Dallas Stars axe Pete DeBoer after three strong seasons that nevertheless fell short of a Stanley Cup Final, highlighted by a controversial Game 5 benching of Jake Oettinger and a postgame admission of shared accountability. DeBoer framed the moment as a necessary shock to lift a team that repeatedly saw Edmonton as a hurdle, while taking responsibility for the lapses that kept Dallas from the ultimate goal.

Glen Gulutzan steps in to provide a new voice, with a largely intact core and a renewed focus on accountability, structure, and late-season poise. GM Jim Nill stressed a collective reset rather than blame, setting the stage for a fresh alignment of leadership, goaltending duties, and postseason expectations as Dallas chases its first Cup Final in years.

Corey Perry will miss six to eight weeks after knee surgery, a setback for the Los Angeles Kings as training camp opens and the season against Colorado looms. The 40-year-old winger signed this summer for a 21st NHL season, after a career that included 14 seasons with Anaheim, a 2007 Cup, and five Final appearances. He sits 121st on the all-time scoring list heading into 2025-26, having posted 19 goals and 11 assists for Edmonton last season and 10 goals with four assists in the playoffs. The injury opens opportunites for younger Kings to grab minutes and for the special teams to adjust without Perry early on.

The absence tests the team’s depth and could accelerate line tinkering and increased roles for other veterans as the club navigates the opening stretch until Perry’s return, with Kopitar and the top combinations tasked with steadying the offense while the winger rehabs.