Report: DeBoer to become Sharks head coach

May 27, 2015 - 9:47 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The San Jose Sharks have reportedly settled on Peter DeBoer as their new head coach.

ESPN cited an unnamed source in its report Wednesday. The San Jose Mercury News stated that the Sharks have scheduled a press conference for Thursday at 4 p.m. ET to announce the hiring.

DeBoer was fired by the New Jersey Devils in late December after a 12-17-7 start this past season. He was in his fourth season with New Jersey and guided the Devils to a record of 114-93-41.

The Devils reached the playoffs just once under DeBoer, making a surprising run to the Stanley Cup Finals in his first season of 2011-12. New Jersey lost to the Los Angeles Kings in six games.

DeBoer also spent three seasons as head coach of the Florida Panthers and posted a record of 103-107-36 from 2008-11 without a postseason appearance.

The Sharks needed a replacement for Todd McLellan, who spent seven seasons behind the bench. The club and the coach decided to mutually part ways on April 20 after the Sharks failed to reach the playoffs for the first time during McLellan's tenure.

McLellan, who had DeBoer as his assistant with Team Canada at the 2015 World Hockey Championship, was named the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers on May 19.