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Panthers Pick Highly Touted Junior Coach

The Associated Press

Published: June 14, 2008

MIAMI - The Florida Panthers hired Peter DeBoer as their new coach Friday, giving him a multiyear deal on his 40th birthday.

DeBoer - a highly touted junior coach from the Ontario Hockey League's Kitchener Rangers - also was courted by Ottawa and met with the Senators this week. DeBoer replaces his boss, Jacques Martin, who was stripped of his duties as head coach in April but remains with the team as general manager.

"I was really pleased when Peter decided on our organization," Martin said. "It's a sign that this organization is making strides and having quality people and moving forward."

Martin became Florida's coach in 2004 and took over as general manager in 2006, replacing Mike Keenan. He called his successor a "perfect fit" for the club.

"I am very excited about getting the opportunity to coach the Florida Panthers," DeBoer said in a statement. "I am looking forward to the challenge of guiding this franchise back to the playoffs and to putting a team on the ice that our fans in South Florida can be proud of."

Senators Select Hartsburg As Coach

OTTAWA - Craig Hartsburg is the new coach of the Ottawa Senators, who were swept out of the playoffs in the first round this spring - a year after reaching the Stanley Cup finals.

Hartsburg, who previously coached Anaheim and Chicago, took over from Senators general manager Bryan Murray, who finished the season behind the Ottawa bench after Coach John Paddock was fired in late February.

Hartsburg, who signed a three-year contract, was an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Flyers from 2002 to 2004. The 48-year-old Hartsburg has been coach of the Ontario Hockey League's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds for the past four seasons.

"I know it's a great challenge and I can't wait," Hartsburg said at a Friday news conference. "I love challenges."

HURRICANES: Signed a five-year lease extension for the RBC Center that will run through 2025.

PENGUINS: Made certain goalie Marc-Andre Fleury won't become a restricted free agent July 1, choosing to offer salary arbitration to one of the key players of their Stanley Cup playoffs run.

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