New head coach already lined up in Edmonton?

After last night’s 8–3 loss to the Dallas Stars, a game that saw Stuart Skinner pulled after allowing four goals on eight shots, frustration around the Edmonton Oilers has surged back to the surface. And with the fanbase reaching a breaking point, one name is suddenly being whispered as a potential replacement for head coach Kris Knoblauch: Pete DeBoer.

Wouldn’t that be ironic?

DeBoer’s name resurfaced almost immediately following the loss, largely because of his recent and dramatic exit from Dallas. He was fired after a storm of criticism over pulling Jake Oettinger early in Game 5 of last year’s Western Conference Final against the Oilers, a moment still hotly debated among Stars fans.

But controversy aside, DeBoer’s résumé is no joke. In three seasons with Dallas, he posted a 149-68-29 record and the best points percentage in the NHL (.665) over that span. His playoff performance wasn’t far behind: the Stars went 29-27, trailing only the Oilers and Panthers in total postseason wins during those years.

Across his career, DeBoer has coached more than 1,200 regular-season games with the Panthers, Devils, Sharks, Golden Knights, and Stars, collecting 662 wins and nearly 100 postseason victories. Few coaches available, or potentially available, bring that level of experience.

There’s no confirmation the Oilers are considering a change, and Knoblauch remains behind the bench for now. But with the team spiraling and emotions boiling over in Edmonton, speculation is inevitable.

And if the Oilers do decide to move on? The hockey world and impatient fans in Edmonton already has one name circled.