“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.