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Jeff Marek and Former NHL GM Brian Burke Blast Pete DeBoer for Humiliating Jake Oettinger

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Tom Banks | Last updated May 31, 2025 11:55 AM ET

Peter DeBoer has been at the centre of controversy as of late, and now he's been blasted by both Jeff Marek and Brian Burke for his handling of Jake Oettinger.

The Dallas Stars were blown away in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against the Edmonton Oilers, but early in the game, Head Coach Peter DeBoer pulled Jake Oettinger, resulting in plenty of backlash from fans and other sources.

However, it got worse from there as DeBoer threw Oettinger under the bus after the game, and now, former General Manager Brian Burke was asked by Jeff Marek if he's ever seen something like this before.

'No I haven't and I hope I never do again. I didn't like that.
I can't understand this it doesn't make any sense'.

Burke continued from there, noting that an assistant should have stepped in and stopped the way things were done, revealing that DeBoer likely wants to take back the way this was handled.

'I blame the assistant coaches here, someone should have grabbed Pete. I think Pete lost his temper, someone should have grabbed him and said 'Calm down, whatever you say next is not gonna be smart, calm down.'
I've never seen a pull after a timeout and then a pull. Especially the way he emphatically embarrassed the goalie with a big hook sign, not knowing what was going on... I think Pete DeBoer would love to have those 30/45 seconds back.'

What's done is done, and it may end up costing DeBoer his job or even worse, it may result in a trade request from Oettinger, and after the backlash he's received for the way this was handled, nothing would be surprising.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

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