Peter DeBoer accepts challenge of wrangling young Sharks

Ray Slover

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Peter DeBoer accepts challenge of wrangling young Sharks image

Forget Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. New San Jose Sharks coach Peter DeBoer's job is more about players you might not know.

In assessing the team's new coach, whose appointment was made official on Thursday, Canada's CBC Sports offered Logan Couture, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Brent Burns and Tomas Hertl as examples of the Sharks' young core.

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How DeBoer, at 46 a former success in Canadian juniors, handles those guys and Sharks pups will be key to the team's rebuilding program.

After years of Todd McLellan and graybeards Thornton and Marleau, it was time for an overhaul in San Jose. GM Doug Wilson got ownership's blessing to kick-start the process, and a coach who should be able to connect with newcomers is the logical choice.

Oh, yeah, that "puck possession" thing … DeBoer can do that. He has the Corsi stats in his resume to dazzle employers. Shots on goal plus missed shots plus blocked shots equal plenty of scoring opportunities. Woo-hoo.

But in the NHL, the only that matters is a big hunk of silver. The one the Sharks have never touched; the one they didn't get a chance to play for this spring.

DeBoer has been in contention for the Stanley Cup, thanks to the last stand of Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils in 2012. Other than that, no dice: DeBoer didn't make the playoffs in three seasons with the Florida Panthers or again with the Devils.

When the bottom fell out early last season in Jersey, DeBoer got the hook. So be it.

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It will be instructive to look at CBC's chart of the young players' progress under DeBoer. That's what matters most here.

Wilson was in no hurry to find a replacement for McLellan, who left after eight seasons in a so-called mutual agreement. While McLellan landed in a challenging position as coach of the Edmonton Oilers, a team that has made nothing of a roster that includes many of the best prospects from recent drafts, Wilson talked to a dozen men about coaching the Sharks.

DeBoer has connections to the Sharks, including time he spent with McLellan coaching Team Canada to the IIHF world title. He knows Larry Robinson, who is director of player development and was on DeBoer's Devils staff. Robinson offered a glowing reference.

How much will he get to know Thornton and Marleau? Both are former Sharks captains who could be culled from the pack this summer.

They aren't the players who will make or break DeBoer in his third NHL coaching gig. It's guys like Mirco Mueller, Chris Tierney and Joakim Ryan who will. DeBoer must make them predators.

Ray Slover