Just as a canine’s life is measured in “Dog Years,” a New Jersey Devils coach’s tenure is measured in “Lou Years.”

With 248 games in four seasons before his firing on Dec. 26, Pete DeBoer would roughly be around Abe Vigoda’s age in “Lou Years.” It’s the longest streak of consecutive games for any coach Lou Lamoriello has hired, second only to Jacques Lemaire in total games coached (thanks to return engagements in 2009 and 2010).

What’s amazing about DeBoer’s run is that he presided over the last gasp of success for the Brodeur Era Devils, the 2012 Eastern Conference championship, and then two straight non-playoff seasons, the first time that’s happened since Lamoriello took over the team in 1987. In "Lou Years," another coach might not have made it past last season. But DeBoer was given another crack at it, and lasted 36 games, going 12-17-7.

Before we open the hood on this firing, I’ll say I liked DeBeor as a Devils fan. Not so much his tactics as his comportment. He’s still living off the brownie points he gained for stepping up and sparring with John Tortorella when he was with the New York Rangers, leading to the ultimate slap in his rabid foaming face when the Devils eliminated the Rangers in the 2012 conference final.

He was a swaggery, egotistic coach. I didn't mind that. But that also manifested in pig-headed decisions as well as stubbornness that would make a mule seem easily swayed by comparison.

The demise of Pete DeBoer comes down to factors: His decision-making with personnel, and the decision-making of that personnel that came from the ranks above him.

Let’s start with DeBoer, because it’s less complicated: His management of the goaltending position over the last two seasons contributed greatly to his demise.

Yes, having Martin Brodeur on the same roster as his replacement in 2013-14 made for difficult times and awkward decisions; but the organization’s inability to effectively pass the torch cost the Devils valuable points and, ultimately, a playoff spot.

This season … well, who in their right mind takes a goalie that’s never been the unchallenged starter, who’s played at most 45 games in a season, and skates him out to the crease in 20 consecutive games to start the season? Don’t give me “he had no faith in the backups”; if Schneider started 17 of those 20, who knows how many of the softies he yielded early in the season are erased. It was irresponsible, insane coaching.

Equally irresponsible was DeBoer’s refusal to give the Devils’ younger players the chances they needed to succeed over the last two seasons. He buried former No. 4 overall pick Adam Larsson. He punished Eric Gelinas for his defensive lapses, depriving the team of his offensive upside. (It should be said that he gave time to Jon Merrill; but Damon Severson’s emergence was more injury need that DeBoer allotting time for him to thrive.)

Those close to the team have told me that his refusal to go young hurt those players and hurt the team. It was a point of contention, internally, for the last year.

There were some factors beyond his control, like the Devils’ shootout disasters of the last two seasons and players like Patrik Elias having their numbers fall off a cliff. But DeBoer had his tactical flaws too, like loving some players in certain situations that the numbers didn’t back up.

But the real issue in his tenure was the players.

Not their performance. Their employment.

Ladies and germs, presenting the roster from Game 6 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Final. Ilya Kovalchuk was there. Zach Parise was there. David Clarkson was there. Mark Fayne was there. Bryce Salvador, Marek Zidlicky and Patrik Elias were all two years younger.

Ladies and germs, presenting the roster from Game 1 of the 2014-15 NHL season. No Kovalchuk, no Parise, no Clarkson, no Fayne; instead, it’s an ill-fitting collection of veteran mercenaries, desperate stop-gap fixes and a small number homegrown Devils that can be counted with one hand.

None of that is DeBoer’s fault. All of it is management and ownership’s fault, and much of the blame falls on Lamoriello’s wide shoulders.

It's really the same thing that happened to DeBoer in Florida, his only previous NHL gig. DeBoer made a great first impression, leading the team to a third-place finish in the division. Then talent went out the door at a record pace in Sunrise, and then DeBoer lost his job. As he said, in thinking about the Florida experience: "You have to have the horses to be successful in this league."

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