The New Jersey Devils have fired coach Pete DeBoer. (USATSI)
After three-and-a-half seasons behind the team' bench, the New Jersey Devils have fired coach Pete DeBoer.
Though no replacement has yet to be named, the Devils confirmed a change has been made and that general manager Lou Lamoriello will not comment or announce a replacment until Saturday.
Whether or not the Devils' current place in the standings is a result of DeBoer's coaching, this seemed like a move that has been inevitable for a few weeks now given the results on the ice. The Devils are buried in the Eastern Conference standings and a team that under Lamoriello has quite a history of coaching changes. Combine that with the fact they have missed the playoffs two years in a row and are on their way to a third-consecutive non-playoff season, this just seemed like it was only a matter of when and not if.
During DeBoer's time with the Devils the team compiled a 114-93-41 record. Before coaching the Devils, he spent three years coaching the Florida Panthers.
In his first season with the Devils they went on a surprising run to the Stanley Cup Final as the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference where they would go on to lose to the Los Angeles Kings in six games.
As of Friday, the Devils have a 12-17-7 record which is the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference. They are nine points out of a playoff spot and only two points ahead of Buffalo in the standings.
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