The San Jose Sharks are entering the next phase of their rebuild under general manager Mike Grier, who has overseen a significant roster overhaul in his first two seasons at the helm.
After a dismal 19-54-9 campaign that resulted in a last-place finish in the NHL, Grier is expected to make further changes to the team’s staff and roster.
Among the players whose futures are in question are coach David Quinn and his staff. The Sharks allowed a league-worst 326 goals against this season and were blown out by five goals or more 11 times. However, players have generally remained supportive of Quinn, who has focused on maintaining morale during a challenging season.
Grier has indicated that he wants to gather more information before making a decision on Quinn’s future. If these past two years were the most painful part of the rebuild, it would be a surprise to see a coaching change now, given internal expectations. But if those expectations are increasing after this season, then Quinn and his staff have to be on notice.
On the roster front, several players are facing uncertain futures. Pending UFAs Kevin Labanc, Mike Hoffman, and Alexander Barabanov are not expected to be brought back, while Oskar Lindblom and Jacob Peterson are also likely to depart.
Pending RFA Luke Kunin could be in line for a multi-year deal, and Filip Zadina, who had 13 goals this season, may also be retained.
With his contract and current injury situation, captain Logan Couture is not going anywhere, but the Sharks will need to ensure they have enough center depth if he is not healthy by the fall.
The Sharks also have a number of pending RFAs on the blue line, including Calen Addison, who showed flashes of potential this season. It’s hard to imagine things staying mostly the same for the defense corps in 2024-2025, as Grier wants his team to be harder to play against.
In goal, Grier likes the tandem of Mackenzie Blackwood and Vitek Vanecek for next season, but the Sharks may look to upgrade their depth in the crease.
The Sharks’ rebuild is far from over, but Grier has laid the groundwork for a brighter future. With a number of young players emerging and more roster changes on the horizon, San Jose is poised to take the next step in their journey back to contention.
