SAN JOSE, Calif.—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 Mr. 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 Hasso Plattner, the club’s owner.
“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,” Mr. Grier said. “A different voice for the group, where the group is now, and what’s needed for the group.”
Mr. Grier hired Mr. Quinn to replace Bob Boughner shortly after taking over as general manager in 2022. Mr. Quinn spent two seasons in San Jose that were marked with lackluster play as the team traded away high-priced stars such as defensemen Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns, and forwards Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier. All of that was part of a major overhaul in hopes of getting the franchise back to contending.
Instead, the Sharks had a 41–98–25 record in Mr. Quinn’s two seasons for the worst mark in the NHL during 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,” Mr. Grier said. “Obviously, it’s something I’m aware of. But at the same time, going 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.”
Mr. Quinn formerly coached the New York Rangers for three seasons, from 2018–21, after having been the coach at Boston University for five seasons, from 2013–18.
The last-place finish gives San Jose a 25.5 percent chance of earning the No. 1 draft pick and the prize that is expected to be Boston University freshman forward Macklin Celebrini, who won this year’s Hobey Baker Award as the top player in college hockey. Celebrini played one season of youth hockey for the San Jose Jr. Sharks 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 the Ottawa Senators were outscored by 196 goals in 1993–94, their 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.
Mr. 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 conference-final appearances and a trip to the 2016 Stanley Cup Final, which resulted in a six-game loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
But the core of that roster was aging, and San Jose struggled the next three seasons before Mr. Grier took over and started a rebuild that has given the team significant draft capital. The Sharks have two extra first-round picks the next two seasons and an extra second-rounder this year.
Mr. Grier also announced that Ray Tufts, the team’s head athletic trainer, would not return after having spent 27 years with the franchise.
