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Source: OHL Rangers' Peter DeBoer leading candidate for Senators head coaching job

Peter DeBoer of the Kitchener Rangers shouts out some orders to his players against the Spokane Chiefs in a Memorial Cup round robin game on May 18, 2008. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

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Peter DeBoer of the Kitchener Rangers shouts out some orders to his players against the Spokane Chiefs in a Memorial Cup round robin game on May 18, 2008. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

Adam Proteau

Adam Proteau
2008-06-11 10:50:01

The Hockey News has learned Kitchener Rangers coach Peter DeBoer has emerged as the leading candidate to become the next head coach of the Ottawa Senators and that a deal between the two parties could be announced as early as Friday.

When contacted by THN.com Wednesday morning for confirmation, DeBoer denied he was officially a member of the organization, saying only that he had been interviewed and that there was “nothing close.”

Senators GM Bryan Murray, when reached by phone, also flatly denied rumors a deal was in place.

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DeBoer met with Murray earlier this month regarding the job, and a source within the Senators organization confirmed DeBoer is the team’s choice to replace John Paddock as its full-time bench boss.

According to a report in the Ottawa Sun, DeBoer flew to Barbados Tuesday night to meet with owner Eugene Melnyk to negotiate a contract.

DeBoer, 39, compiled a 53-11-0-4 record and with the Rangers in 2007-08 and led the team to an OHL championship before losing to Spokane in the Memorial Cup final.

COMMENTS (7)

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Duane Cobb Posted
(2009-04-30 06:25:46)



Jake The only reason Heatly got all those points and Spezza even showed up was they both like the NOtouch international .When the heavy hitting starts in the stanley cup playoffs they disappear A real pair of candy asses
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whatsthatsmell Posted
(2009-04-30 06:25:46)



Hey Jake. Heatley and Spezza are under-achievers. Last I checked they didn't win that world champions, which no one cares about really anyway, and they will never win the Stanley Cup, which is the only thing Ottawa fans care about. If Spezza was so good, why is Ottawa looking to trade him?
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Jake Posted
(2009-04-30 06:25:40)



Under-acheivers, eh Jim? Where were you during the World Chapionships? Hiding in your cave over in New Mexico while Heatley and Spezza just about won the tourney for Canada, seemingly single-handedly??? Check the World Championchip's stats, on this very website, and you'll see Heatley's nameright at the top in goals AND points. Oh yeah, just a small question: Do you come from frickin' Toronto????
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bob Posted
(2009-04-30 06:25:39)



YOU CAN BOOK IT....7:10 PM et 6/11..I HAVE INSIDE SOURCE IN SENS CAMP ALSO...DeBOER'S IN...BTWEEN HIM & HARTSBURG & HARTSBURG WON'T ACCEPT ASST. JOB.....
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Jim Reinecke Posted
(2009-04-30 06:25:39)



Although it takes a degree of foresight and imagination to hire a coach straight out of the junior leagues, perhaps the most important ingredient in the mix is courage. Will you be hiring a Ken Hitchcock, whose success in the NHL includes a Stanley Cup, reaping the ample rewards that such an appointment brings? Or will you be courting calamity as the Canucks did when they brought in the unmitigated disaster known as Bill LaForge? I realize these examples represent two extremes, but a GM's credibility, reputation and, ultimately, his job could depend on this. Murray has a tough call on this one, though apparently he's already decided to go in this direction. The elusive "next level" has never seemed to exceed the grasp of this franchise. . .except when that level meant winning the Cup. I wish DeBoer well in dealing with such under-achievers as Heatley and Jason ("Alexandre Daigle Part 2") Spezza.
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Caz Posted
(2009-04-30 06:25:37)



James - I couldn't agree more. Seems like teams would rather have a coach with experience rather than giving a promising coach the opportunity to gain experience. For every great coach, there was a time where they had no experience and someone took a chance on them. Atlanta should make John Anderson their coach but I wouldn't be surprised if they went with someone like Marc Crawford instead. For someone who lives in Kitchener, this is both great and bad news. This will be a huge blow to the Rangers organization but DeBoer deserves a shot at the NHL and I wish him the best. He has done a great job with the Rangers (and Plymouth) and helped develop players like Mike Richards and Derek Roy.
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James Finney Posted
(2009-04-30 06:25:36)



This is what more teams should do. Instead of recycling coaches who didn't work elsewhere (Ron Wilson), they should try to find the next Bruce Boudreau. Now, if a coach is doing decent without any real talent, then you can give him a shot, but it gets kind of tiring seeing coaches continually fail on team after team yet still get high-profile coaching jobs.
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