Searching for answers, Pete DeBoer shuffles coaching staff responsibilities

SAN JOSE — he Sharks have shuffled forward lines all season long and have tinkered with their defense pairs from time to time, all in an effort to help become more consistent.

Now, with one-third of the regular season already gone and the Sharks sliding in the Pacific Division standings, Pete DeBoer is shuffling the responsibilities of his coaching staff.

Steve Spott, who formerly worked with the forwards, will now be working with the defensemen, Dave Barr will now be on the bench working with the forwards and Rob Zettler will be moving from the bench to be the team’s ‘eye in the sky.’

Formerly, Barr was the Sharks’ ‘eye in the sky’ and Zettler worked with the defensemen.

The Sharks entered Tuesday in third place in the Pacific Division with a 13-10-5 record, three points back of first place Calgary but also just three points up on fifth place Edmonton. The Sharks host Carolina on Wednesday.

Before they began their five-game road trip Nov. 24, the Sharks were in first place with a 12-7-4 record. San Jose is 5-6-2 since Nov. 8.

“We’re close, but we’ve been close for 30 games now almost,” said DeBoer, who added that this was his decision. “A third of the season’s over and we’re not finding the right side of that line to get more wins.”

Spott officially joined the Sharks’ coaching staff roughly three months after DeBoer was hired as the team’s head coach in May 2015.

Both Zettler and Barr were hired in July 2017, with Zettler at the time taking over the responsibilities of Bob Boughner, who had been hired as the Florida Panthers’ head coach.

“Fresh eyes, fresh voice, a little different perspective, hopefully some ideas on how we find that line,” DeBoer said. “I think we’re all in synch on how we want to play. But starting with me, it’s got to translate into wins. We’re close, but we’re not close enough here yet.”

Special teams have not been a major issue lately for the Sharks. Entering Tuesday, the power play was ranked 11th in the NHL at 22.8 percent and the penalty kill was ranked second (85.5 percent).

San Jose ranked 13th in the league in average goals-for per game at 3.04, but is 19th in goals allowed per game at 3.11, and according to Natural Stat Trick, ranks 31st and last in the league in high danger goals against at 43.