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Former NHL head coach Pete DeBoer believes ‘accountability starts at the top’ throughout organizations
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Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Michael Coyle
Mar 20, 2026, 08:00 EDTUpdated: Mar 20, 2026, 00:01 EDT
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The Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2025-26 regular season could create offseason change. With a record of 29-28-12 through 69 games and on track to miss the playoffs for the first time in a decade, the organization will be looking at all levels to identify areas for improvement. One of those changes could come at the head coaching position. 
One of the coaches who could be considered, if changes are made, is veteran Pete DeBoer. On Thursday morning, DeBoer joined Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill to discuss how he believes the NHL has fared this season, accountability within a dressing room, his Olympic experience and what his future holds. 
“It’s a tough league to coach and win in. That’s why it’s the best league in the world. The parity this year has been amazing. If you think about some of the teams that are in playoff spots now and some of the teams that aren’t, I don’t think anyone would have predicted that type of turnover,” DeBoer said. “It shows how quickly things can change.” 
Much was made of the Maple Leafs’ season to date and the lack of care shown at times. The word accountability has been thrown around a lot this year in Toronto, and DeBoer spoke on what it means to him. 
“I think it’s always the question you are asking in the coaches’ room. It’s a combination of many things. I think that accountability starts at the top of the organization and then works its way into the coach’s office, then the leadership group and the guys who are the daily voices,” DeBoer said. “It’s a fine line, and it’s a word that gets thrown around fairly easily in the game. If you rewind to last year, when they had 100-plus points and took Florida to seven games, I don’t think you heard the word accountability. I think it’s pretty common everywhere in the NHL when you have a down year, people ask where’s the accountability.” 
For the first time in his career, DeBoer coached at the Olympic level. After being named in 2022 but unable to attend in Beijing, he touched on what the experience was like this year in Milano Cortina. 
“Anytime you get to be in a coaching room with the best coaches in the world, you always come out a better coach. The thing I probably appreciate the most every time I represent Canada and work with those players is how great they are and how great their character is,” DeBoer said. “It starts with Sid [Sidney Crosby]. He’s always the first guy to go, whatever role you have for me, whoever you want me to play with and wherever you need me, I’m willing to do that. That filters through the rest of the group.”
As for DeBoer’s future, the longtime head coach spoke about what he would be looking for when choosing where he’d like to lead next. 
“I think a lot like a player, I’m looking for fit. I think a little bit more than a player; you’re looking at the people you’ll be working with. Whether it’s who’s hiring you, or what does the situation look like,” DeBoer said. “There’s not many bad situations in the NHL anymore. There is strong ownership and just about stable management just about everywhere in the league.” 

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