Mar 7, 2015; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton (19) celebrates with San Jose Sharks bench after scoring in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
After former San Jose Sharks head coach Todd McLellan found a new home and Mike Babcock choose to spurn San Jose earlier this week, Sharks fans have been wondering who might be the new leader of their franchise. While a plethora of former NHL head coaching names have been thrown out there, a not-so familiar name has surfaced.
According to David Pollak of the San Mercury News, Dave Lowry, who is currently the head coach of the Victoria Royals of the Western Hockey League (WHL), is another name to keep an eye on. With the Royals, Lowry was named the WHL coach of the year in 2013-14 after leading Victoria to a 48-20-4 record.
Lowry, who played three seasons with the Sharks during his 19-year NHL career, has been a coaching candidate on the rise. Recently, Lowry was named head coach of Team Canada’s 2016 World Junior Championship team, and Canada takes that tournament very seriously.
Obviously, Lowry brings a familiarity with San Jose from his time in teal where he registered 11 goals and 28 points in 143 games. Not all of Lowry’s coaching experience has come at the WHL-level however. Lowry spent three seasons as an assistant with the Calgary Flames before taking over the Royals job.
While Lowry wouldn’t be the popular or conventional choice, McLellan wasn’t either of those when he was named to succeed Ron Wilson.
Again, this goes to show that Doug Wilson is casting quite the wide net in considering all candidates for the Sharks vacancy.