SAN JOSE – The Sharks have hired Bob Boughner as an assistant coach and Johan Hedberg as an assistant/goaltending coach as part of new head coach Peter DeBoer’s staff.
Boughner, a journeyman NHL defenseman for 10 seasons, had been the head coach of the OHL's Windsor Spitfires for eight of the past nine years (including the past four). He was the OHL and CHL coach of the year in 2007-08 and 2008-09, and led the team to back-to-back Memorial Cup championships in 2009 and 2010. In eight seasons, his teams were 282-213-49.
The 44-year-old was an assistant coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2010-11, and coached the Canadian U-18 team to a gold medal in 2009.
"I've known Bob for more than 20 years and he's an experienced winner, having won championships in both juniors and internationally," DeBoer said in a statement.
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"He had a great career as an NHL player but also didn't have any problem going back to juniors to hone his coaching ability. He has a great teaching ability from working with younger players in juniors and we're very fortunate that he was available because he could have been working in this League a long time ago if he wanted to."
Hedberg and DeBoer also have a connection, as the former NHL’er was most recently the goalie coach for the AHL’s Albany Devils. He played for DeBoer from 2011-13.
"He was a student of the game for his whole career and having been around him every day in our years in New Jersey, it was evident that coaching is something that came naturally to him,” DeBoer said. “His willingness to go to the American League last season and learn the coaching trade speaks volumes for his commitment to coaching."
Hedberg, 42, played 373 NHL games for Pittsburgh, Vancouver, Dallas, Atlanta and New Jersey. He’s third in wins among Swedish-born netminders with 161.
The Sharks will likely add one or two more coaches before the start of the season. Former Capitals head coach and Devils co-coach Adam Oates has spoken with DeBoer and is one potential addition, while Steve Spott, most recently an assistant with the Maple Leafs, is another strong candidate according to an NHL source.
Oates was on DeBoer’s staff when the Devils advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in 2012.
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“I’ve talked to Adam. He’s an option, for sure,” DeBoer said at the NHL draft in Florida last week. “I loved working with him when we had a lot of success in New Jersey. I’ve got a short list of candidates that I’m real comfortable with, and we’ll sort that out here in the next week.”
A Sharks spokesman confirmed that goaltending development coach Corey Schwab was not retained by the club after three seasons.
On April 20, the Sharks announced that the team had parted ways with seven-year head coach Todd McLellan, and assistant coaches Jim Johnson and Jay Woodcroft. All three are now with the Edmonton Oilers.
The Sharks hired DeBoer on May 28.
