In hindsight, this one seems like it might have happened a lot sooner.
Image courtesy of NHL.com
The San Jose Sharks rebounded form a dreadful start to the season, but a recent five-game skid, including two ugly loses in Florida, was the end of the line for Peter DeBoer as the head coach.
“When you have had a level of past success, change is never easy, but we feel this team is capable of much more than we have shown thus far and that a new voice is needed,” San Jose general manager Doug Wilson said. “As a team and as individuals, our play has not met expectations this year and our level of consistency has not been where it needs to be. This group of individuals who will lead our team moving forward are very familiar with our players, and we think this change can provide our group with a fresh start.”
And you fire the head coach because all of the experience this season, and others, points to this act as the turning point in your season.
The Sharks are old; they are grey bears, literally and figuratively.
It wasn’t just DeBoer getting the hook, assistants Steve Spott and Dave Barr, the goaltending coach Johan Hedberg were sacked.
“Under the leadership of Pete, along with Steve, Dave and Johan, our franchise accomplished some great things, culminating in reaching the 2016 Stanley Cup Final,” Wilson said. “We want to thank them for their contributions to our organization’s success over the last four years.”
Former Sharks staffer, Bob Boughner, who was fired by the Florida Panthers, will take over the team.
There are no magic fixes in San Jose. The exodus of the Likes of Joe Pavelski and others in the off season was a prelude to the fall off for the Sharks. The offense has been woeful and the defense has not picked up the pace. In two losses to the Tampa Lightning and Florida Panthers last week, the Sharks were outscored by a 12-2 aggregate.
The rest of the coaching staff will include associate coach Roy Sommer, assistant Mike Ricci and goaltending coach Evgeni Nabokov.
DeBoer is the fifth and second NHL coach to be given the hook this week. Dallas fired Jim Montgomery earlier this week for “unprofessional conduct.”
New Jersey fired John Hynes, Toronto relieved Mike Babcock of his duties, and Calgary and Bill Peters ended their relationship after a brief investigation of allegations of abuse.
It’s possible Wilson will try to make some move to sure up the roster. The question is who can he move, for what return and how how much?
The Sharks had pushed themselves over the .500 mark in recent weeks but the current schneid is ugly and there is no light other than a train at the end of the tunnel.
This does not seem like the Devils or Maple Leafs where the rosters should hold the blame. The Sharks brass have not had the cap space or the ability to make decent trades with an empty cupboard with the Sharks or their AHL affiliate, Barracuda.
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