The San Jose Sharks appear to be looking into a familiar face to fill the hole behind their bench.
San Jose has received permission from the Los Angeles Kings to speak to Marco Sturm as part of its coaching search, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
The Sharks drafted Sturm 21st overall in 1996. He amassed 128 goals and 273 points in 553 games for the organization while establishing himself as a fan favorite.
His eight-season tenure with the club ended when he was packaged to the Boston Bruins as part of the trade that sent Joe Thornton to San Jose.
Though he's never served as a head coach at the NHL level, Sturm has been bench boss of the Ontario Reign, the Kings' AHL affiliate, since 2022. The Reign were eliminated from the Calder Cup Playoffs on Sunday.
Sturm was also an assistant coach for the Kings from 2018 until he took over the Reign.
The 45-year-old has also helmed the German national team, helping his country win silver at the 2018 Olympics.
The Sharks fired David Quinn in April after finishing last in the league with an abysmal 19-54-9 record. The team's next head coach will be its fourth since 2019.
San Jose won the draft lottery earlier in May, earning the right to select Macklin Celebrini first overall in June.
