This past spring, Anaheim Ducks GM Brian Burke said of Swedish checking line center Sami Pahlsson, “He thinks he’s from Red Deer.” From Burke, it was the highest praise imaginable, for he was essentially saying that the tenacious Pahlsson possesses a work ethic typically associated with hardworking farm boys from Western Canada.

Indeed, Pahlsson played a critical role in the Ducks’ Cup victory. For while the NHL has made a big point of opening up the ice for skill players, playoff victories are more often than not still attributable to the efforts of players like Pahlsson, whose statistical results are completely overshadowed by their intangible contributions.

The Devils are moving into a new arena in Newark this fall, their roster unquestionably weaker without Scott Gomez and Brian Rafalski, and it’s going to take an all-hands-on-deck effort if they’re to return to the postseason … much less compete for the Stanley Cup. Devils GM Lou Lamoriello realized that an infusion of that hard-nosed “Red Deer work ethic” would be required.

The Devils will be holding a press conference today, during which they are expected to introduce former NHLer Brent Sutter as the team’s new coach. In Sutter, the Devils are getting a nononsense bench boss who can be expected to get the most out of his team. And they’re also getting a two-time Cup winner who knows how to handle the unique pressures presented by competing in the New York metropolitan area.

Halfway through the 1981–82 season, the then-19-year-old Sutter left the WHL’s Lethbridge Broncos and traveled halfway across North America to join the two-time Cup champion Islanders. Facing tremendous pressure for such a young player, Sutter didn’t miss a beat, helping the dynastic Isles to win two more Cups in 1982 and 1983.

Sutter’s playing career lasted over 15 years — he remained with the Isles until 1992, when he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks — and he cultivated a well-deserved reputation as one of the NHL’s hardest-working players. One of six brothers to reach the NHL — Brian, Darryl, Duane, Rich, and Ron are the others — Sutter played every shift as if it was his last.

Not surprisingly, Sutter didn’t let the ice melt under his skates after announcing his retirement in 1998, purchasing the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels in the spring of 1999. Over the past eight years, he has acted as the team’s GM and head coach, enjoying some nice success along the way. Under his direction, the Rebels were the WHL’s Eastern Conference champions for three consecutive years (2001–2003), and they won the Memorial Cup in 2001. And perhaps to cap his accomplishments for the Rebels, one of his players — his son Brandon — was selected 11th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL Entry Draft.

In addition to his exploits with the Rebels, Sutter also did some fine work as the bench boss for Team Canada’s Under-20 squad, leading them to the gold medal in both 2005 and 2006, the first coach ever to accomplish that feat. Sutter is unbeaten behind the bench as the head coach of the Canadian National Junior Team, and though it’s certainly true that he had an incredibly talented roster to work with on both occasions, his ability to get through to many of the game’s most highly touted prospects bodes well for his potential success as an NHL head coach.

Yesterday, the Rebels held a press conference during which Sutter announced that he will be stepping down from his positions as GM and head coach, but that he will retain his ownership of the team. He did his best to fight back tears throughout the conference, finally introducing his brother Brian as the team’s new head coach. And although he declined to discuss the Devils’ position during the session, his hiring as head coach appears to be a fait accompli.

“The best comment I have is no comment,” Sutter said regarding the reports that he’ll be taking over as the Devils’ head coach. “Everyone will find out in the very near future what is up for me in my future as far as moving forward. Everyone will find out very soon.” Indeed, Sutter was flown in a private jet to New Jersey last night, and will be introduced as the Devils’ new coach Friday.

Of course, many will question whether Lamoriello is fully committed to Sutter. Lamoriello’s late-season firing of Claude Julien was controversial, and as a result, many view the Devils’ job as a coach’s graveyard. But in Sutter, Lamoriello might well have met his match, a strong personality capable of standing up to “Sweet Lou” and putting his own fingerprints on the Devils’ cultural makeup.

Looking back at the Devils’ past successes (three Stanley Cup wins and four Finals appearances from 1995 to present), one fact stands out above all: When they have been at their most talented, they haven’t been at their most successful. Though tenacious defense has been New Jersey’s defining characteristic, they’ve in fact been underachievers quite often, most notably when they frittered away the Cup in 2001. And when they’ve won the Cup — particularly in 1995 and 2003 — it was their tremendous effort that enabled them to overachieve.

In taking this job, Sutter is faced with some very daunting challenges. To overcome the losses of Gomez and Rafalski, Lamoriello was only able to sign veteran forward Dainius Zubrus and two unheralded defensemen, Karel Rachunek and Vitali Vishnevski. Expecting the 29-year-old Zubrus to replace Gomez’s production is a bit unrealistic, but if he can develop chemistry with captain Patrik Elias, the loss won’t be as severe.

And while Rachunek proved to be a competent third-pair rearguard and not much more while with the Rangers last season, Vishnevski presents a more promising outlook. One of the game’s most fearsome open-ice hitters, he should become an immediate fan favorite in Newark, providing an energizing physical presence the Devils’ blue line has lacked since the retirement of former captain Scott Stevens. Like Pahlsson, Vishnevski “plays like he’s from Red Deer,” perhaps a sign of a recurring theme for these new-look Devils.

With Martin Brodeur between the pipes, theDevils have a chance to win every night. If Sutter can get his troops marching in lockstep and playing quintessential Devils hockey, they must again be considered a bona fide threat to win the Cup. And that they can be legitimately referred to as contenders today — despite the losses of Gomez, Rafalski, Stevens, Scott Niedermayer, and numerous other key ingredients of their championship teams — speaks directly to the importance of importing a coach like Sutter.

Mr. Greenstein is the editor in chief of InsideHockey.com.