Sheng Peng
I got this text about Bob Boughner from a former NHL head coach after the San Jose Sharks were humiliated 8-0 by the Nashville Predators on Saturday.
“He’s coaching with handcuffs on.”
This former NHL head coach didn’t wish to be identified by name – but he’s not with the San Jose Sharks, nor does he have a significant personal relationship with Boughner.
Instead, my source saved his ire for the front office that built the team that has death spiraled out of the playoff race with a 2-5-3 mark since the All-Star break. The Sharks have been outscored 36-18 since that 12-day break.
“It’s unfair for the coach,” he continued. “The players will know that [the front office has] not done their job to help them, and this will only get worse.”
He was referring to an organizational lack of depth that has ultimately failed to withstand the extended losses of Erik Karlsson, Mario Ferraro, Adin Hill, Rudolfs Balcers, Kevin Labanc, and more.
“Bob was done a great job in patching it up until now,” he said. “And everyone knows it, including the players and management and Bob.”
At the All-Star break, the San Jose Sharks were still in the playoff race and had just come off an inspiring road trip where by and large, they had played Eastern powers Washington, Florida, Carolina, and Tampa Bay to a standstill.
“He’s done a tremendous job getting to this point and still in the race. Everyone in hockey knows that,” the former NHL head coach stressed. “He’s been dealt a way less hand and he’s literally trying to turn chicken shit into chicken salad.”
The ex-bench boss didn’t mince words when talking about the team that Doug Wilson, Joe Will, and company have left Bob Boughner.
“They have no pieces to trade [besides Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier]. It’s a shit show. I said that two years ago and nothing has changed,” he said. “The Sharks’ situation, it’s going to fall apart from here on in, and anybody in hockey would’ve known that. Can’t work with Band-Aids, it doesn’t work.”
He summarized the precarious situation that the Sharks have put Boughner in: “Here, you do it – and you receive all the darts.
“It’s unfair the fans are taking it out on him.”
Deserved or not, he doesn’t see much of a future for Bob Boughner with the San Jose Sharks.
“Bob will pay for it,” he said. “It won’t be on him, but they’ll put it on him because he’s the coach.
“The players will know it’s not the coach, it’s the organization. But the coach is the guy that pays the price, and everyone knows that, including the coach.”