Devils hire former Panthers coach Peter DeBoer
by Donny Rivette on Jul 19, 2011 4:03 PM EDT
in NHL & General Hockey
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PrintThe New Jersey Devils have named Pete DeBoer as the club's latest head coach.
After relieving Jacques Martin to concentrate solely on management in 2008, DeBoer's three seasons in Florida began in sparkling fashion, collecting 93 points (an improvement of eight points over the previous year) en route to a tiebreaking procedure - since re-written - which awarded the 8th and final playoff spot to Montreal (aka Year Three of the Canadiens' centenary).
Working through numerous stretches of injury, including two concussions to forward David Booth, 2009-10 was a dreadful affair, dropping to 77 points and the club's first-ever last place finish in the Southeast.
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DeBoer's final season in Sunrise saw another decline in points - to 72 - and 15th in the Eastern Conference after struggling mightily to score at even strength. And don't get us started on the power play.
GM Dale Tallon wasted little time in releasing DeBoer and offensive coach Jim Hulton (who earned the scorn of fans long before), later replacing them with Kevin Dineen and Craig Ramsay, respectively.
Luscious Lou more or less rehashed the party line on Pete:
"Peter DeBoer is an individual who I have watched coach over the past two decades at the junior, international, and professional levels. His teams have always been well-prepared and disciplined, while maximizing their effort each and every night."
Yes, he was disciplined, and likely well prepared. His teams for the most part were not, evidenced by an astounding number of one-goal losses, an inability to mount a physical response to escalating situations, and a general lack of emotion displayed when the roster - and fans - could have used it. That his teams never openly revolted is amazing in hindsight, especially as rumors persist of riffs with his players, Tomas Vokoun being the likeliest candidate.
He did not choose his players (though some may argue he certainly chose against playing this guy late in his first year), nor the celebrated JM-jumpoff, and definitely not the on-again, off-again sale of the franchise (since - thankfully - completed). He's a nice guy with a handsome family and may have found himself in the perfect situation: an established roster with legitimate scorers and a culture built on decades of the Lamoriello Legacy. Then again, that could as easily be a curse; John MacLean at least had the advantage of Lou's longtime grooming before receiving a very quick yank.
One aspect we'll keep a close on is how he ultimately works alongside Ilya Kovalchuk; a superstar forward is a gift he was never blessed with in South Florida.
Our best to Pete and his family and congrats on a quick return to the NHL.
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I was surprised by the signing, but I’m pretty happy with DeBoer. I personally didn’t expect him to be the guy (esp. Considering Carbonneau and Therrien were the two most talked about guys), but I’m content just because he isn’t Therrien or Jabba the Hitchcock
Hell on Ice/In Lou We Trust/Twitter
Talking toilet, you may call me Jane.
by Kevin Sellathamby on Jul 19, 2011 4:07 PM EDT reply actions
He still got a raw deal here with never having a good roster outside his first year. However, if he fails with the Devils, then there might be something to be said about his perceived and actual faults.
The Ghost of David Nemirovsky
by panthersfan27 on Jul 19, 2011 4:08 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I agree, I liked DeBoer here, he did the best with what he was given. He may have rubbed some people the wrong way, but that is part of the business sometime. I’m excited Dineen is our coach now, but I feel DeBoer was a scapegoat of sorts. Glad he got another chance so quickly, I wish him the best of luck (especially with the rapidly declining, no more than a meh backup except in name, buffet Brodeur).
by HockeyKnight on Jul 19, 2011 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions
I said yes, Petey has a lot better roster now but needs a good start to stay out of the doghouse.
by Chris S Roberts on Jul 19, 2011 4:09 PM EDT reply actions
Depends. If he’s scared of locker room malcontents with a position of power like Langenbrunner, Kovalchuk is screwed. Luckily Captain Crankypants is gone, and the two captain candidates (Parise and Elias) aren’t as stupid and irrational as Langenbrunner
Hell on Ice/In Lou We Trust/Twitter
Talking toilet, you may call me Jane.
by Kevin Sellathamby on Jul 19, 2011 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the devils are just going to be even more boring to watch then they already were.
by Rob PKane McMahon on Jul 19, 2011 4:14 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I disagree, because if he thought Rusty Olesz and Nathan Horton were fun to deal with, Kovalchuk is going to drive him bonkers and his breakdown should be awesome TV.
On the bright side, our PK numbers will be even higher with Jim Hulton in the conference. Cmon Pete! Make sure you bring Big Jim along!
