The San Jose Sharks are planning to name former NHL forward Mike Grier as the organizations next general manager, according to multiple sources. With the signing, Grier will become the first Black general manager in NHL history.
The Sharks have not made the hiring official as of yet, but have scheduled a press conference for 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday, when they are expected to formally announce Grier as their new GM.
A Detroit Michigan native, Grier, 47, played 14 years in the NHL, beginning in 1996, for four different teams, the Edmonton Oilers, Washington Capitals, Buffalo Sabres and the Sharks before hanging up his skates in 2011. He spent this last season as the New York Rangers’ hockey operations adviser. Grier also held the position as a scout for the Chicago Blackhawks from 2014-2018.
In 1,060 regular season games, Grier registered 162 goals and 221 assists for 383 points. He also had 28 points in 101 playoff games, primarily acting as a checking-line winger who played a defensively responsible game.
Grier is the older brother of the Miami Dolphins GM Chris Grier, who has held that position since 2016.
Grier will take over for Sharks interim GM Joe Will, who in November took charge of the duties when veteran GM Doug Wilson left the franchise because of medical issues. Wilson officially stepped down in April after 19 seasons with the club.
The Sharks reportedly will hire Grier as their GM four days after cleaning house, firing head coach Bob Boughner and his staff. The firing was unusually late in the NHL offseason for a coaching change, and only six days before the NHL draft. Eight other head-coaching vacancies already have been filled, but Will said in a statement that the new GM should “have full autonomy” to hire the next coach.
Once a dominant power in the Western Conference, the Sharks have failed to make the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, the longest drought in franchise history.
San Jose has a veteran core of players with different levels of trade protection in their deals. The Sharks are paying defensemen Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns and Marc-Edouard Vlasic, all over the age of 32, a combined $26.5 million against the salary cap through 2025.
The 1993 ninth-round pick of the St. Louis Blues, Grier will join an exclusive group of GMs in the four major North American sports.
