Florida Panthers Name New Head Coach

SUNRISE, FL — As the Pittsburgh Penguins hoist the Stanley Cup for the second time in as many years, the Florida Panthers scored a new head coach. Bob Boughner has been named to lead the club ahead of the 2017-18 season. President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Dale Tallon made the announcement on Monday.

Boughner was introduced to the media at an afternoon press conference in the Chairman's Club at BB&T Center. (Sign up for our free Daily Newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Miami Patch.)

“It was an exhaustive, extensive search," Tallon said in addressing reporters. "We interviewed 15 coaches and talked to half of a dozen more and everyone said the same thing about the great potential and great future that this franchise has. It was good to hear. But of all of the interviews, and of all of the people, Bob Boughner here to my left impressed us like no one else. Of all of the years I’ve been in the business, interviewing coaches, firing coaches, meeting coaches, Bob was the most prepared. His performance, his preparation, his passion knocked us out of the park. It really did. It was incredible to see."

Like Miami Patch on Facebook

The 46-year-old Boughner has served as an assistant coach for the San Jose Sharks for the past two seasons and helped the Sharks advance to the postseason twice, including the Stanley Cup Final in 2016. He began his NHL coaching career as an assistant coach with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2010-11.

Boughner becomes the 15th head coach of the Panthers. "I think we have a lot of great pieces here to build something special here in South Florida. I’ve seen this game through many vantage points, I’ve been a player, I’ve been an owner, I’ve been an executive, I’ve been a head coach and an assistant coach," he said. "I know this league and I know the game and I’m ready for this challenge."

He said he personally knows at least five of the Panther players, including one since he was eight. "I can't tell you how excited I am to jump right in and get started. My job's real simple it's to put structure in place and get the best out of all these players individually and ultimately as a team."

He added that the best hockey teams are built from the middle and the back end. "I am familiar with a lot of these guys. I love the depth of this team," he said, noting that he wants to work on consistency. "There's a lot of young players that are up and coming impact guys."

A native of Windsor, Ontario, Boughner served as head coach of his hometown Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League for eight seasons, winning two consecutive J. Ross Robertson Cups and two consecutive Memorial Cups. Boughner was named the OHL and the Canadian Hockey League's Coach of the Year in 2007-08 and 2008-09.

Panthers President and CEO Matthew Caldwell said that he met with some potential coaches a few weeks ago. "I was just blown away by Bob," he said. "From a cultural perspective, and knowing what the owners want — the intensity and preparation and the type of person they want leading this team — I thought he fit all of those characteristics.”

In 2006, Boughner headed an ownership group to purchase the Spitfires and serves as the organization's president. Under Boughner's leadership, the Spitfires have won three Memorial Cups (2009, 2010, 2017) and have developed NHL players such as Ryan Ellis (Nashville Predators), Cam Fowler (Anaheim Ducks) and Taylor Hall (New Jersey Devils).

Boughner, who was a defenseman in his playing career, appeared in 630 NHL games for the Buffalo Sabres (1995-98), Nashville Predators (1998-00), Pittsburgh Penguins (2000-01), Calgary Flames (2001-03), Carolina Hurricanes (2003-04) and Colorado Avalanche (2004-06). Boughner originally was selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round (32nd overall) of the 1989 NHL Draft.

On July 25, 1994, Boughner signed with the Panthers and played for two seasons for their minor league affiliates, the Cincinnati Cyclones of the International Hockey League (1994-95) and the Carolina Monarchs (1995-96) of the American Hockey League.

Fans will have the opportunity to learn more about Boughner at the Panthers Summer Summit on June 29.

Boughner and his wife, Jenn, have four children: Brady, Molly, Emma and Lola.

Photo of the BB&T Center courtesy of the Florida Panthers