In replacing Todd McLellan, the San Jose Sharks sought an experienced coach. Enter Peter DeBoer, who the team introduced as its next head coach Thursday.
"Peter is a well-respected leader who possesses all of the characteristics we were looking for in our next head coach," general manager Doug Wilson said. "He's an extremely intelligent and innovative individual who likes to play an aggressive system. Peter has a track record of extracting the most out of his players and is willing to make tough decisions that are based on achieving team success. We're extremely excited to have him leading our group."
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McLellan was let go last month after a season that again fell short of expectations. He now coaches the Edmonton Oilers.
With DeBoer, the Sharks gain a proven coach with a Stanley Cup appearance to his credit. He is 217-200-77 in the NHL, beginning with the Florida Panthers in 2008. Florida fired him after three seasons.
DeBoer joined he Devils in 2011 and took them to the Stanley Cup finals in his first season.
The Devils haven't been back to the playoffs since their Eastern Conference finals title. They fired DeBoer 36 games into the 2014-15 season after a 12-17-7 start.
"The expectation is to win right now," DeBoer said during his introductory news conference. "I don't think that anyone's looking for anything less than that here."
With a roster including Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski, the Sharks have talent. But they missed the playoffs this season for the first time since McLellan took over as coach in 2008-09. The Sharks "mutually parted ways" with McLellan last month, in part because of locker room turmoil and a roster that never found playoff success.
DeBoer will be expected to win right away, observers see major changes to the aging roster on the horizon.