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The Dallas Stars have fired head coach Peter DeBoer, despite the fact that DeBoer had led his team to the Conference Finals six out of the last seven years, three in a row with his Dallas squad.
DeBoer’s axing is the latest in a long-line of Western Conference teams imploding after they lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the playoffs, starting with the 2021-22 Calgary Flames, who have replaced their GM, coach and all but three players.
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It’s not known how massive the turnover will be in Dallas. Likely not that big given that the Stars team is loaded with young talent. But other teams loaded with talent have combusted in recent years after losing to the Oilers in the playoffs.
The then world-beating Flames, poised for a long run of success, lost to the Oilers in five games in the 2022 division finals. That promising team has now lost or moved out numerous top players, including Matthew Tkachuk, Johnny Gaudreau, Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev, Sean Monahan, Nikita Zadorov and Jacob Markstrom.
Only three Flames remain in Calgary from that 2022 team, Blake Coleman, Mikael Backlund and Rasmus Andersson, who is rumoured to be heading out this summer.
The Flames and GM Brad Treliving parted ways in April 2023 and the team fired coach Darryl Sutter in May, 2023.
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Next to implode after losing to the Oilers were the Vancouver Canucks.
In 2024, the Oilers beat the high-flying Canucks in the division final.
Since that time coach Rick Tocchet has moved on, as have star players J.T. Miller, Nikita Zadorov and Elias Lindholm, with trade rumours now swirling around top-paid Elias Pettersson and top defender Quinn Hughes, the core of the 2024 Vancouver team along with Miller and goalie Thatcher Demko.
After losing to the Oilers in 2023, the Kings eventually fired coach Todd McLellan, and after losing to the Oil this year they said good-bye to hockey boss Rob Blake.
And now DeBoer has been fired.
What to make to this?
To be fair, all NHL teams fire or say good-bye to GMs and coaches with great frequency. Ken Holland and Jay Woodcroft were GM and coach of the Oilers in 2022. They’re now gone from the Oilers organization.
The difference is that since beating the Flames in 2022, the Oilers have held on to half of their players, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Darnell Nurse, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Evander Kane, Brett Kulak, Evan Bouchard, Stuart Skinner and Derek Ryan.
That’s the height of stability in an NHL marked by massive roster and management change year to year.
Here’s some reaction from around the NHL on the DeBoer axing:
SportsDay Staff, the Dallas Morning News
Months ago, DeBoer had ample job security. He had built a reputation as a conference finals regular, reaching the Western Conference finals in six of the last seven seasons, including this year, with three different teams. He was also known for being clutch in the playoffs with a perfect 9-0 record in Game 7s. However, the surprising decision to bench Jake Oettinger while facing elimination in Game 5 against Edmonton in the Western Conference finals reportedly rubbed some Stars players the wrong way.
What Chaos hockey podcaster Pete Blackburn @PeteBlackburn
All things considered, when was the last time a team crashed out as hard as the Stars IMMEDIATELY after making the conference final?
Boston hockey commentator Joe Haggerty @HackswithHaggs
Sturm was the right guy for the Bruins in their current state and his resume screams out “legitimate coach.” Don’t think DeBoer would have been the right guy for the Bruins over next few years, and him being available in the 11th hour wouldn’t have changed anything.
ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski @wyshynski
Man who talked like a guy who was probably getting fired gets fired
I don’t envy Jim Nill trying to find a coach that can not only replicate DeBoer’s regular season success but get them to break through the conf final ceiling. The pool seems shallow but I have to imagine he’s got someone in mind….Firing DeBoer right after the last two teams that needed coaches hired them is interesting timing. At least to me.
Hockey writer Paul Campbell @WayToGoPaul
Everybody in hockey knows that when you run the goalie, you pay the price.
Florida podcaster Jacob Langsam, Panther Pourri: A Florida Hockey Now Podcast @PantherPourri
Getting to the conference finals in 6 of his last 8 seasons coached is pretty damn impressive. Being 0-6 in those conference finals, including against the 2019 Blues, 2020 Stars, 2021 Habs, and Stuart Skinner twice (when his goalie was Jake Oettinger)… not as much
Hockey commentator John Shannon @JShannonhl
Jim Nill on firing Peter DeBoer: “After careful consideration, we believe that a new voice is needed in our locker room to push us closer to our goal of winning the Stanley Cup”
Dallas News hockey writer Lia Assimakopoulos @Lassimak
After Boston filled their opening yesterday, there are no other coaching vacancies.
Hockey commentator Jeff Marek @JeffMarek
Going back to the OHL in 94-95 with Detroit, Peter Deboer has had an uninterrupted coaching streak of 30 years. 29 of those as a head coach. He has one year remaining on his Dallas deal.
A.P. hockey writer Stephen Whyno @SWhyno
Paul Maurice on good friend Pete DeBoer getting fired in Dallas: “He’ll be all right. He’s a good coach.”
Dallas Stars reporter Josh Clark @Josh_Clark02
DeBoer’s tenure in Dallas ends with a 149-68-29 record. It was the best regular season record of any NHL team over the past 3 seasons #TexasHockey
P.S. This in from TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, Oilers lines and pairings for Game 2:
RNH – McDavid – Perry
Kane – Draisaitl – Kapanen
Frederic – Henrique – Brown
Podkolzin – Janmark – Arvidsson
• Skinner, Ryan, Jones
Ekholm – Bouchard
Nurse – Kulak
Walman – Klingberg
• Stecher, Emberson
Skinner
Pickard
P.P.S. Oilers individual goals +/- at even strength in playoffs. Source: Cult of Hockey video review
P.P.P.S. Oilers individual goals +/- at even strength in playoffs. Source: Cult of Hockey video review
LEAVINS: Game grades in Game 1
STAPLES: ‘Don’t poke the bear’: Did Oilers ace d-man go too far taunting Panthers player?
STAPLES: ‘They cheated y’all’: Panthers hockey world reacts to Edmonton Oilers beating Florida in Game 1
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