The Dallas Stars shocked the hockey world by firing head coach Pete DeBoer despite three straight trips to the Western Conference Final and the best regular-season record in the NHL over his tenure The move, announced Friday, ends DeBoer’s three-year run behind the Stars’ bench, with one year still left on his contract.
General Manager Jim Nill said the decision was about finding “a new voice in our locker room to push us closer to our goal of winning the Stanley Cup,” thanking DeBoer for his contributions but emphasizing the need for change DeBoer’s regular-season record in Dallas was 149-68-29, and his teams consistently made deep playoff runs, but ultimately fell short of the Stanley Cup Final each time.
Insiders point to a controversial decision in the recent Western Conference Final against the Edmonton Oilers as a key factor. DeBoer pulled starting goalie Jake Oettinger early in a crucial elimination game, then reportedly did not communicate with him for days—a move that frustrated players and may have cost him support in the locker room Player exit interviews reportedly played a significant role in the decision, with several Stars expressing dissatisfaction with DeBoer’s handling of the situation.
Despite the abrupt exit, DeBoer remains one of the most successful coaches of the past decade, with six trips to the NHL’s third playoff round in the last seven seasons and previous Stanley Cup Final appearances with the Devils and Sharks However, the Stars’ leadership felt it was time for a change, hoping a fresh approach will finally deliver a championship to Dallas.
With no head coaching vacancies left in the NHL, DeBoer’s immediate future is uncertain, but he is expected to be a top candidate when the next opportunity arises.
