Following their elimination by the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final, the Dallas Stars announced on Friday they have relieved head coach Pete DeBoer of his duties. This playoff exit marked the team`s third consecutive loss in the conference final round.
Stars General Manager Jim Nill issued a statement explaining the decision, saying the organization requires a “new voice” to help the team finally overcome the hurdle and secure the franchise`s second Stanley Cup championship.
“We extend our gratitude to Pete for his contributions to our organization`s success over the past three seasons and wish him the very best in his future endeavors,” Nill stated.
DeBoer was appointed head coach in 2022 and oversaw a period of significant regular-season success during his three years with the team. Under his guidance, Dallas clinched the Central Division title in the 2023-24 season and consistently finished no lower than second place in the standings.
Despite regular-season achievements, DeBoer was unable to guide the team beyond the conference final stage. In 2023, the Stars were defeated by the Vegas Golden Knights in six games, and they have now been eliminated by the Oilers for two consecutive years.
This season`s series against Edmonton was particularly decisive, with the Oilers winning four straight games after losing Game 1, taking the series in five contests. In a notable moment during Game 5, DeBoer made the controversial decision to remove starting goaltender Jake Oettinger less than ten minutes into the first period after the team fell behind 2-0.
DeBoer departs Dallas with a regular-season record of 149 wins, 68 losses, and 29 overtime losses, alongside a playoff record of 29 wins and 27 losses. The Stars will now commence their search for a new coach, joining several other teams who have already filled coaching vacancies this offseason.
Although many top coaching candidates have already been hired by other clubs, Dallas presents an attractive opportunity. Beyond being one of the winningest teams over the last three years, the Stars boast a core of young, talented players who are under contract for the foreseeable future.
Looking ahead, it will be interesting to see if Pete DeBoer receives another coaching opportunity soon. His last two head coaching roles, with Dallas and Vegas, each lasted only three seasons. It seems improbable he would secure a new head coaching position before the start of the 2025-26 season, but he could potentially be a candidate for any in-season coaching changes that might occur.
