David Quinn Has Been Fired as the Head Coach of the San Jose Sharks
By Conor Power
We've long wondered about the future of the San Jose Sharks bench boss, but we are no longer in doubt. Head coach David Quinn has been relieved of his head coaching duties as we head into the summer. As the coaching carousel continues with hirings and firings around the league, the Sharks will attempt to find a new bench boss. There will be a new voice leading the Team in Teal next year.
Quinn had a record of 41-98-25 during his time behind the Sharks bench for the 164 games he coached. A .326 points percentage during his time in the Bay Area outlines the Sharks' issues trying to grab wins from the jaws of defeats. It was a shambolic this year as the Sharks stumbled to a 19-54-9 record. It's one of the worst seasons in NHL history, and it was unacceptable, even for a team in a rebuild. Given the injury concern, this isn't entirely Quinn's fault, but it's not good enough.
Now, the search will begin for a replacement. Candidates will arise quickly with rumors of everyone on the market, but Grier has to be careful. He needs a coach who can get the best out of the younger players on the roster, even if it means the veterans have to sit a little more to provide chances to players like Collin Graf, William Eklund, and Fabian Zetterlund.
In addition, the Sharks have announced that Ray Tufts, the head athletic trainer, will not return to the organization after more than two decades of service. It's not surprising, given his long tenure and the Shark's desire to have a fresh start almost across the board. It's always sad to see someone who has been a staple of the organization moving on, and it will feel different not having Tufts here will take getting used to.
General Manager Mike Grier confirmed that both assistants are staying on for the time but are free to look for other employment opportunities elsewhere if they'd like to. Whoever the new head coach will be will get a say in the assistants that join them behind the bench. John McCarthy is expected to remain the Barracuda head coach, too, which probably means none of these individuals will be considered for the head coaching role. We'll see who joins the organization in the coming months.