Rough way to end the season, but you’re spot on: Doesn’t matter if it’s Otter or Case in net, this game was lost either way. There are much bigger questions to be asked about the quality of defense and ability to finish scoring chances than there is about a goalie being pulled.
I would amend your comment to "ability to finish scoring chances IN THE PLAYOFFS". They finished great during the regular season, but we now have a large sample size of not finishing by this group in the playoffs.
Outstanding stuff again Robert!!!!! I did not have the coach throwing the goalie and team under the bus during his press conference on my bingo card. Especially the way he has always backed the players, especially Jake, for the last three years. I didn't have getting rid of DeBoer on my bingo card either until I listened to this entire presser. I'm not saying they should, we need some time to digest this, but.......... WOW!!!!!!
I think the way Pete handling the Oetter situation was rough but he’s sadly not wrong. Part of me is glad he said what he said. You can blame the defense all you want but the big difference in a lot of these games was that Skinner was able to make the saves when his defense failed him and Oetter was not. The whole team deserves and equal amount of blame. I know Pete can’t lace up the skates and score goals but as a leader it has to start and end with him. He needs to be more accountable for the now 3 playoff seasons of his team not coming out the gates swinging.
LOL, I think the big difference was mostly that they had Conner McDavid and Leon Draisaitl doing what they always do and the Stars not having an answer either offensively or defensively.
Great analysis Robert. My gut tells me DeBoer is gone because this implosion. Sometimes how lose is more important than losing. But then Again this team survived “Horseshit” gate. Lites wasn’t wrong , but it did cost him his job
My view is the submit button is too close to the print :)))… I don’t fault PDB for trying what is a normal “desperate” fire alarm move by coaches… a lot of us are surprised it took him this long to do it (but fans by definition are more emotional -if our names are not Torterella).
I’m guessing that PDB yesterday was exactly the PDB that the team had seen in private all along, in what he had told us were honest critiques… that this team was strong enough take.
I have to admit, it’s sad to see his eternal positive energy… not rewarded by his team’s performance… I like he’s honest enough to show his disappointment.
There is being honest and then there is being tactful. There are certain things that happen with any team that need to stay within the team. People need to learn when not to say publicly every single thought that pops into their head, especially when they are angry or upset.
Looking back, PDB was pleading with this team at the end of the season to step up. He knew who they were. I had not heard him speak like that during his tenure. I have always thought Pavs was his guy and was the leader behind this team in previous seasons. It will be an interesting off season.
My first reaction was that DeBoer's decision to remove Oettinger (and not put him back in) was an unmitigated disaster, both for the game and for the future. The game, because neither goal was Otter's fault and he still gives you the best chance to win what was only a 2 goal game early in the first period. The future, because Otter is a franchise goalie who just signed an 8 year contract extension and also because you can no longer believe a coach who on countless previous occasions has had nothing but the highest praise for his starting goaltender.
I feel even stronger about it today. This is the kind of move that gets coaches fired. You might do it during the hockey dog days of January or February (although you shouldn't, at least not in public), but never in an elimination game in the Western Conference Finals. My guess is that DeBoer let his emotions get the better of him and then let his pride (or his vanity) prevent him from backing down or admitting a mistake. Otter alone did not lose 6 of his prior 7 playoff starts against the Oilers; the entire team did (including the coaching staff). In sum, Pete did not have a good night.
I don't have an opinion on whether he should be fired. I'm open to arguments either way. I have been a huge Pete DeBoer fan and still regard him as one of the best coaches in the NHL. That's not the issue. He lost his cool. That's not the issue either, not entirely. The issue is whether he has lost the team or Otter's trust in him. Jake will say the right things in public, but what is he REALLY thinking?
One other thing: the Stars ended the regularly season poorly and their poor play carried over into many long stretches in the playoffs. I don't know if the problem was conditioning, injuries, or just too many players on the downside of their careers who wore done by the end of the regular season. I don't know if DeBoer was already losing the team, but I doubt it. I think it is more the fact that they were still no better than the third or fourth best team in the NHL with Winnipeg and especially Colorado very close on their heels. You can't look at the Oilers and Panthers and conclude that they are not the two best teams remaining in the playoffs. Ultimately, the Stars need to improve their roster even more if they want to overtake these two teams. Especially on defense.
Rough way to end the season, but you’re spot on: Doesn’t matter if it’s Otter or Case in net, this game was lost either way. There are much bigger questions to be asked about the quality of defense and ability to finish scoring chances than there is about a goalie being pulled.
