When the Sharks overhauled their coaching staff in December, one of the most common phrases we heard inside and outside the locker room was “needing a different voice”. It has been 22 games and almost two months since Bob Boughner and his new assistants took the helm.
That's probably enough of a sample size to make some initial observations and identify: What are the biggest changes since?
Similar results, different circumstances.
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SIGN UP HERE The situations are apples and oranges across the board, but seven NHL teams have changed their head coaches in-season, to varying levels of results. While it’s true that only the Sharks have a worse point-percentage since their transition, only the Toronto Maple Leafs have experienced a tangible difference in either direction.
Listed here are those seven teams, dates of the coaching change, records with point-percentages, and point-percentage differentials:
Toronto
Coaching change: Nov. 20
Before: 9-10-4 (.956)
Since: 19-9-3 (1.32)
PTS % diff.: (+.364)
Calgary Flames
Coaching change: Nov. 29
Before: 12-12-4 (1.00)
Since 15–10-2 (1.19)
PTS % diff.: (+.019)
San Jose Sharks
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New Jersey Devils
Coaching change: Dec. 3
Before: 9-13-4 (.846)
Since 10–11-6 (.963)
PTS % diff.: (+.117)
Dallas Stars
Coaching change: Dec. 10
Before: 17-11-3 (1.19)
Since 13-7-2 (1.27)
PTS % diff.: (+.008)
San Jose*
Coaching change: Dec. 11
Before: 15-16-2 (.970)
Since: 9-10-3 (.955)
PTS % diff.: (-.015)
Nashville Predators
Coaching change: Jan. 6
Before: 19-15-7 (1.10)
Since: 7-5-0 (1.17)
PTS % diff.: (+.007)
Vegas Golden Knights
Coaching change: Jan. 15
Before: 24-19-6 (1.10)
Since: 4-2-1 (1.29)
PTS % diff.: (+.019)
Injuries and travel have clouded the issue
For San Jose, it’s impossible to properly evaluate the group minus their top two centers in Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl. This also makes it difficult for Boughner and Co. to truly implement changes they think could turn the group around. There’s no denying the numbers above, yet, it’s also fair to say the similar results have a different feel.
Additionally, the Sharks just endured a road-heavy January, and only have five total home games in this month of February. Which is less about the home-ice advantage at hand, and more about the lack of quality practice time in San Jose, where opportunities to iron out tactical issues on a rink are easier.
Dell has responded to the chance
The most notable change since Dec. 11 has come in the net. Aaron Dell has started 15 of the 22 games Boughner has coached. In the last 11, Dell has posted a 2.27 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage. Without ever officially being anointed the "starter", that’s exactly what the former backup has become.
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Part of it feels like team defense has improved in front of Dell, with less odd-man rushes and net-front chances for opponents. But most of it looks like Dell is confident in making the big saves and eliminating second-chance opportunities. The more he plays, the better he looks.
Shooters shoot
While the shot clock doesn’t always correlate to a team’s effort or even the end result, you can definitely see the Sharks have adopted more of that shoot-first mentality under Boughner. Over the last seven weeks, they’re averaging around six more shots on net per game than they did in October and November.
