Is DeBoer fired if the Devils do not reach the playoffs?

by David Fine on Jan 27, 2012 5:49 PM EST

Peter DeBoer has brought a new, aggressive system to the Devils this year.

The Devils are a faster, younger team this season than they were at this point last year.

They currently sit 8th in the East.

In other words, they are a mediocre to good team right now. In my opinion, if they reach the playoffs, they have a chance to advance to the 2nd round, but I can't really see them beating Boston or Philly (even a healthy Pittsburgh) in a 7 game series.

We all know Lou likes to shake things up with coaching changes.

If the Devils make the playoffs, I think DeBoer returns.

If the Devils miss the playoffs, I am not so sure what will happen.

What do you think: Is DeBoer a lock to return next season?

Comment and vote if you wish. I find this situation interesting because Lou is not patient but is trying to change the Devils' system. Will he cut PDB some slack?

Poll

Will DeBoer be fired if the Devils miss the playoffs?

No he won't. He will get another shot next year no matter what.

137 votes

Yes, If we are outside the playoffs, PDB is toast!

26 votes

Yes - but only if Devils completely collapse (finish 12th-15th in East)

65 votes

228 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I doubt it. DeBoer’s going to get a fair shake. If the Devils don’t make the playoffs next season, DeBoer might be gone (if he has them as a bottom 5 team, he’s gone for sure).

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by Kevin Sellathamby on Jan 27, 2012 6:58 PM EST reply actions

I agree with you about the bottom 5 ... but

I am not sure if he will be back if they finish in that 9 to 12 range in the East (just missing the playoffs by a couple of points).

I think Lou is trying to build this team on speed. I also thinks he would like stability at the head coaching position because of PARISE.

Zach probably is not happy, as are most players, that he has had as many coaches in 6 years as most players have in an entire NHL career.

by David Fine on Jan 27, 2012 7:47 PM EST up reply actions

Zach’s decision to leave could be based on the head coach.

He says he likes playing for DeBoer (don’t know how truthful that is), so we will see

by David Fine on Jan 27, 2012 7:48 PM EST up reply actions

Only if they collapse…. and maybe not even then. Perhaps if the team collapses and Parise departs as a free agent, Lou decides to take dynamite to this crew and ship out a significant number of players instead of changing coaches.

I don’t think this franchise benefits from the constant turnover behind the bench, even if any particular coaching change is completely justifiable. More than that, I don’t know that there’s a superior replacement out there. If DeBoer gets the axe, who do you bring in to replace him, and why is that guy going to be any better?

I wasn’t particularly thrilled with DeBoer’s hiring, but then again I didn’t get much of a charge out of any of the candidates that seemed to be out there (excepting Mike Eaves, which apparantly was invented by a bored reporter out of whole cloth). Let’s face it — there are far more NHL coaching jobs than there are great coaches to fill them. The ones who really are good don’t come free very often, and don’t remain free for long when they do.

by acasser on Jan 27, 2012 9:35 PM EST reply actions

DeBoer hasn’t proven himself, yet, to be a “great” coach. It seems he was sandbagged in Florida and as yet, he’s transitioning with a transitional Devs team and holding his own. So, average (top 10) or great (top 5) standings are hopefully enough for DeBoer to secure the job, get some consistency back at the head coaching position, and make Kovy, ZP, Elias, and the future Gs comfortable. I’ll include Henrique and hopefully Zajac, Palmieri, and Tedenby again as players who’ll need some comfort because we could see these players for the next 2-4 years. Clarky already knows/ likes DeBoer.

So, yeah, get some stability there. That goes to coaching carousel concern you expressed. Each of the past 5 hires/ fires or departures had some merit, right? Cancer, exhaustion, mid-season failure, and retirement were the reasons I remember.

As a whole though, the coaching changes are frustrating (as a fan) and stifling for the players, I assume. One guy with a 3-5 year tenure would be a help.

by Alan Wright on Jan 29, 2012 8:17 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Julien/ Sutter

Yeah, those. I don’t remember the context at this point but Julien was fired and Sutter basically went home to his mama. Shame about that. That added to the carousel and I hope those aren’t repeated.

by Alan Wright on Jan 29, 2012 8:23 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I want to keep DeBoer.

Besides the use of Tedenby, I like what he’s done and he should continue to work with them.

by Devils1192 on Jan 27, 2012 11:52 PM EST reply actions

The team is close to being broke. They’re only paying 1 coach. I think they’d like to keep it that way. Plus, I am tired of fans thinking that getting rid of the coach is the answer, as it almost never is.

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by Triumph44 on Jan 28, 2012 1:38 AM EST reply actions

I guess you weren’t around last january and february?

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by Rory B. Bellows on Jan 28, 2012 12:45 PM EST up reply actions

I believe that part of the problem with the post-lockout Devils is that they’ve gone through so many coaches and coaching changes. The Devils lost many veterans (Stevens, Rafalski, Gomez, Nieds, Gio, Martin, etc.) and became a younger team, and all of these coaching changes can be tough on players.

I’m not a huge Pete DeBoer fan, but I think it’s important to give this guy a chance to stay around for a while and see what he can do. I suppose if the Devils free-fall miserably, they’d have to consider a replacement, depending on the circumstances.

Also worthy of note, Zach Parise was quoted as saying he’d step through a brick wall or something like that for Pete. Kovy likes Pete. That’s important, especially given #9’s contract situation. Firing DeBoer might be a red flag for Zach, if the ownership situation isn’t enough to deal with already.

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by DownGoesAvery on Jan 28, 2012 4:02 PM EST reply actions

This pretty much. I was never a fan of him as a hire, I said we shoulda got Hitch when it happened. That sure worked out for the Blues. Hard to say if it would for us, too, but I wonder.

That all said, I dont know that canning Pete is the solution. I thought for a while it might be during some of the rougher stretches, but the bottom line is theyre doing well enough right now for what they are. This is not the elite group of players it used to be. We basically dont have a fourth line, and our third is still semi-questionable. Our defense is not so hot, and our goaltending is aging and inconsistent.

Unless they drop to the bottom of the conference, you cant really blame Deboer. I would say the blame might have to rest a little higher than him, with management and ownership.

by Chris Calabrese on Jan 28, 2012 6:38 PM EST up reply actions

I think the Devs will make the playoffs, first of all.

PDB will be back next season either way.

by Bobby V on Jan 30, 2012 10:02 AM EST reply actions

I'd like the headcoach to stay for more than a year or two, yes

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by Willgfass on Jan 31, 2012 10:19 PM EST reply actions