The Florida Panthers are closing in on a deal that would make San Jose Sharks assistant Bob Boughner the club's new head coach, TSN's Bob McKenzie reports.

It will mark Boughner's first NHL head coaching position, and he'll become the 15th bench boss in Panthers history.

Boughner has been with the Sharks since 2015, and previously served as an assistant with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2010-11. However, the 46-year-old spent eight seasons as head coach of the OHL's Windsor Spitfires, winning back-to-back Memorial Cups in 2009 and 2010. He also suited up in 630 NHL games, recording 72 points and 1,382 penalty minutes as a defenseman.

The Panthers reportedly also considered former Canadiens coach Michel Therrien, Capitals assistant Todd Reirden and University of Denver's Jim Montgomery as candidates for the position.

Pending confirmation, with Boughner in the fold, Florida will seek some consistency behind the bench after a tumultuous 2016-17 campaign that endured the controversial firing of Gerard Gallant - who has since been hired to coach in Vegas - in November.

With Boughner appearing bound for Sunrise, the Buffalo Sabres are the lone NHL team with a head coaching vacancy.

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