Stars Fire Pete DeBoer After Messy Playoff Exit

Stars Fire Pete DeBoer After Messy Playoff Exit

Pete DeBoer is finally out of Dallas after coming up short. He was let go following the team’s five-game loss to the Edmonton Oilers—a disappointing end to what was supposed to be their year. Despite consistent deep playoff runs, the Stars clearly felt they’d hit their ceiling. Now, the search begins for someone who can finally get this talented roster over the hump. After three straight trips to the Western Conference Final, Jim Nill decided it’s time for a new voice behind the bench.

The team announced the news a short while ago via social media:

NEWS: Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today Pete DeBoer has been relieved of his head coaching duties.

📰: https://t.co/kRYELYWFz8 pic.twitter.com/vjgtMRgufM

— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) June 6, 2025

Dallas has now done what teams like Vegas, San Jose, and New Jersey showed us years ago. DeBoer is a good steady hand. He will get your team to play well in the early years. However, once you keep making the playoffs, you will keep coming up short. He just doesn’t have what it takes when it matters most. However, he shouldn’t feel bad because most coaches don’t. Guys like Paul Maurice, Jon Cooper, and Bruce Cassidy don’t exactly grow on trees.

Straw That Broke The Camel’s Back

What’s funny about this version of the DeBoer experiment is that you can point to an exact moment where the train fell off the tracks. Facing elimination in Game Five, Edmonton got the jump on them. The Oilers scored twice in the first seven minutes of the game. That prompted DeBoer to pull star goalie Jake Oettinger and put in backup Casey DeSmith. Not exactly a vote of confidence with your backs against the wall. His ballsy decision did NOT pay off and Dallas was eliminated by a final score of 6-3.

To make matters worse, DeBoer and Oettinger never spoke since Game Five. He handled this terribly and in the end probably got what he deserved.

Why The Ducks Don’t Have To Worry About Being Offer Sheeted On Lukas Dostal, Mason McTavish

Despite the tough ending, the Dallas Stars remain one of the most appealing coaching destinations in the NHL. With a stacked roster, a strong front office, and a fanbase hungry for a title, they’re not looking for a rebuild—they’re looking for the final push. Whoever steps in next will inherit a team built to win now. The mission is clear: take this group to the promised land where Pete DeBoer fell short.

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