The Vegas Golden KnightsAfter failing to reach the playoffs the first time in their brief history, the team fired Peter DeBoer as coach.
Kelly McCrimmon, Vegas Golden Knights General manager, released a statement saying that DeBoer was a great supporter of the Vegas Golden Knights in the past three years. “Since joining our organization, Pete DeBoer and his staff helped us through some the most difficult and unique circumstances since our franchise entered NHL. We believe that a new coach will be able to help us succeed next season after having long discussions.
DeBoer became the second coach to be hired by Vegas in 2019-20. Gallant had been behind the bench during the NHL’s first two seasons. DeBoer was the Golden Knights’ coach for three seasons in Vegas. In those seasons, DeBoer recorded a record of 98-50-12. The team reached the conference final in 2020, and then the playoffs’ penultimate stage in 2021. But, they failed to make it to the Stanley Cup Final in each season.
The Golden Knights finished the season with a record of 43-31-8 (94 point) despite injuries and lineup challenges. They missed the playoff cut by four. A stretch of the late season saw the Knights win one in six important games, including a shootout loss at The Forum. Dallas StarsThat was de facto a playoff game.
Vegas lost to the Stanley Cup Final in the NHL’s first season. Washington Capitals2018 In 2018, the Knights’ owner Bill Foley began aggressively recruiting veteran talent in hopes of winning the elusive championship. The Knights are one of the NHL’s most highly-salaried teams. Their cap number grew even more after they made a huge trade. Buffalo SabresStar Jack EichelDuring the season.
Foley recently told the Las Vegas Journal-Review that the team’s personality had been lost in recent years because of the roster changes that were required by the salary cap.
“Our goal, we believe, is to get back to that identity of never giving in, never giving up and being a team. “I believe that we have lost that identity slightly with all the changes made and the constant machinations,” said he. “I would say we are going to be a group now that we are ‘Ready-fire, aim,’ not Ready-fire, aim. We’re going be careful. It’s a priority for me and I’m going be involved in it.”
Vegas fires its coach in a time when many high-profile coaches are looking for new jobs. The New York IslandersBarry Trotz, the coach who beat the Knights to the Stanley Cup Final, was fired last week. It would be ironic if he does end up there. DeBoer was hired right after Barry Trotz’s defeat. San Jose SharksVegas defeated in the Western Conference playoffs.
Other coaches looking for gigs include Claude Julien who won a Stanley Cup together with the Boston BruinsAlain Vigneault (772) and Paul Maurice (775) are the seventh and eighth all-time winners, respectively. Mike Babcock, who has last coached them, is eighth. Toronto Maple LeafsIn 2019-20, he was accused of mental abuse of players; Joel Quenneville who resigned from Florida PanthersA report detailing the role of an assistant coach in sexual abuse allegations against a player this season has left him in shame. He was fired after seven games. Chicago BlackhawksIn 2010.
Quenneville would be required to ask Gary Bettman, NHL commissioner. for permission to return to the leagueAs of last week, it hadn’t.