5 Coaching Candidates Emerge to Replace Pete DeBoer, per Elliotte Friedman

The Dallas Stars became the latest NHL team to make a coaching change after giving Peter DeBoer the pink slip following their loss to the Edmonton Oilers in the WCF.

DeBoer's controversial pulling of goalie Jake Oettinger after he allowed 2 goals on Edmonton's first 2 shots of the game relegated him to the bench as part of Edmonton's 6-3 series-ending win.

While there are a handful of obvious candidates to fill the position, which include former Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Wodcroft and former New York Rangers coach Gerard Gallant, a new report from top analyst Elliotte Friedman indicates the Stars could raise some eyebrows with who they hire.

First off, Friedman suggested Neil Graham, who is the head coach of the AHL affiliate Texas Stars; they are in the midst of a series against the Abbotsford Canucks in the AHL Western Conference Final.

Friedman indicated that the Stars could also consider former Calgary Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan, who was actually once behind the Stars bench from 2011 through 2013 as head coach after the firing of Marc Crawford.

Currently, Gulutzan is an assistant with the Oilers, and was also previously an assistant with the Vancouver Canucks.

Another name Friedman has floated is former Grand Rapids Griffins coach Todd Nelson; the Griffins are the AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. He also served briefly as interim head coach of the Edmonton Oilers and the Atlanta Thrashers, while briefly serving as an assistant with the Dallas Stars.

He's currently the coach of the AHL's Hershey Bears, the Washington Capitals' AHL affiliate.