from Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas Morning News,

For those who think Hitchcock didn’t leave after one season back behind the bench on his own terms, he begs to disagree. His five-year deal with Stars owner Tom Gaglardi assured he would move from coach to consultant. It just didn’t say when.

“I think I’ve had enough," he said. “I think the coaching part...is over."

There’s a considerable pause between "coaching part" and "is over." It suggests he has come to terms with it more than he has completely embraced it. But Hitchcock talked about the physical grind wearing him down this season, that he believed he was mentally sharp but eventually could not accept the hours the job demands.

He has lost 40 pounds since the Stars’ season ended and plans to drop a few more. Life on the road wears on Hitchcock in many ways, and too many carbs becomes just a different kind of problem from too many defeats.

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