Some things in life aren't meant to be shocking. You see a loopy man stumble across the park, knowing he'll eventually fall and hurt himself. Who knows? He might soil himself in the process.
That was the case with former Golden Knights head coach Pete DeBoer. The Dallas Stars fired him on Friday after another Western Conference Final exit. Sure, he might be an excellent regular season head coach with a career record of 1,261-662-447 (.585 points percentage). But when it comes to the semifinal round, he's wasted and peeing himself on the way home from the bar.
How, you might ask? Well, it's by being eliminated in your last six semifinal appearances. DeBoer seems to be embroiled in some goaltending controversy as well. In 2020, it was starting Robin Lehner over Marc-Andre Fleury that led to the iconic photo from his agent Allan Walsh.
This season? Jake Oettinger was the victim after being pulled in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final. After he faced two shots and allowed two goals, the head coach pulled his best goaltender for no reason. In comes Casey DeSmith and the series is over. Thank you, sir. I'll have another.
The Pete DeBoer problem
That goes back to a broader problem regarding Pete DeBoer. First, he's notorious for mishandling his players at the worst time. He did this with Fleury in a crucial moment and caused chaos in the Golden Knights organization.
Now? He pulled Oettinger in Game 5 and threw him under the bus in the postgame press conference. That's crazy enough to get you canned from your job (like being drunk on the job).
Sure, he'll win you games when it's the regular season. That's what makes him ideal for a team like the Buffalo Sabres. However, when it's crunch time, he tends to overthink a situation and make one bad move.
Golden Knights fans know this and have seen it firsthand. Being eliminated in five games by the Dallas Stars in 2020? Not shocking. Missing the playoffs (which is the only time in franchise history, by the way) with a team consisting of Jack Eichel? Inexcusable.
Thank goodness Kelly McCrimmon recognized that problem with DeBoer
When DeBoer was let go in 2022, Kelly McCrimmon was looking for someone to lead the team. He wanted a head coach who wouldn't make passive-aggressive quips about his goaltender and make necessary lineup changes. That man was Bruce Cassidy.
Ironically, Vegas won the Stanley Cup in Cassidy's first season, proving that McCrimmon was justified in his move. No goaltender drama or bar fights included. It established the man as the true franchise leader, being bold when the situation called for it.
Breaking up the "Misfit" line? Unfathomable under the DeBoer regime. But Cassidy did exactly that in 2022-23, leading to Jonathan Marchessault eventually winning the Conn Smythe. He also scored 42 goals the next season thanks to being paired with Jack Eichel.
The Dallas Stars saw firsthand what happened to their former head coach under pressure. They saw a team that fell short despite having Mikko Rantanen and Jason Robertson on their squad. Vegas Golden Knights fans can only shake their heads after seeing Friday's news. Pour one out for another fallen goaltender, gang.