Poile: Stars' president unprofessional - Nashville, Tennessee - Tuesday, 03/20/07 - Tennessean.com
Comments by Dallas Stars President Jim Lites ripping the Predators were surprising, disappointing and "extremely unprofessional,'' Predators General Manager David Poile said Monday.
In Monday's edition of The Dallas Morning News, Lites charged the Preds with "failing the game'' for not publicly recognizing Mike Modano's record-setting goal in Saturday's game at Nashville Arena, tore into Coach Barry Trotz for defending forward Jordin Tootoo and took shots at the franchise's economic state and scheduling preference.
"Perhaps he should take that up with the commissioner or probably he should contact the Predators directly," Poile said. "That's extremely unprofessional on Lites' behalf. I can't think for a second that we would ever do or say something like that about Dallas. It's uncalled for and I'm sure we'll take that up with the commissioner.''
The NHL noticed the Lites comments, league spokesman Frank Brown. He said Commissioner Gary Bettman already had contacted Lites.
"(Bettman) thought those comments were inappropriate and that was conveyed by the commissioner to the Stars,'' Brown said.
Brown wouldn't say if Lites is subject to disciplinary action.