The Dallas Stars have their next head coach. According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Stars are hiring Peter DeBoer for their head coaching vacancy.
DeBoer takes over the Dallas job following the departure of Rick Bowness. Bowness took over the team in 2019, but stepped away following the Stars' exit from the playoffs.
Earlier this month, Stars general manager Jim Nill told the Dallas Morning News that the team's search began with 30-35 candidates for their vacancy.
Under Bowness, the Stars made the 2020 Stanley Cup Final but lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Dallas eliminated the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Finals that year, who were coached by DeBoer.
The 54-year-old DeBoer became the second head coach in Golden Knights history in January 2020, following the dismissal of Gerard Gallant. DeBoer led the Knights to two Conference Finals appearances but lost both times. He was fired after missing the playoffs in 2021-22.
DeBoer has also previously coached the Florida Panthers (2008-11), New Jersey Devils (2011-15), and the San Jose Sharks (2015-20). The 54-year-old has made the Stanley Cup Finals with the Devils and Sharks, but lost both times.
DeBoer faced criticism over his handling of the goaltending situation in Vegas, as well as the team's underperforming power play.
The Stars are on to their fifth head coach since the 2017 season. Lindy Ruff, Ken Hitchcock, and Jim Montgomery preceded Bowness and DeBoer behind the Dallas bench.
The Stars faced the Calgary Flames in the playoffs in 2021-22, but lost in the first round. Dallas has not won the Stanley Cup since 1999, when they defeated the Buffalo Sabres in six games.
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