The Dallas Stars have fired head coach Pete DeBoer, ending his tenure after three seasons marked by deep playoff runs but ultimate frustration. The move comes with one year remaining on DeBoer’s contract and follows the Stars’ third consecutive exit in the Western Conference Final.
General Manager Jim Nill cited the need for a “new voice” to push the team closer to a Stanley Cup, despite DeBoer’s impressive regular season record and consistent postseason appearances. Under DeBoer, Dallas posted a 149-68-29 record and led the NHL in points over the past three years, but failed to advance past the conference finals.
The decision was influenced in part by DeBoer’s handling of goaltender Jake Oettinger during the recent playoff loss to the Edmonton Oilers. DeBoer pulled Oettinger early in Game and was publicly critical of his performance, a move that reportedly unsettled the locker room and factored into the firing However, Nill emphasized that the Oettinger incident was only one component, with player exit interviews and the desire for a new direction also playing significant roles.
DeBoer, 56, is now a free agent in a coaching market with no current NHL vacancies, but his strong track record suggests he will be a candidate for future openings. The Stars, meanwhile, will begin their search for a new head coach, with several assistants potentially in the mix for the job.
DeBoer’s departure marks the fifth time he has been dismissed from an NHL head coaching position, despite leading teams to the conference finals six times in the past eight seasons and making two Stanley Cup Final appearances.
