NEWARK, N.J., July 19 (UPI) -- Peter DeBoer, fired by the Florida Panthers after this past season, was named the head coach of the New Jersey Devils Tuesday.
DeBoer succeeds Jacques Lemaire, who went back into retirement after being coaxed into coaching the Devils after John MacLean was fired last season.
DeBoer produced a 103-107-36 record in three seasons with Florida. Before that he spent 13 years coaching in the Ontario Hockey League.
"Peter DeBoer is an individual who I have watched coach over the past two decades at the junior, international, and professional levels," Devils Chief Executive Officer Lou Lamoriello in a statement. "His teams have always been well-prepared and disciplined, while maximizing their effort each and every night. I am looking forward to working with him."
The Devils were 9-22-2 when MacLean was fired last December and Lemaire nearly got them into the playoffs with a 38-39-5 mark. It was the first time New Jersey has missed the post-season since 1996.
DeBoer was picked from a coaching field that reportedly included former Pittsburgh Coach Michel Therrien and Devils assistant Adam Oates.
