Rebuilding Sharks fire coach David Quinn after 2 disappointing seasons

SAN JOSE, California – The San Jose Sharks fired head coach David Quinn on Wednesday after two difficult seasons as part of a major rebuilding project.

General manager Mike Grier called it a difficult decision to fire Quinn after spending two seasons under “difficult circumstances” but said he decided it was the best move for the future of the franchise after spending the last few days meeting with coaches, players and staff. of the board. and owner Hasso Plattner.

“After going through our process and digesting it through the process of evaluating everything, I felt like this is what we needed to do,” Grier said. “A different voice for the group where the group is now and what the group needs.”

Grier hired Quinn to replace Bob Boughner shortly after taking over as GM in 2022. Quinn spent two seasons in San Jose that were marked by lackluster play as the team traded away several high-value stars such as Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns, Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier, part of a major overhaul in the hope of getting the franchise back into competition.

Instead, the Sharks went 41-98-25 in Quinn’s two seasons for the worst mark in the NHL over that span, including a league-worst 47 points this season. San Jose’s 19 wins this season were the fewest in a full season since the franchise’s second year as an expansion team in 1992-93.

“It didn’t really factor in much,” Grier said. “Obviously, it’s something I’m aware of. But at the same time, at the beginning of the season, I kind of knew who the cast was. I didn’t expect us to be a playoff team. Was the season a little worse than expected? Yes. But not everything is related to performance.”

Last place gives San Jose a 25.5% chance of winning the No. 1 draft pick and the prize is expected to be Hobey Baker Award winner Macklin Celebrini, who played one season for the Sharks’ junior team while living in the Bay Area. .

The Sharks have been outscored by 147 goals this season, excluding penalties, for the 12th-worst mark ever and the worst in 30 years since Ottawa was outscored by 196 goals in 1993-94, its second season as an expansion team.

San Jose set a franchise record for fewest goals scored per game (2.18) and had the fourth-worst mark in team history in goals allowed per game (3.98). The Sharks have allowed at least six goals in a game 18 times, the second most times in a season since the start of 1996-97.

Grier has not set a timeline for the search for a new coach and said he is open to candidates with or without NHL head coaching experience. He said the assistants will remain under contract and have the chance to stay if the new coach wants them, but are free to pursue other opportunities if they arise.

The Sharks have missed the playoffs for a franchise-record five seasons in a row after reaching the 2019 Western Conference Final and have the worst record in the NHL over that span. San Jose had been one of the league’s most consistent teams before this stretch, making the playoffs in 14 of 15 seasons, with five trips to the conference finals and a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016, before losing in six games. for Pittsburgh. .

But the core of that roster was aging, and San Jose struggled over the next three seasons before Grier took over and began a rebuild that gave the team significant draft capital. It has two extra first-round picks over the next two seasons and an extra second-round pick this year.

Grier also announced that athletic trainer Ray Tufts would not return after spending 27 years with the franchise.

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