On Wednesday, the San Jose Sharks made a significant move by firing head coach David Quinn after a historically bad 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 a full 82-game season. They struggled right from the start, going 0-10-1 and finishing with a league-worst -150 goal differential.
The Sharks will now 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. Sharks general manager Mike Grier expressed gratitude for David Quinn’s hard work over the past two seasons, acknowledging the challenges faced by the team.
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 a different voice was needed to lead the group. The Buffalo Sabres also recently fired their coach, while seven coaches were let go during the regular season.