Fantasy Impact: Vegas Golden Knights Fire Peter DeBoer
Dobber
2022-05-16
After two-plus seasons at the helm, Pete DeBoer has been fired from his four NHL team after they failed to make the postseason.
In all fairness, the Golden Knights had 484 man-games lost to injury. The numbers:
Reilly Smith out 26 games, Max Pacioretty out 43 games, William Karlsson out 15 games, Mark Stone out 45 games, Alec Martinez out 56 games and Robin Lehner out 17 games (and backed up a few when he probably couldn't have played). Let's not even mention Jack Eichel, as they acquired him already injured. These are key members of the team – and Vegas still only just barely missed the playoffs, actually finishing with the second most points in team history with 94.
But the Golden Knights have a history of disloyalty, not just with the players but also with the coach, as Gerard Gallant was fired as soon as DeBoer became available. Is it déjà vu all over again? Because Barry Trotz is now available – is that the reason DeBoer is now done?
If Trotz is indeed the replacement, you can dial back your Vegas skaters in terms of fantasy expectations. I'm talking from Jack Eichel and Mark Stone up front to Shea Theodore on the back end. Their upside would go down by five to 15 points. But goaltender Robin Lehner's value would skyrocket. In fact, Trotz coming in as coach would be the best thing that could happen to Lehner, who had him as his coach back on the Island and it turned his career around.
However, at this point it is just speculation. If the next coach is a person not named Barry, then that changes everything. John Tortorella? Mike Babcock? Until the official hire, we'll just have to wait and see, but the timing suggests Trotz is in their crosshairs.