Peter DeBoer is right back in the game.
Fired mid-season by the New Jersey Devils, the 46-year-old was named the new head coach of the San Jose Sharks Thursday.
Upon learning of the new hire, Sharks defenceman Marc-Edouard Vlasic tweeted his thumbs-up approval.
A native of Dunnville, Ont., DeBoer coached the Devils for three and a half seasons, leading the club to a Stanley Cup Final berth in 2012. He also coached the Florida Panthers from the 2008-09 season through 2010-11 but was fired after three playoff-free campaigns.
DeBoer was fired by the Devils 36 games into 2014-15 and replaced by co-coaches Adam Oates and Scott Stevens.
San Jose finished 40-33-9 this past season, after which general manager Doug Wilson cut ties with head coach Todd McLellan. McLellan took the head coaching position with the Edmonton Oilers shortly thereafter.
Earlier this month DeBoer served as an assistant to McLellan in the Czech Republic, helping Team Canada win the IIHF World Championship.
DeBoer holds a law degree and was a successful major junior coach for 13 seasons, capturing the 2003 Memorial Cup with the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers. He is also part-owner of the OHL’s Oshawa Generals.
In seven NHL seasons, DeBoer has made the playoffs just once. His career record behind the bench is 205-183-70.
DeBoer first interviewed to become San Jose’s head coach seven years ago, according to ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun, but the job went to McLellan.
Randy Carlyle, Adam Oates and Dan Bylsma were three other candidates reportedly up for the vacant San Jose position.
The Devils, Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres currently remain without a head coach, but it is expected that Detroit will hire Jeff Blashill for the job.
