Report: Stars players want Pete DeBoer fired after how he handled Jake Oettinger

The Dallas Stars' offseason is just four days old, but the team appears headed towards making a giant decision that will have major ramifications for next season and beyond.

What on Earth do they do with head coach Pete DeBoer?

DeBoer, of course, is firmly on the hot seat after making the decision to pull star goaltender Jake Oettinger after allowing 2 goals on 2 shots in the Stars' season-ending Game 5 loss to the Edmonton Oilers last week. And, frankly, it wasn't just the decision that put DeBoer on the hot seat, it was his rationale after the fact.

"The reality is, if you go back to last year's playoffs, he's lost 6 of 7 games to Edmonton and we gave up 2 shots on 2 goals in an elimination game."

- Peter DeBoer

Add in the fact that DeBoer admitted that he hadn't spoke to Oettinger since the game and... well... you can't blame Stars fans for wanting DeBoer to get the boot.

And apparently it's not just the fans who are fed up with DeBoer's mind games, the Stars' own players aren't happy with things either.

NHL insider David Pagnotta reports that several Stars players are "not pleased with how he (DeBoer) handled several situations during the Westn Conference Final, along with post Game 5 exit media remarks."

Pagnotta reports that several players voiced their concerns to management during their internal exit interviews.

Check it out:

As Pagnotta points out, DeBoer has one year remaining left on his contract.

Personally, I don't see how DeBoer can re-gain the respect of Oettinger, and by extension the rest of the Stars' core roster. He's a total lame-duck head coach and I don't expect the Stars to bring him back next season.