After a 12-17-7 start to the 2014 season, the New Jersey Devils have relieved head coach Peter DeBoer of his services.
According to Rich Chere of the Star Ledger, general manager and man who runs all things Devils, Lou Lamoriello, confirmed the firing of DeBoer today.
"I will confirm a coaching change. No comment until tomorrow," Lamoriello said.
Obviously the Christmas spirit didn't hit Lamoriello this season, but Devils have a history of swift coaching changes. There have been 16 men, soon to be 17, to coach the team since the franchise moved to New Jersey in 1982. Lamoriello has fired 15 of those coaches since taking the president and general manager job in 1987.
One of the Devils top problems in recent memory has been their failure to win shutouts, going 0 for 13 last season, notes Yahoo Sports. They became the first team in NHL history to not win at least one shutout during a full 82 game season.
The Devils next face-off against their rival New York Rangers on Saturday night. Who will be behind the bench for New Jersey is anyone's best guess.