The Sharks did the expected when Bob Boughner's interim tag was removed Tuesday and he officially was announced as the ninth head coach in franchise history. The team picked up its play after he took over for Peter DeBoer in a mid-season coaching change, and while there were some big names available on the coaching market, general manager Doug Wilson had given every indication over the past several months that Boughner would be sticking around.
Aside from how the Sharks played after Boughner took over, one of the main reasons Wilson has confidence in him as the right man for the current job is the success other coaches have had in their second stops as the lead man behind the bench. Wilson believes he'll be better off having had -- in addition to last season -- previous head-coaching experience with the Florida Panthers, an opinion Boughner shares.
"I knew the guys from being an assistant coach a few years back -- we had a lot of success on that Stanley Cup run -- and then I left for my job in Florida and back as an assistant again before the coaching change last year," Boughner told NBC Sports California's Brodie Brazil. "So, there were some new faces, but a lot of the same ones. So, I have that relationship and, I believe, that mutual respect between myself and the players.
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"Even though I had a little experience last year with these guys, I think it's a completely different situation. Me coming in, having my own staff, there's going to be a freshness, a newness to the way our plan is presented, the way we're going to play our style, all those things. Coming back basically knowing that I'm the head coach and I get to plan for training camp and bring in my staff, I think is going to go a long way. And I do believe I'll be better the second time around."
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Joining Boughner on the bench will be associate head coach Rocky Thompson and assistant head coach John Madden. In addition to having the benefit of being assisted by his handpicked hires, Boughner explained how his familiarity with the Sharks' roster should permit him to hit the ground running.
"I think one of the advantages I have (from) last year is being very familiar with some of the young guys that we pulled up at the end of the year," he continued. "I think that's going to be huge for me, to already see what they can do and what they have and how they handled themselves in a difficult situation last year. So, in that regard, I think it's going to be a better situation for me. But more than anything, it's just being able to use that knowledge I have from my first job in Florida, my experience with some of these guys before and bringing in my new guys."
San Jose Sharks
Boughner faces a tall task in leading the last-place Sharks back to playoff contention. But while he might still be in his first week on the job, he's certainly not starting from scratch.