Neil Graham Named Assistant Coach of Dallas Stars

Dallas

The Dallas Stars have elevated Neil Graham to the position of assistant coach, marking a significant step in his career following a successful six-year tenure as head coach of the Texas Stars, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the NHL team. Under the guidance of head coach Glen Gulutzan, Graham will join a revamped coaching staff that retains several familiar faces.

At age 40, Graham has solidified his reputation as a skilled coach. He concludes his tenure in the AHL with an impressive overall record of 183 wins, 140 losses, and 40 overtime losses (183-140-40) across 363 regular-season games. Noteworthy is his achievement of guiding the Texas Stars to the Calder Cup Playoffs in all four seasons they were contested during his leadership, including a strong performance that saw them reach the Western Conference Finals in the 2024-25 season.

In his coaching career, Graham has been instrumental in developing several key players now integral to the Dallas Stars roster, such as Jake Oettinger, Jason Robertson, Thomas Harley, Lian Bichsel, Oskar Bäck, and Mavrik Bourque, who was named the AHL MVP for the 2023-24 season. Graham’s coaching expertise also culminated in two consecutive AHL Rookies of the Year honors, awarded to Logan Stankoven in 2023-24 and Justin Hryckowian in 2024-25.

Coaching Journey and Achievements

Graham’s journey within the Dallas Stars organization began in 2012 when he accepted a position as an assistant coach for the Idaho Steelheads, the ECHL affiliate of the Stars. He was subsequently promoted to head coach of Idaho from 2015 to 2019, where he achieved a notable record of 166 wins, 91 losses, and 31 overtime losses (166-91-31) in 288 regular-season games. His time with the Steelheads was marked by three consecutive 40-win seasons as well as playoff appearances in all four of his seasons at the helm.

In December 2019, Graham transitioned to the Texas Stars, starting as an assistant coach before taking charge as head coach shortly after his arrival. His track record in the AHL reflects his adept ability to cultivate talent and foster winning teams.

General Manager’s Remarks

Jim Nill, general manager of the Dallas Stars, has expressed his approval of Graham’s promotion, emphasizing his extensive history in the organization and his numerous successes at multiple coaching levels. The new Dallas Stars coaching staff also includes assistant coach Alain Nasreddine, goaltending coach Jeff Reese, head video coach Patrick Dolan, and assistant video coach Chris Demczuk.

Background of Neil Graham

Originally hailing from Calgary, Alberta, Graham’s playing career includes a stint at Mercyhurst University, where he competed at the NCAA level, recording 60 points (23 goals, 37 assists) and accumulating 128 penalty minutes over 137 games. Following his college career, Graham turned professional in 2010, playing three seasons in both the ECHL and the Southern Professional Hockey League, where he tallied 98 points (42 goals, 56 assists) in just 113 games.

Neil Graham’s promotion to assistant coach positions him as a crucial asset to the Dallas Stars as the team aims for continued competitiveness in the NHL, leveraging his extensive coaching experience and player development skills cultivated over his career.