👋 Good morning, everyone! It’s the beginning of a new week, and we’re already off to a roaring start. Don’t relax now that the NBA and NHL drafts are done, because free agency starts very soon. In fact, by the time you read this it might have already started. NBA business opens up tonight at 5 p.m., while the Stars can start negotiating tomorrow at 11 a.m.

It’s already that time of the summer, when anything can (and often does) happen. No matter how many guys those clubs do or don’t end up signing, we’ll have you covered every step of the way with daily shows, articles, and probably a whole ton of emergency pods. Stay subbed to our YouTube channel, and I’m looking forward to seeing y’all in the chat! — Bobby Karalla

The Stars reportedly are finalizing a deal with Oilers assistant coach Glen Gulutzan to take over as head coach in Dallas. Before he spent seven seasons running the fearsome power play for the Oilers, Gulutzan served as coach for the Stars for two unsuccessful seasons from 2011-13, and later coached the Flames for two more seasons.

Gulutzan has worked with some of the very best players in the league while in Edmonton, and it did seem like the Oilers scored on every single stinking power play during their Western Conference Final triumph over Dallas last month. Meanwhile, the Stars’ man advantage was the bane of most fans’ existence all season long, right up until the team bowed out of the playoffs.

Still, the Stars have been to three straight Conference Finals and already have high expectations and a loaded payroll heading into next season. It’s interesting that they’re reportedly gonna roll with a head coach who, albeit in only four seasons as the boss, has never even won a playoff game. That isn’t to say this is a bad hire or the wrong hire, and lifelong retreads are never a great alternative either. Maybe I just really wanted them to go with a young guy like Neil Graham, but our Sam Nestler posited that that still might be in play.

Check out yesterday’s DLLS Stars emergency pod for a full breakdown and analysis of the pros, cons, and everything in between of the looming head coach hire!

Congratulations to Elvis Andrus on his induction into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame! Elvis (yep, he’s a first-name-only guy to me) was in the building on Saturday for the ceremony and was joined by nine former teammates. You already know he had a great time, and our Jeff Wilson covered it here.

I’m 34 years old. Elvis is 36. When the Rangers went to back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 11, 19- and 20-year-old Bobby was locked in as a fan, but also in disbelief that someone basically my age was such a key contributor to what I was convinced was the best team in baseball. He was my entire family’s favorite player, though Adrian Beltre made a strong case for that distinction too. It was so much fun watching those two guys erase everything hit their way on the left side of the infield, then crack up between hitters as Elvis tormented Beltre or threatened to snag a pop-up that was clearly none of his business.

Elvis was a hell of a player and ranks very highly in a bunch of the franchise’s all-time lists, but most importantly he made baseball more fun to watch for an entire generation of new fans. Salute to an all-time Ranger and one of my favorite DFW athletes of all-time.

Tonight’s the night! NBA free agency begins at 5 p.m. Central. The DLLS Mavs crew will be live at 4:45 to cover the whirlwind first hour of summer shopping. Dallas is expected to sign D’Angelo Russell, according to our Marc Stein, but anything can happen in free agency. (Heck, maybe LeBron will end up being the guy.)

Make sure you tune in for our instant reaction to every single move from around the league! In the meantime, check out what our Tim Cato had to say after Cooper Flagg’s introductory press conference on Friday.

More than 20,000 fans packed American Airlines Center on Friday night to catch the Dallas Wings take on the Indiana Fever, but we paid extra attention to one fan in particular.

Kyrie Irving is one of Paige Bueckers’ favorites. It looks like that feeling is mutual. 🤝

Be sure to subscribe to our shows wherever you listen to your podcasts. Traffic can be the worst, and one of the best ways I get through it is by listening to the audio versions of our DLLS shows. You should, too!

Bobby Karalla
DLLS Sports Head of Content​
[email protected]