Stars axe Armstrong, name Hull as co-GM

Last Updated: Wednesday, November 14, 2007 | 1:41 AM ET

CBC Sports

The Dallas Stars, off to a disappointing start, fired general manager Doug Armstrong on Tuesday.

"As an owner I have to be responsible for one person in hockey operations and that is the general manager of the team," team owner Tom Hicks said in a statement.

"I thought that the team needed a change in direction. I know that change can be healthy and it was my determination that this move needed to be made.

"I want the Dallas Stars to return to being one of the elite teams in the league."

Hicks later named Brett Hull and Les Jackson as co-GMs an interim basis, calling them "the right people to provide direction, vision, management and guidance to get this team positioned to win another division crown."

Hull, whose controversial goal in Game 6 clinched the first Stanley Cup in franchise history in 1999, has worked in the front office since last season.

Jackson was assistant GM.

Armstrong was in his sixth season as GM and 17th overall with the organization.

The Sarnia, Ont., native worked with the Washington Capitals prior to joining the Stars.

Dallas (7-7-3) is coming off a huge loss to Los Angeles on Saturday.

Ahead 4-0 heading into the third, the Stars allowed five goals in the final period of regulation en route to an overtime defeat.

It was the team's fifth loss in their last seven games, a span that has included a pair of one-sided losses to Phoenix.

The Stars have not been able to parlay regular-season achievement into playoff success in recent years.

Dallas has finished with no fewer than 97 points the past four seasons but has not made it past the second round of the playoffs.

Armstrong took some criticism in the off-season for not making any major free-agent moves after Dallas scored just 12 times in seven playoff games, falling to the Vancouver Canucks in the first round.