The New York Islanders have named Pete DeBoer of Dunnville, Ontario as their new head coach on Sunday according to the Associated Press. The fact that the Islanders made a coaching change so late in the season is significant as the Islanders only have four games left in the regular season, and they fired Hockey Hall of Famer Patrick Roy of Quebec City, Quebec as their head coach.
DeBoer is a veteran head coach in the National Hockey League. The Islanders will be the sixth NHL franchise he has been the head coach for. DeBoer was also the head coach for the Florida Panthers (2008 to 2011), the New Jersey Devils (2011 to 2015), the San Jose Sharks (2015 to 2020), the Vegas Golden Knights (2020 to 2022), and the Dallas Stars (2022 to 2025).
In 1261 games as a NHL head coach, DeBoer has a record of 662 wins, 447 regulation losses and 152 losses in extra time. He has a winning percentage of .585.
DeBoer has been to two Stanley Cup Finals and lost them both. While with the Devils, he lost the 2012 Stanley Cup Final in six games to the Los Angeles Kings. While with the Sharks, he lost the 2016 Stanley Cup Final in six games to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Islanders have a record of 42 wins, 31 regulation losses and five losses in extra time for 89 points. They are one point back of the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers for a playoff spot in the hotly contested Eastern Conference.
