Our neighbors to the west have a new head coach, as the New Jersey Devils have announced that former Panthers coach Pete DeBoer has been hired to replace the retired (again, and again, and I think again) Jacques Lemaire.

DeBoer was the coach of the Florida Panthers before being fired in April after missing the playoffs a third straight season.

Of course, this is the type of stuff you often hear after a coach is fired, but this from a Miami Herald article in April:

The Panthers are definitely moving on. A number of players spoke of a new start being needed as DeBoer’s style wore on them. One veteran player said it would be good for a fresh start as players were "afraid to make mistakes," under DeBoer.