Former New Jersey Devils head coach Pete DeBoer has once again been assigned behind an NHL bench.
On Easter Sunday, the New York Islanders made the smart move of firing head coach Patrick Roy and replacing him with DeBoer, as the Isles were going through a slump during the regular season, and were struggling to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Islanders are tied for third place in the Metropolitan Division by one point with the Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets. Philly and Columbus have games on the Islanders, which could knock New York out of the playoff picture by the end of the season.
According to multiple sources, DeBoer's new deal with the Islanders is only through the remainder of the 2025-26 season and not the playoffs. There is a condition attached to his new deal that is yet to be disclosed.
The Islanders noted DeBoer's success as a head coach in the NHL, citing his success with the San Jose Sharks – qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs in four of his five campaigns with the Sharks and helping the team reach their first Stanley Cup Final in franchise history during the 2015–16 season.
He also noted DeBoer's four seasons in New Jersey, particularly the season he reached the Stanley Cup Finals in his first campaign with the club in 2011–12.
DeBoer also has several deep Stanley Cup playoff appearances, most recently with the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights.
DeBoer ranks 18th in NHL history in coaching wins (662) and 22nd in games coached (1,261), and he has a perfect 9–0 record in Game 7s, the most Game 7 wins in NHL coaching history.
In 2024, the Islanders relieved former coach Lane Lambert during his second season as head coach in New York in favor of Roy in a similarly shrewd move.
Now, the Devils' opponent will be led by one of the most successful playoff coaches in NHL history, who has yet to claim hockey's ultimate prize.
