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‘In his blood:’ How Sharks coach Bob Boughner went from tough guy to NHL bench boss

SAN JOSE — Craig Berube remembers exchanging words with Buffalo Sabres enforcer Rob Ray in a game nearly a quarter-century ago. Berube, then with the Washington Capitals, already had a well-earned reputation as one of the NHL’s premier tough guys, and scuffles with opposing players were nothing new.

Berube then got a tap on the shoulder from a Sabres player he had never seen before.

“I turned around and it was Bob Boughner,” Berube said. “He goes, ‘I got you tonight big boy if you wanna go.’ I started laughing, ‘Who’s this guy?'”

Boughner (pronounced BOOG-nur), who was hired as the Sharks’ interim coach on Dec.