Stars HC Peter DeBoer makes feelings known on latest Dallas Stars team being the best team from his 3-year reign in Dallas

Dallas Stars head coach Peter DeBoer shared his thoughts on whether the latest Stars team was the best during his tenure following their 6-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final, which ended their playoff run on Thursday.

DeBoer was asked if this was the strongest of the three Dallas teams he has coached and how close he feels they are to the ultimate goal of winning the championship. The Stars' coach noted that while his team appears the best on paper, he was not convinced it was the strongest overall.

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DeBoer pointed to concerns about how the team's regular-season performance carried into the playoffs, suggesting that lingering issues from the season's end raised concerns for him.

"I don't know. I'm not sure it was. Maybe on paper," DeBoer said. I'm not sure it was the best team. I’ll have to look at it. The way we ended the season, I think, bled into the playoffs a little bit for us, which still doesn’t sit right with me."

He added:

"Although we found a way to get through two really tough teams, that was a little bit of a red flag for me—that it went on that long and the way it went on. On paper, it might have been the best team we’ve had here. I’m not sure it was the best team."

Peter DeBoer was appointed head coach of the Dallas Stars in 2022. During his three-year tenure, the team has reached the Western Conference Final each season but has lost all three times.

The 56-year-old has compiled a regular-season record of 146-68-29 over three seasons with Dallas, consistently finishing in the top two in the Central Division.

Peter DeBoer explains controversial decision to pull Jake Oettinger

Peter DeBoer raised eyebrows by pulling goaltender Jake Oettinger in Game 5 after he allowed two goals within the first eight minutes of the opening period.

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Following the Stars' season-ending defeat, DeBoer offered a reserved assessment of his goalie's performance.

"I didn't blame it all on Jake, but the reality is, if you go back to last year's playoffs, he's lost six of seven games to Edmonton. And we gave up two goals on two shots in an elimination game," DeBoer said post-game via Sportsnet. "It was partly to spark our team and wake them up."

The Dallas Stars advanced to the West final after defeating the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 in Round 1 and the Winnipeg Jets 4-2 in Round 2.

About the author

Abhishek is an NHL writer at Sportskeeda with over 2 years of sports reporting experience and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delhi. He became a fan of ice hockey after watching NHL fight videos on YouTube, which led to him professionally writing about the sport and his continued interest in all things hockey.

A fan of the Boston Bruins, Abhishek considers their incredible comeback win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 playoffs as the most iconic moment in the NHL. His admiration for the six-time Stanley Cup winners also comes from the team’s storied history, distinctive black and gold uniform and their success in the sport. His all-time favorite NHL players are Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, for their ability to perform at the highest level consistently.

Abhishek ensures his reporting is fair and balanced by being well-researched in his details, which he expects to be relevant, up-to-date and in line with ethical standards. His specialties are doing detailed match analysis and covering fan reactions.

Abhishek enjoys music, traveling and going on walks with his three German Shepherds in his free time, along with learning about horticulture.

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Edited by Abhishek Dilta