The San Jose Sharks have dismissed coach David Quinn after a challenging two seasons amidst a major rebuilding effort. General manager Mike Grier revealed the decision on Wednesday following a thorough assessment of the team’s performance.
“After reviewing our season and our objectives for the future, we’ve made the tough call to change our head coach,” Grier stated. “David is a solid coach and an outstanding person. I want to personally thank him for his dedication over the past two seasons. He and his staff handled difficult circumstances admirably, and I sincerely appreciate their efforts.”
Quinn was brought in by Grier to replace Bob Boughner in 2022. However, his tenure was marked by lackluster play as the Sharks traded away several high-profile players like Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns, Tomas Hertl, and Timo Meier in an effort to rebuild the team.
During Quinn’s two seasons, the Sharks had a disappointing record of 41-98-25, the worst in the NHL during that period. They finished last in the league this season and are now poised to have a 25.5% chance of acquiring the No. 1 draft pick, expected to be Macklin Celebrini, winner of the Hobey Baker Award.
The Sharks were outscored by 147 goals this season, which is the 12th-worst mark in NHL history and the worst in 30 years since Ottawa’s 196-goal deficit in 1993-94, their second season as an expansion team.
Setting a franchise record for fewest goals scored per game (2.18) and ranking fourth-worst in team history for goals allowed per game (3.98), the Sharks faced significant challenges defensively. They allowed six or more goals in a game 18 times, the second-highest in a season since 1996-97.
This marks the Sharks’ fifth consecutive season missing the playoffs, a franchise record, after reaching the 2019 Western Conference Final. Previously one of the league’s most consistent teams, San Jose made the playoffs in 14 of 15 seasons, with five trips to the conference final and one Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2016.
However, the team’s core players aged, leading to a decline over the past three seasons before Grier initiated the current rebuild. This has provided the team with significant draft assets, including two extra first-round picks in the next two seasons and an additional second-rounder this year.
Additionally, Grier announced that head athletic trainer Ray Tufts, who had been with the franchise for over two decades, will not return.
