The San Jose Sharks removed coach David Quinn from his position on Wednesday after two challenging seasons during a significant rebuilding phase.
General manager Mike Grier explained that it was a tough choice to let go of Quinn, who faced tough times in the past two seasons. However, after careful consideration and discussions with various stakeholders, including coaches, players, and team owner Hasso Plattner, Grier believed it was the right decision for the team’s future.
“After thorough evaluation, I felt it was necessary to make this change,” Grier stated. “We need a new direction for the team given where we are and what’s needed.”
Grier brought Quinn on board to replace Bob Boughner in 2022. However, Quinn’s tenure coincided with a period of subpar performance as the team underwent significant changes, including trading away key players like Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns, Tomas Hertl, and Timo Meier. The goal was to rebuild the team and return it to a competitive position.
Unfortunately, the Sharks struggled under Quinn’s leadership, posting a disappointing record of 41-98-25 over two seasons, the worst in the NHL during that time frame.
This season, in particular, saw the team finish with a league-low 47 points and only 19 wins, marking the fewest wins in a full season since the franchise’s early years in 1992-93.
Grier mentioned that the team’s poor performance wasn’t the only factor in the decision. He acknowledged being aware of it but stated that he didn’t expect the team to make the playoffs at the start of the season. While the season went worse than anticipated, he clarified that not all aspects were related to performance.
The Sharks’ last-place finish means they have a 25.5% chance of securing the top pick in the draft, with the highly anticipated prospect Macklin Celebrini being the expected top choice. Celebrini previously played for the Sharks’ junior team while residing in the Bay Area.
This season, the Sharks faced significant challenges, being outscored by 147 goals (excluding shootouts), marking the 12th worst performance in NHL history and the worst in 30 years since Ottawa’s struggles in 1993-94, their second season as an expansion team.
San Jose also experienced record-low scoring, averaging 2.18 goals per game, and struggled defensively, allowing an average of 3.98 goals per game, the fourth-worst in team history. They conceded six or more goals in a game 18 times, the second-highest frequency since 1996-97.
Grier didn’t specify a timeline for hiring a new coach and expressed openness to candidates with or without NHL head coaching experience.
He mentioned that the current assistant coaches would remain under contract and could choose to stay if desired by the new coach but were also free to explore other opportunities.
The Sharks haven’t reached the playoffs for a record five seasons, following their impressive run to the 2019 Western Conference Final. In that time, they’ve had the worst record in the NHL.
Previously, the Sharks were one of the most reliable teams in the league, making the playoffs in 14 of 15 seasons. They had five trips to the conference final and reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2016, where they lost to Pittsburgh in six games.
However, the team’s core players were getting older, and the Sharks struggled in the subsequent three seasons. When Grier took charge, he initiated a rebuilding process, which has provided the team with valuable draft picks. They now have two additional first-round picks in the next two years and an extra second-round pick for this year.
In addition to changes on the ice, Grier announced that head athletic trainer Ray Tufts, who had been with the franchise for 27 years, would not be returning.
