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Vegas Golden Knights: Three reasons why DeBoer was hired

By Andrew Steele-Davis

SAN JOSE, CA - SEPTEMBER 19: (L-R) General Manager Doug Wilson, Erik Karlsson, and head coach Peter DeBoer of the San Jose Sharks pose for a photo during a press conference at the Hilton on September 19, 2018 in San Jose, California (Photo by Brandon Magnus/NHLI via Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA - SEPTEMBER 19: (L-R) General Manager Doug Wilson, Erik Karlsson, and head coach Peter DeBoer of the San Jose Sharks pose for a photo during a press conference at the Hilton on September 19, 2018 in San Jose, California (Photo by Brandon Magnus/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 28: (L-R) Joe Pavelski #8, Brent Burns #88, coach Peter DeBoer and goaltender Martin Jones #31 of the San Jose Sharks pose for a photo in the bench area during the 2017 Coors Light NHL All-Star Skills Competition at Staples Center on January 28, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 28: (L-R) Joe Pavelski #8, Brent Burns #88, coach Peter DeBoer and goaltender Martin Jones #31 of the San Jose Sharks pose for a photo in the bench area during the 2017 Coors Light NHL All-Star Skills Competition at Staples Center on January 28, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) /

1. His Resume

It doesn’t take long to work out that Peter DeBoer is a very well respected coach in the National Hockey League and he also knows how to win.

Granted, he hasn’t yet got a Stanley Cup on his resume but he did take the New Jersey Devils to the Stanley Cup Final in 2012, before doing the same with the San Jose Sharks in 2016.

DeBoer also led the Sharks to the Western Conference Final last year and he is known to be able to get the best out of a group of players.

He boasts a career coaching record of 415-329-111 and he is taking over what is a talented Vegas Golden Knights roster, although it does have flaws.

But if you take a look at DeBoer’s track record with the Sharks alone, then you get some idea of why the Vegas front office would have been attracted to their new Head Coach.

San Jose never missed the playoffs in DeBoer’s four full seasons there, while they racked up the eighth-most regular seasons from 2016 to 2019 with 137.

The Sharks were known for their offensive prowess under DeBoer and they were also exceptional on the power play over the span of DeBoer’s four full seasons, amassing 151 goals on the man advantage which is ranked 10th in the NHL.

And, while things went stale this season in San Jose with DeBoer fired after a 15-16-2 start, the 51-year-old will be inheriting a talented group of players in Vegas and a roster that is built to win right now.

He will need to try and resurrect Marc-Andre Fleury who isn’t having the season you would expect, while DeBoer will also need to try and generate some secondary scoring from his team.

The front office will no doubt try to add one or two pieces at the Trade Deadline, and it is clear that they believe they have a coach in Peter DeBoer who can win a championship with this franchise.

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