Ryan S. Clarkjun 6, 2025, 10:50 AM ET
Closeryan S. Clark is an NHL reporter for ESPN.
The Dallas Stars announced they had fired head coach Peter DeBoer on Friday, eight days after falling into the third straight western conference final.
DeBoer, who had one year left on the contract, questioned his future with the franchise after the star lost to the Edmonton Oilers in five games.
“After careful consideration, we believe we need a new voice in the locker room to get closer to our goal of winning the Stanley Cup,” star Jim Nir said in a statement. “We would like to thank Pete for everything he has helped our organization achieve the past three seasons.
The Stars opened Game 5 by watching franchise goaltender Jake Oetittinger give up two goals on the first two shots and fall into a 2-0 deficit. Deboer pulled out Oettinger in hopes of Casey Desmith awakening the team. The star pulled twice in the goal, but lost 6-3.
“Whenever you pull a goalkeeper, the reason is always to try your group,” Deboer said after Game 5. “That’s your first reason. We talked endlessly about trying to play lead in this series.
The statement led to more questions about his relationship with Oztinger, one of the biggest reasons the star has emerged as a perennial Stanley Cup favorite over the past three seasons.
In particular, Oettinger is set to enter the first year of an eight-year contract extension, allowing him to make money from $4 million to $8.25 million a year.
Deboer doubled his decision to attract Oettinger during the team’s end-of-season media availability two days later. He said that Oettinger’s “big fans” weren’t “big fans” than he was, adding that he had not spoken to the 26-year-old Netminder later.
Oettinger, who didn’t talk after Game 5, spoke with the same availability.
“The reality is, if I made one or two of these saves, I’m still playing in the game,” Oettinger says. “The way I’m watching is how can I make it better? How can I make all the playoffs saves?”
Oettinger was also asked if he had any concerns about his relationship with Deboer.
“My job is to stop the pack. And I feel like I’m one of the best in the world. “All the extras are extra for me. …If I’m out there next year and I’m the best goalkeeper in the world, that’s not a problem. One of you can coach, that’s not a problem.
The star did not comment on Deboer’s handling of Oettinger, but the results are those. Dallas joined the islanders of 1975-77 as the only team in the expansion era that lost in the round before the three-game Stanley Cup final.
The need for a new coaching star will rekindle a coaching carousel that appears to have been a full stop on Thursday by the Boston Bruins hired former forward Marco Sturm.
The star is now the ninth team of the offseason, seeking head coaches in the cycle where Mike Sullivan left the Pittsburgh Penguins to join the Rangers in New York, with Joel Quenneville signing and Anaheim Quenket departing the Vancouver Canucks for the Philadelphia Freilers.
Hiring a new coach will also come in the offseason where Packpedia predicts he will have $4,955 million in cap space for the Star, dealing with a roster with seven unrestricted unpending free agents. This is a list that includes Captain Jamie Ben and Center Matt Duchen.
