Lou Lamoriello wanted all the speculation to end, so he squashed it in the swiftest way he could imagine.
Summoning reporters to a location inside the Prudential Center at the first intermission of Sunday afternoon’s season-finale 3-2 win over the Bruins, the Devils general manager said third-year coach Pete
DeBoer is under contract for next season, and has been under contract amid all of the rumors circling about his pending so-called free agency.
“I thought I’d get really out of character and put this to rest,” Lamoriello said. “Pete DeBoer is under contract for next year, has been under contract for next year, and will be coaching next year. That’s all
I have say, I won’t get into any other discussions.”
DeBoer had been linked to a possible opening with the Maple Leafs, assuming Randy Carlyle was going to get fired after they missed the playoffs. And even DeBoer was coy about his situation when asked about it over the past couple days, including Sunday morning when he said, “I don’t know” regarding his future with the team.
Yet after the game and after Lamoriello’s conference, DeBoer was a little more open.
“I don’t think you ever know until it’s publicly announced or your boss comes in and says, ‘Hey, you’re back next year,’ ” DeBoer said after the game. “So you guys can figure out the timing.”
DeBoer took the Devils to Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals two seasons ago before losing to the Kings, and said doesn’t think they’re that far off, even after consecutive playoff misses.
“I definitely think we have some unfinished business,” he said.
And for Lamoriello, what he called “misinformation about our coach” is now dealt with.
“Wherever the information is coming from, I can’t answer that,” Lamoriello said. “But I thought I’d put that to rest.”