San Jose Sharks Fire Coach David Quinn: What GM Mike Grier Said Was Behind the Decision

The rebuilding San Jose Sharks fired coach David Quinn after two seasons.

Sharks GM Mike Grier made the announcement on Wednesday about a week after the team finished its season last in the NHL with a 19-54-9 record. While he didn't explain in-depth about why he fired Quinn, what he did say suggests their idea for the future didn't align with keeping their coach.

“After going through our end of the season process of internal meetings and evaluating where our team is at and where we want our group to go, we have made the difficult decision to make a change at the head coach position,” Grier said in a statement. “David is a good coach and an even better person. I would like to personally thank him for his hard work over these past two seasons. He and his staff did an admirable job under some difficult circumstances, and I sincerely appreciate how they handled the situation.”

Grier later told reporters the team's record didn't factor into the decision all that much, according to The Hockey News' San Jose Sharks site editor, Max Miller.

Quinn, 57, was named Sharks coach in July 2022. He was tasked with trying to get the most out of a rebuilding group of players while the team focused on the future. He finished with a 41-98-25 record.

After the season ended, Quinn gave his thoughts on the team's performance this season.

"We all know where we're at as an organization," Quinn told reporters at the time. "When we got here two years ago, everybody knew we were going to have to get worse before we got better. That's just the reality."

He added the Sharks are in a position to get better quicker than they were two years ago.

"Just look at all the players that we've traded and got rid of over the last two years so we can get better and be consistently good (and) competing for Stanley Cups," Quinn said. "Unfortunately, this is what you have to suffer through."

Quinn won't have to suffer through San Jose's rebuild any longer. The Sharks were his second team as a head coach in the NHL. Before San Jose, he coached the New York Rangers for three seasons, putting up a 96-87-25 record, missing the playoffs twice and losing in the 2020 COVID-19-affected play-in round.

The Sharks also parted with their head athletic trainer, Ray Tufts.

For more reaction, visit The Hockey News' San Jose Sharks site. 

What do you think of the Sharks' decision to part with Quinn? Who do you think should replace him? Join the conversation here.

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