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DeBoer’s glowing praise speaks volumes about talented Vegas Golden Knights

By Andrew Steele-Davis|
Vegas Golden Knights head coach Peter DeBoer directs his team during the first period of their game against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Vegas Golden Knights head coach Peter DeBoer directs his team during the first period of their game against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Head Coach Peter DeBoer has lavished praise on the Vegas Golden Knights and claims the current group is the best he’s worked with.

There were some who felt that DeBoer landed on his feet after being hired by the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 15, following the shocking firing of Gerard Gallant.

After all, DeBoer was still licking his wounds after being canned by the San Jose Sharks in the wake of a disappointing 15-16-2 start to the 2019-20 season.

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Given DeBoer’s ties with the Sharks and his war of words with Gallant during the heated First Round matchup between the two teams in the 2018-19 Stanley Cup Playoffs, many Vegas fans were not enthused with the hiring of DeBoer.

However, winning is the ultimate deodorant and DeBoer went a stellar 15-5-2 run with the Golden Knights prior to the NHL going on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vegas were really beginning to rise to the peak of their powers, ranking high in a number of metrics while ripping off eight straight wins from Feb. 13-28 and taking control of the Pacific Division.

With the NHLPA voting yes to a 24-team Playoff format, it does seem as though the Golden Knights will get the chance to finish what they started at some point this summer.

But, in the meantime, DeBoer has taken the time to dish out some high praise to the group he’s tasked with leading to ultimate glory.

Speaking on The Chirp Podcast with Darren Millard, along with Winnipeg Jets Head Coach Paul Maurice, DeBoer called the Golden Knights gig the “opportunity of a lifetime.”

"“I think you coach in this league for opportunities like this, with teams like this. I’m really thankful for how everything played out this year as tough as some of the moments were.” DeBoer on The Chirp Podcast."

Losing his job with the Sharks would have been tough, especially considering that DeBoer took San Jose to the Western Conference Finals in 2018-19.

However, Vegas has quickly morphed into one of the premier jobs in the NHL given how quickly they have built a Stanley Cup contender and the abundance of riches they have on the roster.

Plus, with Sin City emerging as a real hockey hotbed and with the Knights quickly becoming a powerhouse on and off the ice, you can see why DeBoer was delighted to have been given the opportunity to coach this team.

"“This is the most talented team I’ve had in my coaching career. It seems like a great combination of  talent, character and leadership.”"

This is the money quote.

DeBoer isn’t some novice, he’s a hockey savant who has been around for a while and his resume makes for impressive reading.

Just look at his body of work in San Jose where he had the opportunity to coach stars in the ilk of Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski, Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson.

Go further back, however, and you’ll discover that DeBoer has coached some of the best players the game has to offer while guiding both the New Jersey Devils and the Sharks to the Stanley Cup Final.

He coached Patrik Elias who is the Devils’ all-time leader in points (1,025), goals (408) and assists (617), while DeBoer has also had the pleasure to work with Hall of Fame goalie Martin Brodeur.

So, for DeBoer to come out and proclaim this Golden Knights roster as the best he’s worked with is really something.

And he isn’t wrong.

Marc-Andre Fleury is a surefire Hall of Famer once he hangs up his skates, Shea Theodore is a rising star on the blueline and Mark Stone is one of the most intelligent and elite game-changers in the NHL today.

Throw in the likes of William Karlsson, Alec Martinez, Max Pacioretty, Reilly Smith and Nate Schmidt to name just a few, then DeBoer certainly has a case for naming this group as the most talented he’s worked with.

The fact that he has made that statement public shows how much faith he has in this team, and Peter DeBoer will be hoping that this Vegas Golden Knights roster is the one to climb that mountain and help to win his first Stanley Cup.

You can listen to the full interview with Peter DeBoer and Paul Maurice on The Chirp by clicking the link below:

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