NEWARK – The greatest Devils teams in franchise history dominated the N.H.L. about a decade ago, rising to prominence with a stifling neutral zone trap, an impenetrable goalie and opportunistic forwards that thrived on the counterattack. It was a group that, as Patrik Elias fondly remembered, knew “if we just played good enough that we’d beat anybody,” and the Devils often did, playing for the Stanley Cup three times in four seasons and winning it twice, in 2001 and 2003.
“We had some offensive guys, some defensive guys, and it just meshed together,” Elias said. “And I think now we’re getting there as a team, too.”
Elias strengthened the comparison by calling this team as good “as I’ve seen in my 15, 16 years here,” and it is unlikely that his feelings would change even if the Devils blow their three-games-to-two advantage over the Rangers in the Eastern Conference finals.
The squad is largely unchanged from the one that missed the playoffs for the first time in 15 seasons, that endured three coaches in seven months. But it is on the verge of its first conference championship since 2003 in no small part because of Peter DeBoer, who was hired last July and instituted an aggressive forechecking system that pummeled the Flyers in a second-round matchup.
“That made us all believe, even more so than before, that we had a pretty good team,” the captain Zach Parise said.
Parise is a career Devil, much like Martin Brodeur, much like Elias, who said he was a bit uncertain about DeBoer at first – “every coach that gets fired, you’re going to get some positive, you’re going to get some negative,” he said – but waited for DeBoer to install his system before developing an opinion. Elias said he was “pleasantly surprised.”
And now?
“He’s been great,” Elias said. “He knows how to handle us individually, how to handle us as a team. He’s given us an opportunity, every one of us, to succeed.”
Right away, DeBoer mapped out his vision, and, Parise said, “he drilled it into us right away.” Using video and a trusty white board, DeBoer inculcated within his team how he expected – check that, demanded – it would play. All players on the ice, the two defensemen included, would be involved at all times. No sitting back, no passiveness, no complaints. Devils players have been sporting t-shirts with one of DeBoer’s favorite phrases printed on them: “Swarm it up.”
“I think when you believe in how the game should be played and you have the conviction in that, I think it sells itself,” DeBoer said. “I don’t think there was any premeditated salesmanship. I can tell you, if I was a used car salesman, I’d starve to death.”
Even if his players embraced the new strategy, it still took them time to master it – about half the season, Elias estimated. The Devils lost three straight games heading into the All-Star break, but came out blazing afterward, winning five in a row and 9 of 11. After the break, they went 22-9 with three overtime losses, and they closed the season by winning their final six games. Now they are one victory from facing the Los Angeles Kings in the finals, from restoring the Devils’ proud tradition, from giving Brodeur a chance for his fourth ring and Elias his third. Parise, David Clarkson, Bryce Salvador and so many others are trying for their coveted first.
“I don’t think anyone predicted at the start of the season that we would have a chance to play a home game to move on to the Stanley Cup Final,” DeBoer said. “And we’re in a great spot. We worked awfully hard to get to this point. And where else would you want to be?”
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