Sometimes no news is the news.

TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reported Thursday that Rocky Thompson, who had been the head coach of the AHL's Chicago Wolves for the past three seasons, was accepting a position with the Sharks. Included in Dreger's report was the information that interim head coach Bob Boughner had signed an extension to become the permanent head coach in San Jose.

He’s headed to San Jose to assist Bob Boughner, who is believed to have earned an extension. https://t.co/KIMWWmmJFS

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 16, 2020

But some local reporting seemed to contradict Dreger's report that Sharks general manager Doug Wilson already had made up his mind on the team's head coaching vacancy.

Doug Wilson, regarding Bob Boughner’s status, via text: "The process continues and there is nothing to update on Boogie's situation."

— Kevin Kurz (@KKurzNHL) July 16, 2020

From #SJSharks GM Doug Wilson: "At this time, we have nothing official to report in regards to our coaching staff for the coming season. The process of identifying candidates to fill out our staff is on-going."

— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) July 16, 2020

[RELATED: How Sharks' previous trades, signings would be affected by new NHL CBA]

Boughner took over the helm in December after Peter DeBoer was fired midway through his fifth season with the organization. DeBoer had led the Sharks to the playoffs in each of the past four years, but San Jose got off to a woeful start in 2019-20, going just 15-16-2 before DeBoer's dismissal.

Boughner wasn't able to pull the Sharks out of the bottom of the Pacific Division standings, but San Jose showed some positive signs prior to the NHL's season pausing on Mar. 12.

Wilson could keep things simple and just retain Boughner as the head coach going forward, but the GM understandably doesn't want to leave any stone left unturned in the search process.

Sharks legend Patrick Marleau might have had his last decent chance to win a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL restart. Hopefully he gets another opportunity, because it ain't happening this year.

The fifth-seeded Penguins were stunned and upset by the 12-seeded Montreal Canadiens in the qualifying round after the Habs advanced to the playoffs with a 3-1 series victory on Friday. Pittsburgh lost Game 1 and was never able to recover, thanks in large part to Montreal goalie Carey Price.

The Penguins scored just eight goals in the series, none of which were deposited by Marleau. In fact, the long-time Shark didn't record a single point across the four games. The Penguins acquired him at the trade deadline in exchange for what is now confirmed to be a 2021 third-round draft pick, as San Jose wanted to give him an opportunity to check that last box on his career résumé.

Marleau now will become an unrestricted free agent. It has been widely presumed that if he indeed returns for a 23rd NHL season, it might come in a third go-around with the Sharks. San Jose finished dead last in the Western Conference this season, but the Sharks' record was largely impacted by injuries and they certainly could return to the playoffs next year.

Really, it would only be fitting if Marleau ended his career in teal.

As for the Sharks, the qualifying round has gone nearly as well as they could have hoped for. Of the four Pacific Division teams that were involved, only the Edmonton Oilers failed to advance.

Due to the wacky 2020 NHL draft lottery, each team eliminated in the qualifying round has a 12.5 percent chance to land the No. 1 overall pick. Whichever team lands it is widely expected to use it on consensus top prospect Alexis Lafreniere.

[RELATED: Sharks' Hertl 'finally back' on ice after tearing ACL, MCL]

So, there's an 87.5 percent chance -- barring trades -- that Lafreniere won't immediately end up in the Sharks' division.

Given the season they had, they'll take any win they can get.

It's not clear when the Sharks will play next.

One star took a big step towards rejoining them when they do.

Tomas Hertl posted a video Wednesday on his Instagram of him skating in his native Czech Republic, writing that he was "[f]inally back" on the ice.

View this post on Instagram

Finally back 🏒 @filipchlapik @hertlik89

A post shared by Tomas Hertl (@hertlik48) on Aug 5, 2020 at 4:49am PDT

Hertl, 26, tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee in January and missed the final 18 games of the Sharks' season before it was suspended -- and, ultimately, ended -- due to the coronavirus pandemic. The center injured his knee on Jan. 29 against the Vancouver Canucks, just four days after playing in his first All-Star Game. 

The 2012 first-round pick was one of the lone bright spots in the Sharks' otherwise dreary season, scoring 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) in 48 games. San Jose generated 56.76 percent of the expected goals and 54.38 percent of the high-danger chances with Hertl on the ice at full strength, according to Natural Stat Trick, and Hertl himself accounted for his highest rate of 5-on-5 expected goals (0.95 per hour) of any season other than his rookie year.

Hertl said in May that he expected to be ready to start the 2020-21 season, no matter when that is.

"I want to be there for my team, and that’s why I have been working every day for four months even with the season so far away," Hertl said at the time. "My next goal is getting back and being better than before. I know I can do it. I have to give it everything I can to get back.”

[RELATED: Thornton reportedly could play in Switzerland before NHL season]

Hertl's return to the ice marks an offseason milestone for the forward, who's signed through 2022.

He and his wife, Aneta, announced last month that they're expecting a baby in November.