PITTSBURGH – NHL coaches are often depicted as cruel taskmasters that skate their teams into the ground and crush the spirits of players who don’t conform to their physically demanding standards.

And then there’s Peter DeBoer, man.

Like, practice, don’t practice. It’s cool, whatever.

“There was a stretch when he pretty much just told us, ‘Hey, you guys aren’t practicing anymore. You guys prepare hard enough,’” said San Jose Sharks captain Joe Pavelski.

“A lot of days off. A lot of rest time. Guys have benefitted from that,” said defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic.

When DeBoer took over as head coach of the San Jose Sharks this season, he walked into a situation that was like a gumbo of stress and strain. The Sharks missed the playoffs for only the second time since 1998. Rumors swirled about the futures of stars Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, and frankly that of the rest of the roster. The players had tuned out previous coach Todd McLellan. The captaincy was, at last check, being shared by roughly 30 players.

At that point, hiring a personality like that of Pete DeBoer was like hiring a loud Hawaiian shirt to be your head coach. Or a hammock. Or Jeffrey Lebowski (and not just because there are a couple of beards on the Sharks’ players that look like they belong submerged in a White Russian).

Darryl Sutter might have the market cornered on California-based Zen in the NHL, but Pete DeBoer is the League’s greatest slacker whisperer.

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The first order of business for DeBoer was to figure out what approach would work with this group.

In the past, the laidback demeanor of the team, especially its stars, was demonized as the players "not caring enough." But what if the coaching staff leaned into that curve rather than attempting to force a work ethic on players that wouldn’t take to it?

Considering the amount of travel the Sharks had, DeBoer thought it best to build in as many off days and optional practices that he could. It was, to say the least, an unusual change for the Sharks, many of whom had been hardwired to practice as often as possible. To wit, while the practices were optional, DeBoer found too many Sharks were taking the option.

“It was a little weird halfway through the season, when he saw all of us always going out for optionals and he was kicking us off the ice,” said Patrick Marleau. “It wasn’t something we were used to, but you can see it pay off later in the season. He wants us 100-percent for important games.”

Perhaps that rest and the lack of grinding practice time aren't the sole reasons the San Jose Sharks are playing for their first Stanley Cup beginning Monday at the Pittsburgh Penguins. But it’s one significant reason.

“He identified that from the get-go. Rest throughout the year really pays off at this time of year. He’s done a great job in managing guys’ minutes. He’s managed to keep the veteran guys here fresh,” said forward Tommy Wingels. “And he’s managed to give the younger guys a rest too.”

Like, for example, Tomas Hertl. He followed his outstanding rookie season with a 13-goal dud in 2014-15. Now, at 22 years old, Hertl had 21 goals in the regular season and five more in 18 playoffs games.

“We had a lot of optional skating. Relaxing. Making everybody feel good. I know [Joe Thornton] was really excited when he got a lot of optional practices. He go skate, or no. And we feel great all season,” said Hertl.

“Everybody says ‘you’re young. You should be all the time skating,’ but I don’t think so. It’s an 82-game season. We fly most in the NHL. So we have a lot of optional skates. If you want to skate, you skate. If not, you get some rest. Maybe some bike. I felt really good, all year. Last year, it was all the time skating and I was like ‘oh my god I am so tired.’ I think it’s a big thing. Everybody felt good.”

That includes their head coach, who’s come a long way from being fired on Christmas Day.

View photos PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 29: Head coach Peter DeBoer of the San Jose Sharks addresses the media during the NHL Stanley Cup Final Media Day at Consol Energy Center on May 29, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) More

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