Ryane Clowe and Pete DeBoer were only together in New Jersey for a little more than one calendar year. Clowe signed a five-year, $24.25 million contract with the Devils in the 2013 offseason, but by Christmas in 2014, Clowe was suffering from the effects of his latest concussion and DeBoer had been fired.



That was enough time, though, for the rugged forward to make an impression on the head coach. Just prior to his dismissal, DeBoer had something he wanted to relay to one of the more popular Sharks players in recent history.



“He was (injured) and working out on the bike, and it was towards the end of my tenure there in New Jersey, and I remember pulling him aside and just telling him I thought he would make an excellent coach just based on what I had seen,” DeBoer said.



Clowe, now in his second season as an assistant coach with the Devils, confirmed that conversation took place, and praised DeBoer for helping him forge a new path after he was...