NHL: Rob Zettler returning to San Jose Sharks as assistant coach

Former San Jose Sharks player and assistant coach Rob Zettler is returning to the club, the team announced on Monday.

Zettler once again will serve as an assistant coach, filling the void created when Bob Boughner accepted the head coaching position with the Florida Panthers last month.

Zettler joined San Jose during its expansion year in 1991, recording one goal and 18 assists in 196 contests over a three-year period. He also was an assistant with the Sharks from 2002-08 and most recently served as the head coach for Syracuse of the American Hockey League.

"It is both an exciting challenge and a privilege to come back to an organization that I have so much passion for, and I am happy to get my family back home to San Jose," Zettler said. "I want to thank Pete (DeBoer, coach), Doug (Wilson, general manager) and his staff for their time during the hiring process and for this opportunity. Ultimately, I want to win, and I look forward to working together and building on the success this staff has had."

DeBoer was pleased to welcome Zettler back to the fold.

"Rob has extensive experience working as a coach at the NHL level and developing prospects as a head coach in the AHL," DeBoer said. "As we researched candidates during this process, reputable people that I spoke with kept coming back to me with the same words: communicator, teacher, and professional. We think he will be a tremendous asset to our staff."