Stars fire Pete DeBoer as questions swirl around his handling of Jake Oettinger
Stars fire Pete DeBoer as questions swirl around his handling of Jake Oettinger (Image Source: Getty Images)
The Dallas Stars made a big move just days after their season ended. Fans were left wondering what would happen next. On Friday, June 6, the team finally answered that question. Dallas fires Pete DeBoer after their third straight Western Conference finals loss.
The decision followed a disappointing finish in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But the reasons go deeper than just losing a series.
Dallas fires Pete
DeBoer
after third straight Western Conference finals loss
The Dallas Stars announced on Friday, June 6, 2025, that they have fired head coach Pete DeBoer. The team made the news public eight days after being eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Stars lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Finals.
The series ended in
Game
5, held in Edmonton.
The Oilers won the game 6-3. That defeat marked the third straight year Dallas failed to reach the Stanley Cup Final. DeBoer had one year left on his contract when he was let go.
Jim Nill, general manager of the Stars, said in a statement, 'After careful consideration, we believe that a new voice is needed in our locker room to push us closer to our goal of winning the Stanley Cup.'
Pete DeBoer had coached the team for three seasons.
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He led Dallas to strong regular seasons, but the team could not get past the Conference Finals in each of those years.
Also Read:
Mason Marchment Trade Rumors Heat Up As Dallas Stars Look To Clear Cap Space
Jake Oettinger
benching raises questions before DeBoer's firing
On the first two shots in Game 5 on May 31, Stars goalie Jake Oettinger gave up two goals. The Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, housed that game. Early in the game, Pete DeBoer chose to replace him with backup goalie Casey DeSmith. The change astonished a lot of people.
After the loss, Pete DeBoer said, 'Any time you pull a goalie, the reason is to try and spark your group.
We talked about playing with the lead. But we were down 2-0 right away.'
DeBoer also mentioned Oettinger's past struggles against the Oilers. He noted that the goalie had lost six of his last seven playoff games to Edmonton.
Two days later, during the team's season-ending media session, Pete DeBoer again defended his decision. He told reporters he was still a big fan of Oettinger, though he hadn't spoken to him since the game.
Jake Oettinger, 26, also spoke during that media session. He said, 'If I make one or two of those saves, I'm still playing. My job is to stop the puck.'
Jake Oettinger recently signed an eight-year contract that begins next season.
The Stars have not shared further details about DeBoer's firing or any conflict with players.
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