The San Jose Sharks have hired Mike Grier as their new General Manager, becoming the sixth full-time GM in franchise history, and the first black GM in NHL history. Grier is an alumni of the Sharks, playing for the team from 2006 to 2009.
There is no better source to confirm the news than himself.
Please say hello and hear from our new #SJSharks General Manager, Mike Grier. 👋 pic.twitter.com/kIrBGAU14i
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) July 5, 2022
Mike Grier Named Sharks General Manager
The Sharks have whittled down the general manager search to their final candidate, as they have named former player and coach Mike Grier as General Manager to the team. He replaces longtime general manager and Hall of Famer Doug Wilson, who stepped down due to health reasons.
Grier spent 15 seasons in the NHL, playing for the Edmonton Oilers, Washington Capitals, Buffalo Sabres, and the Sharks. He spent the majority of his career with the Oilers, spending 6 seasons with the organization. Grier was a scout with the Chicago Blackhawks from 2014 to 2018, and an assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils for two seasons before becoming an Advisor for the New York Rangers.
What This Means
For the Sharks, it ends their search for a new General Manager, but it also brings a fresh face into the role. Grier can help the Sharks with their retool, and bring them back to playoff contention. The Sharks are in an interesting spot, as they have major contracts in the books which suggests a playoff run, but thy also have a lot of rookies coming up through their farm system. Hopefully with Grier stepping in, this can be sorted out.
As mentioned before, Grier’s hiring is a landmark moment as he is the first black General Manager in NHL history. Although he has front office experience, he has never served as a general manager, which fits with the current NHL trend of hiring fresh faces for front office and coaching positions, who have brought in fresh opinions and systems, which has proven to be successful.
Mike Grier with his family pic.twitter.com/nXAOKjE5tO
— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) July 5, 2022