When I first saw this I thought they hired him to be an asst. coach. Hope he can get Kovy to play hard or he is likely doomed.
Think Hulton gets The Call?
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Jul 19, 2011 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Nah, he has a special seat reserved for him behind the Winnipeg bench…he’s the secret to their success next year!
The Ghost of David Nemirovsky
by panthersfan27 on Jul 19, 2011 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow. [Insert joke about Lou liking defensive hockey and one goal games.]
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
Beats losing 7-1 with Eric Boulton scoring a hat trick
Hell on Ice/In Lou We Trust/Twitter
Talking toilet, you may call me Jane.
by Kevin Sellathamby on Jul 19, 2011 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Only when you’re winning those one goal games. And to be fair, with the lineup the Devils have this year vs the lineup the Panthers have last year, the Devils will likely win those one goal games.
Actually, this may not turn out to be a bad hire. A bit of a surprise, but I can understand why Lou would take a chance on Pete.
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
Glad to see he got a job so far. I’m interested to see what he does with NJ. Towards the end of the year I think they finally started to show potential. They ended the year on a good note and I think they will do much better this year. However, if DeBoer gets on the bad side with Brodeur as he may have with Vokoun watch out…it might not end so well for him.
A lil thunder and a lil lightning is what the Cats are going to bring this year.
I think this is a very bad move for the Devils. DeBoer lost the faith of the team here how is he going to convince the veteran Devils to follow him more than McLean???
What is Harvey Fialkov of the Sun-Sentinel smoking?
He wrote-
DeBoer had the Panthers in contention for a playoff spot all three seasons, including this year until the trade deadline purge, that left him with mostly an AHL roster.
Does anyone here think the Panthers contended at all for the playoffs last season. The case can be made for the previous too as non-contenders
Everyone is a contender on Opening Night.
by MrOmnipotent on Jul 19, 2011 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions
contending for the playoffs
and being in contention are different…..We were in contention last season at times….we did crack the top 8…..we just couldn’t stay there….same for the previous 2 years….DeBoer…Head Coach….New Jersey Devils….HUH !
The Panthers
didn’t crack the top 8 at any meaningful point(20 games into the season or longer) the last two seasons. How do you do it when you can’t win more than 3 games in a row.
we were within a couple points for stretches of 09-10 til the deadline and the excrement hit the oscillating appliance. last year was a total loss. i believe i used the phrase “unmitigated disaster” in another thread.
that being said, good luck to PDB as long as he stays out of our way.
Closest we came was the Montreal Matthias game.
The Ghost of David Nemirovsky
by panthersfan27 on Jul 19, 2011 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions
No one wanted the job..........
No offense to Deboer, but it sounds like no one wanted to work for the owner or GM. Your putting a basically rookie coach to be devoured by Kolvachuk and Parise rivalry…
I wish Pete the best but I am among the group that has to wonder how well he’ll handle a personality like Kovalchuk. After the Boynton incident I just can’t see him keeping the confidence of that room very long unless he manages a complete miracle.
There is always the chance that he learned from the Boynton incident but had already lost the room in Florida. They were never that team again that they were up until that incident and it just held over.
That might not have held over to this year, but his firing was really more about Tallon wanting someone more in tune with his style, not about DeBoer’s ability.
Think about an alternate reality where the Boynton incident is handled better and JM trades Jay Bo at the deadline. (And don’t forget that JM was in on that Boynton thing too).
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
Maybe he did learn something from the Boynton incident, that’s very possible. My point though is there was an interview with Dvorak that someone posted here I think just prior to free agency opening where Radek basically said that playing for DeBoer was a bad experience, and it’s been mentioned a couple of times on this site that Vokoun didn’t like playing for him. I just have to wonder how well he’s going to do with that room in NJ. Again, I hope he does well (except against the Panthers) but from a position of pure prognostication I have to think that he’s got a long row to hoe with the players he will have to deal with in Jersey.
Veteran NHL players sometimes have trouble listening to a rookie coach who never played in the NHL and made his mark by coaching young guys in the AHL or elsewhere. It’s happened before and it will happen again.
Another reason why the hiring of Dineen was great: he’s proven he’s great teaching the young guys, and the veterans will respect him because he’s been there and done that.
PBD
I wish him all the best!!!
Be impeccable with your word, don't take anything personally, don't make assumptions, always do your best...
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