Les Jackson is in his 27th season with the Stars, dating back to the club’s days in Minnesota. His role consists of monitoring the development of all amateur and professional prospects.Jackson, 61, is widely respected as one of the best talent evaluators in hockey, having helped build the Stars into the consistently competitive hockey club that it has become over the last two decades. Learning from the tutelage of respected general managers such as Bob Clarke, Bob Gainey and Lou Nanne, Jackson also assisted in the evaluation of players as it related to movement within the organization, including the entry draft, trades and free agent signings. During Jackson’s tenure, the Stars have selected future NHL stars such as Mike Modano, Derian Hatcher, Jere Lehtinen, Jarome Iginla, Marty Turco, Brenden Morrow, Jamie Benn, Valeri Nichushkin and Loui Eriksson among others.Jackson, a native of Manning, Alberta, was drafted by the Boston Bruins in 1972 and played two seasons in the minors prior to his career as a hockey executive. His minor professional coaching career included stints in Billings and Great Falls, Montana; Tucson, Arizona; and New Westminster and Revelstoke, British Columbia. He also spent five years as assistant coach and general manager of the Western Hockey League’s Brandon Wheat Kings.