to dive into that market? We may if we think the player is right. But this thing will get built through the draft, player developmental and having good replacement players and trying to hit on the right trades that fill the holes." Gainey is not the type of front-office man to advocate a long-term contract that could potentially hinder the team's ability to make moves in the future. But Gainey is also a man who understands how this team can regain some traction in this area. Lowering ticket prices was great. Firing a longtime public relations man, which this team needlessly did a few weeks ago, creates the perception of production, yet will change nothing. No one is going to write or cover this team until it wins, and P.T. Barnum couldn't change that reality. I suspect Bob knows this. Being a bit more active in the community with player appearances, etc., will help. Bringing back another familiar face, especially one like Bob, can't hurt. But none of these moves addresses a weak power play, thinness at forward and the need for another defenseman. Do that, and then we'll have something to really talk about with the Dallas Stars. Mac Engel, 817-390-7697 Twitter: @MacEngelProf ___ (c)2012 the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Visit the Fort Worth Star-Telegram at www.star-telegram.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]