04/24/24 03:39:00
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04/24 15:37 CDT Rebuilding Sharks fire coach David Quinn after 2 disappointing
seasons
Rebuilding Sharks fire coach David Quinn after 2 disappointing seasons
By JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) --- The San Jose Sharks fired coach David Quinn on
Wednesday following two rough seasons as part of a massive rebuilding project.
General manager Mike Grier called it a hard decision to fire Quinn after he
experienced two seasons under "difficult circumstances" but said he decided it
was the best move for the franchise's future after spending the past few days
meeting with coaches, players, front office staff and owner Hasso Plattner.
"After going through our process, and digesting this going through the process
of evaluating everything, I just felt this was what we needed to do," Grier
said. "A different voice for the group where the group is now and what's needed
for the group."
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 with lackluster play
as the team traded away several high-priced stars like Erik Karlsson, Brent
Burns, Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier, part of a major overhaul in hopes of getting
the franchise back to contending.
Instead, the Sharks had a 41-98-25 record in Quinn's two seasons for the worst
mark in the NHL in 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.
"That didn't really factor into it too, too much," Grier said. "Obviously, it's
something I'm aware of. But at the same time, going into into the season, I
kind of knew what the roster was. I wasn't expecting us to be a playoff team.
Did the season go a little worse than expected? Yes. But it's not all
performance-related."
The last-place finish gives San Jose a 25.5% chance of earning the No. 1 draft
pick and the prize that 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 were outscored by 147 goals this season, excluding shootouts, 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 allowed at least six goals in a game 18 times, the second-most times
that has happened in a season since the start of 1996-97.
Grier put no timeline on the search for a new coach and said he's open to
candidates both with and without head coaching experience in the NHL. He said
the assistants would remain under contract and have the chance to stay on if
the new coach wanted them but were free to seek other opportunities if they
arise.
The Sharks have missed the playoffs for a franchise-record five straight
seasons after making the 2019 Western Conference Final and have the worst
record in the NHL in that span. San Jose had been one of the most consistent
teams in the league before this stretch, making the playoffs in 14 of 15
seasons, with five trips to the conference final and one trip to the Stanley
Cup Final in 2016 before losing in six games to Pittsburgh.
But the core of that roster was aging, and San Jose struggled the next three
seasons before Grier took over and started a rebuild that has given the team
significant draft capital. It has two extra first-round picks the next two
seasons and an extra second-rounder this year.
Grier also announced that head athletic trainer Ray Tufts would not return
after spending 27 years with the franchise.
___
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