I would amend your comment to "ability to finish scoring chances IN THE PLAYOFFS". They finished great during the regular season, but we now have a large sample size of not finishing by this group in the playoffs.
Outstanding stuff again Robert!!!!! I did not have the coach throwing the goalie and team under the bus during his press conference on my bingo card. Especially the way he has always backed the players, especially Jake, for the last three years. I didn't have getting rid of DeBoer on my bingo card either until I listened to this entire presser. I'm not saying they should, we need some time to digest this, but.......... WOW!!!!!!
I think the way Pete handling the Oetter situation was rough but he’s sadly not wrong. Part of me is glad he said what he said. You can blame the defense all you want but the big difference in a lot of these games was that Skinner was able to make the saves when his defense failed him and Oetter was not. The whole team deserves and equal amount of blame. I know Pete can’t lace up the skates and score goals but as a leader it has to start and end with him. He needs to be more accountable for the now 3 playoff seasons of his team not coming out the gates swinging.
Agree
LOL, I think the big difference was mostly that they had Conner McDavid and Leon Draisaitl doing what they always do and the Stars not having an answer either offensively or defensively.
Great analysis Robert. My gut tells me DeBoer is gone because this implosion. Sometimes how lose is more important than losing. But then Again this team survived “Horseshit” gate. Lites wasn’t wrong , but it did cost him his job
I’m making a guess, that the honest reaction by PDB yesterday, was how he had been
My view is the submit button is too close to the print :)))… I don’t fault PDB for trying what is a normal “desperate” fire alarm move by coaches… a lot of us are surprised it took him this long to do it (but fans by definition are more emotional -if our names are not Torterella).
I’m guessing that PDB yesterday was exactly the PDB that the team had seen in private all along, in what he had told us were honest critiques… that this team was strong enough take.
I have to admit, it’s sad to see his eternal positive energy… not rewarded by his team’s performance… I like he’s honest enough to show his disappointment.
There is being honest and then there is being tactful. There are certain things that happen with any team that need to stay within the team. People need to learn when not to say publicly every single thought that pops into their head, especially when they are angry or upset.
Just wanted to thank you for your amazing coverage this season! I love your writing style! My subscription is money very well spent!
What Scott said.
Thank you, Scott! I'll keep writing if y'all keep reading.
Looking back, PDB was pleading with this team at the end of the season to step up. He knew who they were. I had not heard him speak like that during his tenure. I have always thought Pavs was his guy and was the leader behind this team in previous seasons. It will be an interesting off season.
My first reaction was that DeBoer's decision to remove Oettinger (and not put him back in) was an unmitigated disaster, both for the game and for the future. The game, because neither goal was Otter's fault and he still gives you the best chance to win what was only a 2 goal game early in the first period. The future, because Otter is a franchise goalie who just signed an 8 year contract extension and also because you can no longer believe a coach who on countless previous occasions has had nothing but the highest praise for his starting goaltender.
I feel even stronger about it today. This is the kind of move that gets coaches fired. You might do it during the hockey dog days of January or February (although you shouldn't, at least not in public), but never in an elimination game in the Western Conference Finals. My guess is that DeBoer let his emotions get the better of him and then let his pride (or his vanity) prevent him from backing down or admitting a mistake. Otter alone did not lose 6 of his prior 7 playoff starts against the Oilers; the entire team did (including the coaching staff). In sum, Pete did not have a good night.
I don't have an opinion on whether he should be fired. I'm open to arguments either way. I have been a huge Pete DeBoer fan and still regard him as one of the best coaches in the NHL. That's not the issue. He lost his cool. That's not the issue either, not entirely. The issue is whether he has lost the team or Otter's trust in him. Jake will say the right things in public, but what is he REALLY thinking?
One other thing: the Stars ended the regularly season poorly and their poor play carried over into many long stretches in the playoffs. I don't know if the problem was conditioning, injuries, or just too many players on the downside of their careers who wore done by the end of the regular season. I don't know if DeBoer was already losing the team, but I doubt it. I think it is more the fact that they were still no better than the third or fourth best team in the NHL with Winnipeg and especially Colorado very close on their heels. You can't look at the Oilers and Panthers and conclude that they are not the two best teams remaining in the playoffs. Ultimately, the Stars need to improve their roster even more if they want to overtake these two teams. Especially on defense.
Great article once again Robert, I always enjoy them.
But I do think you need an asterisk after this line “Nill has never fired a coach.” Because he did fire Monty (but not for on ice reasons).
Ah, yes. That's true. Good point! I tend to put that firing in a non-hockey category in my mind, but I should write it more accurately.