It's his sixth stop running an NHL bench. For Peter DeBoer, the New York Islanders will offer a challenge different from others faced previously. Since taking over for Patrick Roy in April, there's been minimal personnel turnover and an offense and power play among the lowest tanked in the NHL.
Still, there's a solid defense core led by Calder Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer and an elite-level goaltender in Ilya Sorokin.
DeBoer will share his thoughts on his team amidst a very competitive Metropolitan Division.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[01:52] - N.Y. Islanders head coach Peter DeBoer is welcomed to the show and takes a trip down memory lane with Neil to his days in junior with Windsor of the OHL and some of the future NHL personnel he played with or was coached by.
[06:03] - As the discussion moves to coaching, Neil and Peter talk about the humility of the coaching profession.
[07:28] - By getting in late in the last season, DeBoer has now spent every season since 2008-09 behind an NHL bench. Still, he credits the break for most of 2025-26 for giving him the itch to get back in.
[08:50] - Neil and Pete take a look back on DeBoer's coaching days in Kitchener, where he enjoyed success with two OHL championships and a Memorial Cup in 2003.
[10:46] - DeBoer's Muhammad Ali story.
[13:01] - And had DeBoer not gone on to coaching hockey, he likely would have been quite the lawyer.
[15:33] - Now in his sixth NHL stop, the jury is still out for DeBoer as to whether this Islander team has any of the signatures of the Panthers, Devils, Sharks, Golden Knights or Stars teams he's led.
[18:23] - The significance of the four games at the end of 2025-26 that helped ease the transition for the new season.
[20:03] - Thoughts on the shorter training camp - one which another NHL head coach would like to see even shorter.
[21:37] - DeBoer has enjoyed particular success in the first seasons at all of his previous NHL stops, similar to the current head coach in LA, Peter Laviolette. Is there a secret sauce?
[23:55] - The comeback of Semyon Varlamov. After not having played for 662 days, there is a strong possibility he could start the season as Ilya Sorokin's backup.
[26:30] - Matt Barzal update.
[27:34] - With an team that has been offensively challenged for the past couple of seasons, DeBoer shares the priorities of where the team needs to get to in order to produce enough to compete for a playoff spot.
[29:28] - Part of that offensive struggle has been a woeful power play. Is it simply a matter of good and bad coaching with the man advantage that decides success?
[31:27] - The anticipation of working with Calder Trophy winner Matthew Schaefer.
[33:34] - Putting a wrap on the discussion with Pete DeBoer
[36:12] - Other league news including holdouts, contracts, injuries and retirements.
X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound
Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil
Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/
NHL Wraparound Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/
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