DeBoer returns to South Florida
"You've [now] got more freedom to do what you want on the ice. You feel if you make a mistake you can make up for it on the next shift. With Pete [DeBoer], it's one mistake and you're like shaking for the rest of the game."
This ringing endorsement of coach Kevin Dineen's early efforts comes to you courtesy of third-year defenseman Dmitry Kulikov via the Sun-Sentinel.
Forgetting his approach, strip away the tiebreaker playoff jones in '09, BoyntonGate, ownership issues, inept or financially handcuffed GMs, a badly-depleted prospect system and three years of generally AHL-caliber rosters and it's obvious DeBoer never stood a chance in Sunrise.
Currently tied for 8th in the East, Pete's Devils roll into South Florida Monday with a 10-7-1 record despite winger Ilya Kovalchuk having missed five games.
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I imagine that isn't necessarily the case any more
Given that DeBoer is currently playing Adam Larsson more than any other Devils defenseman and he makes at least a mistake or two per game. The only ones that really have to fear it from what I can tell is the fourth liners. Those are the ones who wind up riding the pine if they make a mistake with Kovalchuk often taking the extra shifts on the fourth line.
Now DeBoer might’ve learned a lot from his time in So Florida and has changed his ways a bit (he wouldn’t be much of a coach if he didn’t learn and adapt).
by Tyler Bleszinski on Nov 20, 2011 9:01 PM EST reply actions
DeBoer might’ve learned a lot from his time in So Florida
Would certainly think that has been the case; whole-heartedly benefits New Jersey, who now has a three-year NHL “veteran” coach, with a dash of Luscious Lou over his shoulder. Darned well might just work.
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Nov 20, 2011 10:27 PM EST up reply actions
Great article and purely the truth. I was a big PDB fan. I felt he was the fall guy for “the past” and coach Dineen was the turning point. I don’t believe he had a real fighting chance but I am happy that he landed in New Jersey. Though I hope he blows it tomorrow night.
Yes thats me in the white Jersey and Red hat. Follow me on Twitter @Ad1zzl3 or Children Battling cancer @CBCnonprofit
by Ad1zzl3 on Nov 20, 2011 11:14 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Did all that really happen in just 3 seasons? I feel like it was decades ago I was so excited about this new coach getting his first crack at the NHL, with a plethora of success in the junior levels…. Nick Boynton, we hardly knew ye.
+1 on Boyton
Except after he left Florida he had issues with coaches on other teams too. Makes me believe he is/was a cancer in the locker room. The one I miss is Ballard. Nobody hits like that guy.
Yes thats me in the white Jersey and Red hat. Follow me on Twitter @Ad1zzl3 or Children Battling cancer @CBCnonprofit
by Ad1zzl3 on Nov 21, 2011 8:50 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Guy was a head case, no question about it. That was well known, but Pete handled the situation badly and held a vendetta against a player and apparently created a bad situation in the room. And if you go back and look at the stats, the Panthers won a hell of a lot more games when Boynton was in the lineup than out. Even after the incident when Pete was forced to play him due to injuries.
Ballard, I miss. I think he was traded strictly because of his contract. Tallon was trying to get players out of here before their no-trades kicked in.
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
by John Beatty on Nov 21, 2011 11:03 AM EST up reply actions
Not to play devil's advocate but aren't you playing it a little one-sided against the quote?
Forgetting his approach, strip away the tiebreaker playoff jones in ‘09, BoyntonGate, ownership issues, inept or financially handcuffed GMs, a badly-depleted prospect system and three years of generally AHL-caliber rosters and it’s obvious DeBoer never stood a chance in Sunrise.
Kulikov isn’t saying Dineen is a better coach than DeBoer becuase the Cats are in first place in the division, because they have a better GM, or because the team has an NHL roster at last. Kulikov is ONLY commenting on the coaching styles of Dineen and DeBoer and when you have a young, inexperience roster full of undeveloped talent you can’t afford to be too heavy-handed with punishments for mistakes. You obviously have to reinforce what was done wrong and how to improve so you don’t make the same mistake(s) but you can’t really develop from the bench.
DeBoer clearly wasn’t gonna take this franchise to the Cup and this franchise clearly wasn’t gonna make DeBoer look like coach of the year but that ‘09 meltdown cannot just be ignored while complimenting the 90+ point finish. You gotta give credit for both. It’s nice for Pete that he is getting another chance to prove himself but just looking at the way the Panthers play the game for Dineen and how they played for DeBoer it really is night and day. With Dineen we are seeing some of the hardest skating we have seen in the last 15 years but we often saw sluggish play during DeBoer’s time. This doesn’t just account for new talent because we are seeing effort out of the guys that both coaches had on the roster.
I’m not trying to say that this season’s early success is due entirely to Dineen or that past failures were due entirely to DeBoer but it does sometimes seem like some feel a need to rush to Pete’s defense over even the most minimal of derisions. Also, not trying to suggest you aren’t entitled to your opinion. I hope DeBoer has a fine year in Jersey but I hope the Panthers stomp the Devils (And Flyers and Penguins and Rangers) every chance we get.
