Photo: NHL.com

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the San Jose Sharks fired head coach Bob Boughner and his staff on Thursday night.

In officially announcing the firing of Bob Boughner and his assistants, #SJSharks interim GM Joe Will says it was in the best interest of the club to grant the new GM “full autonomy” to decide the coaching staff.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 1, 2022

The Sharks missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the third straight season in 2021-22, when they finished 12th in the Western Conference with a 32-37-13 record. The team averaged 2.57 goals-per-game (30th in the NHL), 3.18 goals-against per game (21st), a 19% power play efficiency (22nd), and an 85.2% penalty-killing rate (second).

Boughner has a 147-147-45 record (.500 points percentage) in 339 career NHL games coached with the Sharks and Florida Panthers, including 67-85-23 (.449) in San Jose since taking over for Pete DeBoer on December 10, 2019. He was an assistant on the DeBoer’s staff to start the 2019-20 season after being fired from the Panthers.

Boughner has never led his team to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in his NHL coaching career.

The Sharks are also looking into hiring a new GM.

The Winnipeg Jets are the only other team currently without a head coach for the 2022-23 season.

The Vegas Golden Knights replaced DeBoer with former Bruins and Washington Capitals head coach Bruce Cassidy on a reported contract that will pay him $4.5 million for five seasons. The Philadelphia Flyers hired John Tortorella, who signed a four-year contract that will pay him $4 million per season, on Friday. The Dallas Stars brought in DeBoer after Rick Bowness resigned and the Florida Panthers hired Paul Maurice to take over for Andrew Brunette. Lane Lambert will take over for Barry Trotz on the New York Islanders’ staff. Former Montreal Canadiens assistant Luke Richardson got the Chicago Blackhawks’ head coaching job. On Tuesday, the Detroit Red Wings replaced Jeff Blashill with former Tampa Bay Lightning assistant Derek Lalonde and the Bruins hired former Stars coach Jim Montgomery to take over for Cassidy.

Further to @FriedgeHNIC’s report, can confirm Bob Boughner was let go last night as head coach of the Sharks. Had one more year left on his deal at $1.5M. His staff also let go (Madden, Maclean, Darrow). @TSNHockey @TheAthletic

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2022

By Harrison Brown