Pete DeBoer’s return to SAP Center in San Jose will have to wait.
The Sharks announced Saturday that because of Santa Clara County’s ongoing ban on contact sports, they are relocating their Feb. 1 and 3 home games against the Vegas Golden Knights from San Jose to Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz.
Next month was going to mark DeBoer and Steve Spott’s first time back inside the downtown arena since they, along with Dave Barr and Johan Hedberg, were fired by Sharks general manager Doug Wilson on Dec. 11, 2019. Shockingly, just five weeks later on Jan. 15, 2020, DeBoer was hired by the rival Golden Knights after the team dismissed Gerard Gallant. Spott was brought in by Vegas two weeks later.
The Sharks and Golden Knights did not play each other after that point, as the NHL paused its season on March 12. The Sharks, who finished 15th and last in the Western Conference, were not part of the NHL’s Return to Play in the summer. DeBoer and the Golden Knights lost in the conference finals to the Dallas Stars.
DeBoer coached the Sharks for four-plus seasons, leading the team to a 198-129-34 record, four straight playoff appearances, two conference finals and its first-ever Stanley Cup Final apperance in 2016.
“For selfish reasons, I’m disappointed, having some good friends, good memories in San Jose,” DeBoer told Las Vegas beat writers Saturday. “I was looking forward to going back and coaching in that building early in the season. My selfish side says I obviously wish we were playing those games in San Jose, as I’m sure San Jose does.
“But the common-sense side recognizes that it’s probably a smart decision by the people doing it and we’ll make the best of it.”
The Golden Knights are scheduled to be back in San Jose for two games March 5-6.
Entering Saturday, Vegas and Minnesota were tied for first place in the West Division with 4-1-0 records. The Sharks (2-3-0) were in a three-way tie for sixth place with Anaheim and Los Angeles. Sunday, the Sharks play the Wild and the Golden Knights play the Arizona Coyotes in Glendale.
