Pete DeBoer’s three-year Dallas Stars tenure ends after three straight Western Conference finals appearances with no Cup. GM Jim Nill says the results spoke for themselves, while DeBoer notes the math didn’t add up. He pivots to Team Canada for the 2026 Olympics as the next coaching chapter beckons.

Armstrong and Cooper offered support, emphasizing that Olympic duties won’t derail his NHL chances, and DeBoer remains confident he’ll land another head-coaching job soon as the league’s coaching carousel heats up.

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.