NY Jets = NFL's Chicago Cubs
There's a fine line between hopeful and desperate. Just look @ Jets fans.
I wasn’t attempting to beat up DeBoer by any stretch, just highlighting the Kuli comment.
Pete did everything he could with what he he was given; not at all implying he wasn’t trying to win.
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Nov 21, 2011 10:43 AM EST up reply actions
I was leaning more to you exonerating DeBoer for the Panthers records. You most certainly weren't suggesting DeBoer was the only problem.
As usual Donny you came across very succinctly. I just thought it strange how Kuli’s comment was taken beyond referring solely to DeBoer’s coaching style. Obviously DeBoer was trying to win (Nobody wants to film commercials guaranteeing the playoffs, even if ownership thionks its a good idea, if you don’t think your team can deliver) but his tenure was marred by front office stupidity.
NY Jets = NFL's Chicago Cubs
There's a fine line between hopeful and desperate. Just look @ Jets fans.
by TheFinReaper on Nov 21, 2011 12:04 PM EST up reply actions
but his tenure was marred by front office stupidity.
That’s about the size of it.
GREAT call on the Playoff Guarantee idiocy.
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Nov 21, 2011 12:13 PM EST up reply actions
I’d almost forgotten about that. What a stupid move that was.
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
by John Beatty on Nov 21, 2011 12:17 PM EST up reply actions
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Nov 21, 2011 6:38 PM EST up reply actions
What really got me about Deboer is that he didn’t adapt to his players, he forced his players to adapt to the only system he could (or would) coach. When that didn’t work he blamed the players, constantly telling the media that his players weren’t skilled enough (exaggerations aside, there were few AHLers). No wonder he lost the room.
And the thing to keep in mind is he was doing this in his second year with essentially the same roster as the 93 point Panthers.
Forwards: Weiss, Horton, Stillman, Booth (1/3 season second year), Frolik, Dvorak, Campbell, Kreps, Olesz (1/3 season first year). Changes: Out-Zednik, Peltonen, Stewart, McLean / In- Moore, Reinprecht, Matthias, Oreskovich
Defense: McCabe, Ballard, Allen (2 games first season). Changes: Out-Bouwmeester, Boynton, Skrastins, Cullimore, Welch / In-Leopold, Seidenberg, Kulikov, Garrison.
Goal: Vokoun / Out-Anderson, In-Clemmensen
There were huge changes in the defense, but forgetting about guys like Ville Koistenen, who only played 17 games, with the exception of Jay Bo for Leopold, the other guys were either even (Skrastins for Seidenberg) or upgrades (Cullimore & Welch for Kulikov & Garrison). The forward core was relatively unchanged save for Olesz missing most of the first season and Booth missing most of the second. Reinprecht and Moore put up more points than Pelts and Zednik despite Moore getting traded at the deadline and the other changes were all fourth line/minor league guys.
So, keeping in mind that the defense scored only 12 fewer points in Pete’s second year and the only other major change was the backup goaltender, how is it that the team went from a playoff contender to a bunch of guys who “weren’t skilled enough to get it done”?
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
by John Beatty on Nov 21, 2011 11:35 AM EST up reply actions
my main peeve with PDB was
that he seemingly never met an excuse he didn’t like during his time in South Florida when the team lost.
I’m not going to call him a bad coach but for me he juggled the lines too much, had a real problem picking the proper players for shoot outs and didn’t have a good feel for handling goalie playing time. Thought he really burned Vokoun out at times and when he got hot play from a backup he didn’t let it run it’s course before going back to Vokie.
My problem with DeBoer is that he coached a style so boring no one wanted to watch, fans, media, even the player probably hated it. Florida didn’t win, free agents didnt want to play here. The team never improved.
I’m putting here for reflection later on in the season…. #14 Tomas [Fleischmann] is getting a 40G season. FLASH COUNT: 8G/11A
by RPC on Sep 17, 2011 5:20 PM MDT
Find me on Twidduh And look at my Marmots
by Chris S Roberts on Nov 21, 2011 4:01 PM EST reply actions
My problem with DeBoer is that he coached a style so boring no one wanted to watch, fans, media, even the player probably hated it.
In other words… a perfect fit for the Devils!
YES.
When I saw NJD and MIN needed coaches, I new Petey wouldn’t be out a job for long. Perfect fit for either team.
I’m putting here for reflection later on in the season…. #14 Tomas [Fleischmann] is getting a 40G season. FLASH COUNT: 8G/11A
by RPC on Sep 17, 2011 5:20 PM MDT
Find me on Twidduh And look at my Marmots
by Chris S Roberts on Nov 21, 2011 4:22 PM EST up reply actions
When your level of talent is significantly below the oppositions, the boring system of play is usually necessitated. Just look at the first year Panthers. There were guys who once had name recognition, but were thought to have seen better days. Without expansion, they probably would have. Beezer kept the team in competition most nights and the trap leveled the playing ice further. Many found playing the Panthers back then to be boring, until ’96 rolled around that is.
by MrOmnipotent on Nov 21, 2011 5:44 PM EST up reply actions

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