The New Jersey Devils' three Stanley Cup winners since 1995 have featured some constants: Goaltender Martin Brodeur, Grand Emperor Lou Lamoriello and the defensive foundation those champions where constructed on.

But their coaches have defined each of them. Jacques Lemaire's trapping Devils in 1995. Larry Robinson, the players' coach, whose stunning conference finals tirade sparked the Devils' 3-1 comeback over the Flyers and eventual Cup win in 2000. The late Pat Burns, the coaches' coach, who reined in their offensive stars and oversaw a return to defensive discipline in 2003.

Tied 2-2 with the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Final, the Devils may still fall short of the Cup in 2012. But should they grab the Chalice, Coach Peter DeBoer has personalized this team in the same manner as his Hall of Fame (and should-damn-well-be-in the Hall of Fame, in Burns's case) predecessors had.

He's pushed the right buttons. Preached the right sermons. Earned his players' belief in an offensive system that attempts to re-chisel the cemented stereotypes about Devils hockey. His comportment is one of intellectual serenity — Dan Bylsma style — with a touch of rage. His communication with the players has been honest and non-political.

He couldn't have done this three years ago, when ego prevented him from fulfilling his potential as an NHL head coach. That he was the given the chance to do this at all tracks back to July 2011, when Lamoriello stunned the hockey world with an uncharacteristic choice behind the bench.

DeBoer's arrival in Florida came after 13 years in the OHL, making DeBoer a coveted commodity for the NHL. In 2008, the Ottawa Senators courted him for their vacancy, as he flew to Barbados to meet with owner Eugene Melnyk. According to ESPN, a clash of egos ensued, and DeBoer immediately took up the Panthers on their standing offer of employment.

DeBoer was fired by the Florida Panthers after 103 wins in 246 games, failing to make the playoffs in three seasons.

(The Panthers, of course, made the postseason under his replacement, Kevin Dineen, in 2011-12 … until DeBoer's Devils sent them home in seven, because the Hockey Gods are twisted like that.)

"When I first started, I was cocky, confident we could do it all," DeBoer said last year.

In September, he clarified the comment to Fire & Ice: "I don't know about cocky," he said. "The word is very confident and maybe a little naïve. I think I'm still very confident, but this league has a way of humbling you pretty quickly and I think that's one of the lessons you learn."

One of the most confident men in hockey, Lamoriello had been humbled as well.

When Jacques Lemaire left in 2010, the Devils GM elevated AHL coach and franchise legend John MacLean to his first NHL head coaching job. MacLean was an epic failure: 9-22-2, digging the Devils an early season hole from which even the return of Lemaire couldn't free them.

For the second time since 1990, the Devils would miss the playoffs. Lamoriello took "full responsibility" for the debacle.

Speculation began that the Devils would go back to a familiar well for Lamoriello: Someone with ties to the Devils, or with their template the Montreal Canadiens; a veteran coach who coach, as Burns did, reestablish the defensive tenets that defined the franchise, much like Lemaire had in his emergency stint has head coach. Someone like Ken Hitchcock, for example.

Within that context, DeBoer's announcement was jarring. He wasn't a star name in the coaching ranks. He didn't have the usual connections Lamoriello looks for. He didn't fit the suit.

From Mike Brophy of Sportsnet:

What's going to be interesting is to see how long it takes DeBoer to find his game again. There were reports that constant losing took its toll on the normally mild-mannered coach last season and that his relationship with his players deteriorated. Hey, when you are doing your best to win, but you aren't being provided with the players to be successful, it's easy to see that happening. DeBoer has a wealth of offensive talent at his disposal, but the Devils have always been a defence-first team.

In taking the gig, DeBoer focused more on the former than the latter. After a bare cupboard in Sunrise, he saw a roster that featured Ilya Kovalchuk, Zach Parise, Patik Elias, Travis Zajac, Dainius Zubrus and other offensive forces.

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