David Quinn, the former head coach of the San Jose Sharks, has been relieved of his duties after two disappointing seasons. The team announced the decision on Wednesday afternoon, bringing an end to Quinn’s tenure with the organization.
Quinn, who previously coached the New York Rangers, struggled to turn things around in San Jose. The Sharks finished last in the NHL during his two seasons at the helm, posting a dismal 41-98-25 record. This marked the worst record in the league during that span.
The decision to fire Quinn comes as no surprise given the Sharks’ poor performance. The team finished with an abysmal -147 goal differential this season, excluding shootouts, marking the 12th-worst mark in NHL history and the worst in 30 years.
Quinn’s firing marks the second time he has been let go from an NHL head coaching position. The Rangers fired him after a 96-87-25 record, missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs in his final year in 2020-21.
The Sharks now enter the coaching market with a daunting task ahead of them. The team is in the midst of a painful rebuild, having traded away several key players in recent years. The Sharks have the best chance of landing the top overall pick in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, which could yield coveted prospect Macklin Celebrini. However, the team’s future remains uncertain, and it remains to be seen who will take over as the next head coach.
