In a historically poor season, the San Jose Sharks fired coach David Quinn on Wednesday. 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 in a full 82-game season. They had a rough start, going 0-10-1, and ended the season with a league-worst goal differential of -150.
As a result of their poor performance, the Sharks will have the best odds in the draft lottery and could potentially secure the number one pick for the first time in team history. The top prospect, Hobey Baker Award winner Macklin Celebrini, may be selected if they obtain the top pick. This means that a new coach will be guiding the team in his first NHL season.
The Sharks general manager Mike Grier expressed gratitude for Quinn’s hard work during his two seasons with the team. Quinn had a record of 41-98-25 in 164 games after being hired in July 2022. However, after evaluating the situation and considering the team’s future direction, Grier believed that a change was necessary to provide a fresh voice for the team. The decision to relieve Quinn of his coaching duties came after careful deliberation and consideration of many factors.
Grier acknowledged that the roster was not playoff-worthy and praised the coaching staff for handling difficult circumstances. However, he also recognized that changes needed to be made to improve player development and performance on ice. As such, he recently parted ways with high-priced veterans like Timo Meier, Erik Karlsson, Tomas Hertl, and Anthony Duclair as part of an ongoing rebuilding process.
The Buffalo Sabres were also struggling this season and became the first team to fire their coach following the regular season when Lindy Ruff replaced Don Granato earlier this month. A total of seven coaches were fired during this season alone, reflecting how competitive and demanding it can be to succeed as an NHL coach.
In conclusion, while it is never easy to let go of someone who has put so much effort into your organization as David Quinn did for two seasons with San Jose Sharks – but sometimes it’s necessary for both parties involved to move forward towards success
