S2 Ep101: The Long Game: Paul Maurice and Pete DeBoer on Friendship, Coaching, and Surviving the NHL

Daren Millard and John Shannon bring together two of the NHL's most respected head coaches — Paul Maurice and Pete DeBoer — for a rare and candid conversation about a friendship that stretches back nearly four decades. The two trace their bond to 1985 and the Windsor Spitfires, where they crossed paths under Jim Rutherford's leadership, eventually both finding their way to Stanley Cup championships. DeBoer shares the little-known story of how a contract negotiation falling through led him to law school — and how that detour ultimately opened the door to his first coaching opportunity alongside Maurice. They open up about navigating the early challenges of coaching together, their contrasting philosophies on the bench — Maurice trusting his instincts, DeBoer keeping his emotions tightly controlled — and how both have leaned on their wives through the inevitable lows of being fired.The conversation closes with honest reflections on what it's like to compete against your closest friend at the highest level of hockey, and how their relationship has grown and deepened through every chapter of the game.