Devils fire coach Peter DeBoer
When the New Jersey Devils return from the holiday break, they will be doing so with a new coach.
Peter DeBoer has been fired after three-plus seasons behind the bench, general manager Lou Lamoriello confirmed to reporters. A replacement will likely be announced Saturday.
TSN was the first to report the firing.
New Jersey sits 14th in the Eastern Conference with a 12-17-7 record. DeBoer led the Devils to a Stanley Cup appearance in 2012, his first season, but the team has not made the playoffs since.
Overall, the Devils were 114-93-41 during his tenure.
In the offseason, Lamoriello attempted to boost an anemic offense by signing Mike Cammalleri and Martin Havlat, but that has hardly helped. The Devils scored just 2.4 goals per game last season and have struggled even more this season, with just 2.11 goals per game. Cammalleri's 11 goals lead the team.
The Devils signed goalie Cory Schneider to a long-term extension in July as well. With an 11-16-4 record, 2.51 goals-against average and .917 save percentage, Schneider hasn't lived up to expectations, but he's been the least of the team's issues.
New Jersey is an old, plodding team that lacks game breakers. It is the oldest team in hockey, averaging over 30, according to stats.nhlnumbers.com. That 42-year-old Jaromir Jagr is tied for the Devils' lead with 20 points underscores the roster's flaws. Four defensemen are 23 or younger, so that group has promise.
In recent seasons, the Devils have been hit with the departures of forwards Ilya Kovalchuk (Kontinental Hockey League) and Zach Parise (Minnesota Wild).
But Lamoriello hasn't drafted forwards well recently, either.
Since the 2004-05 lockout, just one player he drafted has scored at least 20 goals and tallied at least 50 points in a season at the NHL level: Adam Henrique (drafted in 2005).
DeBoer is the third coach fired this season. The Ottawa Senators fired Paul MacLean earlier in the month and the Edmonton Oilers fired Dallas Eakins on Dec. 15.
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