The head coaching carousel in NHL is entering full swing although the offseason hasn’t officially begun. The latest team to enter the market for a new coach are the Vegas Golden Knights, which recently announced they parted ways with Peter DeBoer.
The Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon confirmed the news via a statement released to the media. McCrimmon thanked DeBoer for his contribution but added that the team feels it needs a new face to improve after a disappointing 2021-22 campaign. Vegas finished the regular season with a 43-31-8 record and missed the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
“After lengthy discussions over the last two weeks, we believe that a new coach will put us in the best position to succeed next season,” McCrimmon explained.
Pete DeBoer joined the Golden Knights ahead of the 2019-20 season, succeeding Gerard Gallant. He led the team to Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Semifinals in his first two years at the helm. DeBoer, who previously coached the Florida Panthers, the New Jersey Devils, and the San Jose Sharks, compiled an overall record of 98-50-12 while in Vegas.
The Golden Knights are expected to do their diligence while looking for DeBoer’s replacement. However, no one would be surprised if they ended up hiring Barry Trotz, who was fired by the New York Islanders a week ago. Trotz would be an interesting hire as he coached the Washington Capitals when they beat the Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup finals in 2018.
