Ex-Stars coach confronts his harsh message to Jake Oettinger for playoff loss against Oilers
Photo credit: Imagn Images
Former Stars coach Pete DeBoer made waves after their playoff loss to the Oilers when he essentially blamed his star goalie for the loss - and now he's walking it back.
Jake Oettinger is considered one of the top goalies in the NHL, but the Stars pulled him just 5 minutes into an elimination Game 5. After the game, DeBoer pointed to Oettinger's consistent struggles against the Oilers.
Oettinger posted a 3.93 GAA and .893 save percentage against the Oilers after putting up a .919 in the first two playoff rounds - but the Oilers dismantled the entire Stars roster.
Former Stars coach Pete DeBoer walks back comments on Jake Oettinger after playoff loss
DeBoer was fired shortly after the Stars' playoff loss, with many speculating that him losing the locker room over these comments may have been a potential reason why.
In a new interview with NHL.com, DeBoer clarified his comments, took the blame himself, and apologized to Oettinger.
«Listen, we were all to blame for coming up short again, and it starts with me. It was on me, it was on all the coaches, it was on all the players, it was on the organization as a whole. We all created the disappointment. We were all to blame, not just one guy.
When all the questions at the postgame press conference were about Jake, I should have redirected the topic to reflect that this wasn't just about him, this was about all of us. We -- and I stress the word 'we' -- did not get the job done. We were on a run in which we'd lost six of our past seven games against Edmonton in the third round dating back to 2024. In one of my answers, I said he'd lost six of seven to them. But it wasn't just him. It was all of us. That's not on just one guy. I should have made that clearer.
- Pete DeBoer
When all the questions at the postgame press conference were about Jake, I should have redirected the topic to reflect that this wasn't just about him, this was about all of us. We -- and I stress the word 'we' -- did not get the job done. We were on a run in which we'd lost six of our past seven games against Edmonton in the third round dating back to 2024. In one of my answers, I said he'd lost six of seven to them. But it wasn't just him. It was all of us. That's not on just one guy. I should have made that clearer.
- Pete DeBoer
Oettinger himself responded to the comments from his former coach, saying he appreciated him clarifying his stance.
»I mean, I think I feel like he hit the nail on the head. I agree with what his reflection was. I'm glad he said what he said.»
- Jake Oettinger
- Jake Oettinger
The Stars' goaltender may have not lived up to his star-calibre status in the series against the Oilers, but Edmonton was a far better team in every other aspect. It was perplexing to see DeBoer break the code and blame the loss on his goalie. He needed to walk back these comments.
Now with the St. Louis Blues, DeBoer is back in action and will be looking to take an up and coming team and mold them into a new cup contender - where he'll still have to go through the Edmonton Oilers.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 14 | 200 ANSWERS Ex-Stars coach confronts his harsh message to Jake Oettinger for playoff loss against Oilers Do you think DeBoer's comments toward Oettinger were offside? | ||
TRENDING NOW
