The Dallas Stars have made a bold move, firing head coach Pete DeBoer just days after the team’s third consecutive exit in the Western Conference finals. Despite leading the Stars to three straight deep playoff runs and amassing a 149-68-29 record over three seasons, DeBoer’s tenure ended abruptly following a controversial decision in Game against the Edmonton Oilers.
DeBoer’s choice to pull starting goaltender Jake Oettinger just seven minutes into the must-win game drew criticism from players and fans alike. His public comments blaming Oettinger postgame further strained his relationship with the locker room, making it difficult for him to regain trust and authority The Stars’ management cited the need for a “new voice” to push the team closer to a Stanley Cup, despite DeBoer’s track record of playoff appearances and consistent regular-season success.
At 56, DeBoer remains one of the NHL’s most experienced and successful coaches, having reached the conference finals six times in the last eight seasons with three different teams. While there are currently no open head coaching positions in the league, DeBoer is expected to be a top candidate as soon as a new opportunity arises.
