Peter DeBoer takes over as Islanders coach with an eye on the playoffs and future
EAST MEADOW, N. Y. (AP) — Matthew Schaefer and Peter DeBoer have just spent one practice together, and the young face of the New York Islanders already understands a couple of very important things about one of the best defensive minds in hockey who just took over as the team's coach.
“I know he loves winning,” Schaefer said. “I know he knows how to coach a team. " DeBoer took the ice Monday with a daunting immediate task of trying to push the Islanders into the playoffs following the firing of Patrick Roy roughly 24 hours earlier.
They may need to win all four games left to get in after losing their past four and seven of 10 to fall out of a spot, but the move to bring in an accomplished leader with a record of success is as much about the future as salvaging this season. “This is not only about this year,” general manager Mathieu Darche said. “If it’s truly only about four games left when you don’t fully control your destiny, it’s not a desperate move about this year.
” No, it's more about jumping the line on other NHL teams to get one of the top coaching candidates available before they start making moves in the coming weeks. Los Angeles and Columbus currently have interim coaches, Toronto is looking for a new GM and could also change coaches — and that's just the beginning. “Guys like Pete DeBoer don’t stay on the market very long,” Darche said.
“At this time, I think it’s what we need moving forward. It’s like grabbing the No. 1 free agent on the market.
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