Pete DeBoer had an interesting analogy for what his first meeting with the Vegas players was like

BarDown Staff

TSN

Things might be a little awkward in the Vegas dressing room right now. Not only did they fire their first head coach in franchise history in just his third season with the team, but they replaced him with Pete DeBoer, formerly of the rival San Jose Sharks.

Gerard Gallant: calls Pete deboer a clown.
Pete Deboer: Joins the circus. pic.twitter.com/pXGkU4yJhY
— Bay Area Sports Fan (@BayAreaSportsF3) January 16, 2020

Everyone remembers the thrilling 7-game series between the Sharks and Golden Knights last season and the controversial end to that first round series. The history between the two teams makes the hire of DeBoer a little "awkward", but he managed to crack a joke to lighten the mood ahead of his first game behind Vegas' bench.

DeBoer on taking over Vegas — after rivalry with the Sharks:

“It was a little shocking. But a good shock.”

On first meeting with his new players:

“We’ll get through it. It’ll be a little awkward - like meeting an ex-girlfriend when it didn’t end well.”
— Ian Mendes (@ian_mendes) January 16, 2020

The situation will surely take some time for all parties involved to become fully accustomed to, but the Golden Knights have too much talent to let the past affect what could be another long playoff run if they were to make it.

VGK Head Coach Peter DeBoer addresses the media: “When you’re on the other bench, you get an outside perspective of what (the Golden Knights) have. I can tell you, it’s so positive. Their work ethic, their compete, the character in that room.”
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) January 16, 2020

(H/T: Ian Mendes)