Now, he'll have to find the same kind of success as the new head coach of the San Jose Sharks. Since taking over the position, he has wasted little time in finding out what went wrong and why the team missed the playoffs.
We've seen teams grow old and tired of a strategy that has worked for so long, and Todd McLellan's coaching seems to have worn out its welcome on the Sharks players. Now that he's gone, a new face was definitely something the Sharks can use.
DeBoer is entering his third job as a head coach and he doesn't believe it will take long to get the Sharks well versed in his system of hockey. In his system, aggressive play on all ends is what matters.
"We're not going to make wholesale systemic changes," he said. "Our focus really will be not as much on the system but on our commitment within the system to do things that maybe this group got away from."
Peter DeBoer sounds like the guy who is not ready to wade into dangerous waters, unless it is absolutely necessary. He understands that players are used to a system that Todd McLellan put in place and he is willing to let it play out, while at the same time blending his system into their style of hockey. But it won't be long before the McLellan system is out for good and DeBoer has replaced it entirely.
I like that DeBoer is looking to the future and promising the success of the Sharks. I don't really see it happening anytime soon. Let's face it, this team is getting old. Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau are pretty much at the end of their terms with the Sharks and it probably won't be long before they go through the exit door. Antti Niemi is no longer there and Martin Jones has taken over. Is Martin Jones really the answer in goalie, at least for right now? I'm not sure until I can see him in some games. They did acquire Paul Martin and Joel Ward from the Penguins and Capitals, respectively. The defense was terrible last year (sorry, Sharks fans, it was) and the goaltending was okay, but not great. So maybe Paul Martin comes in and provides a little bit of an upgrade but it's not enough. That's why I don't believe the Sharks will make the playoffs this year. There's too many question marks and uncertainty, especially surrounding their veterans, the defense, and the goaltending. Sharks fans, I pray the best for you, but I doubt it'll lead to the equal sign for the playoffs.
DeBoer is looking towards the future and I can't blame him for that. He's trying to make this team better and to get them to adjust to a style of play that he believes can help them win the Stanley Cup. It just won't happen this year. San Jose was not an attractive candidate for many free agents, which is why they were only able to snag three notable players. Maybe one more year and more time for the rookies will help lead this team somewhere in the future, but next season, probably not.
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