NHL News: Stars shift direction, replace Peter DeBoer with familiar face behind the bench

The Dallas Stars are officially turning the page with a familiar face at the helm. On Tuesday, the team announced the hiring of Glen Gulutzan as head coach, marking his return to the franchise more than a decade after his first stint behind the bench.

Gulutzan replaces Pete DeBoer, who was dismissed on June 6 following Dallas’ third consecutive trip to the Western Conference Final. The Stars fell in five games to the Edmonton Oilers, where Gulutzan had spent the past seven seasons as an assistant coach. Now, the 53-year-old returns to Texas with renewed vision—and a Stanley Cup-caliber roster at his disposal.

“My family and I are excited to come back to Texas where I started my NHL coaching journey more than a decade ago,” Gulutzan said, according to NHL.com. “Jim and his staff have built a roster that is one of the most talented and deepest in the entire League. The right pieces are in place to compete for the Stanley Cup on a yearly basis.”

What’s changed since Gulutzan’s first stint in Dallas?

Gulutzan originally coached the Stars from 2011 to 2013, compiling a 64-57-9 record over two seasons before being relieved of his duties. His coaching journey continued with stops in Vancouver, Calgary, and most recently Edmonton, where he was part of a staff that reached back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals.

In total, Gulutzan brings a 146-125-23 career record as an NHL head coach and deep playoff experience as an assistant. He’s also no stranger to the Stars’ developmental system, having led the Texas Stars to the 2010 Calder Cup Finals while coaching in the AHL.

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A modern mind behind the bench

General manager Jim Nill praised the hire as both strategic and forward-thinking: “Since his previous time in Dallas, Glen has worked tirelessly to establish himself as one of the most respected coaches in the NHL,” Nill said. “He’s continually found ways to maximize elite talent and adapt to the modern game. We have full confidence he’s the right person to elevate our team to the next level.”

The Stars finished the 2024–25 regular season with a 50-26-6 record. With a talented core including Jake Oettinger, Miro Heiskanen, and Jason Robertson, Gulutzan inherits a team poised to contend.