On Wednesday, the San Jose Sharks announced a major change in their coaching staff by firing head coach David Quinn after a dismal season. The team finished with a record of 19-54-9, becoming the first NHL team in the salary cap era to fail to reach 20 wins during an 82-game season.
The Sharks had a tough start, going 0-10-1 and finishing with a league-worst -150 goal differential. Despite this, general manager Mike Grier expressed gratitude for Quinn’s hard work over the past two seasons and acknowledged the challenges faced by the team.
As a result of their poor performance, the Sharks will have the best draft lottery odds and could potentially secure the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft for the first time in team history. If they select top prospect Macklin Celebrini, who won the Hobey Baker Award, a new coach will be guiding his first NHL season.
During his time with the Sharks, Quinn had a record of 41-98-25 in 164 games. The team has been in a rebuilding phase, parting ways with high-priced veterans like Timo Meier, Erik Karlsson, Tomas Hertl, and Anthony Duclair. Captain Logan Couture and Hertl both missed significant time due to injuries. Grier noted that the team’s roster wasn’t playoff caliber and that a different voice was needed to lead them forward.
This move by Grier comes after seven coaches were let go during the regular season and after Buffalo Sabres also fired their coach recently. With this change atop their list of priorities heading into next year’s draft, it’s clear that San Jose is determined to turn things around and get back on track towards success on ice.