San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier is not considering a coaching change despite the team’s poor start, TSN insider Pierre LeBrun reported on Thursday’s edition of Insider Trading. Ryan Warsofsky has faced questions as the Sharks continue to struggle, but LeBrun’s report suggests Grier is willing to give the coach more time.
“The Sharks are near the bottom in goals for. They’re near the bottom in goals against. It’s ugly. The team’s struggles have led to speculation about Ryan Warsofsky,” LeBrun said. “But my understanding is that Sharks GM Mike Grier is not contemplating a coaching change at this stage.”
Warsofsky also signed a contract extension on September 17, something LeBrun pointed to while discussing the situation.
“They just signed their head coach to a contract extension on Sep. 17th,” he said.
LeBrun believes the team needs time to find its footing.
“I think everyone has to take a deep breath and let this Sharks team find its way,” he added.
San Jose’s 7-9-1 start comes after a promising season
Warsofsky took over as San Jose’s head coach on June 13, 2024, after spending two seasons as an assistant with the team, working with its defense and penalty kill. His first season ended with the Sharks at the bottom of the NHL standings, with a 20-50-12 record and 52 points.
Things looked different last season. San Jose improved by 34 points, finishing 39-35-8 with 86 points. The Sharks placed fifth in the Pacific Division and stayed in the playoff race until the final week, eventually missing the second wild card by four points. They also went from scoring 2.54 goals per game, the lowest mark in the league, to 3.04, which ranked 16th.
Grier rewarded Warsofsky with a multi-year extension on September 17. The coach had been entering the final season of his original contract. The team did not disclose the terms of the new deal.
Grier also spent more than $100 million in the offseason, bringing in Mason Marchment, Darnell Nurse, Jacob Trouba and Michael Kesselring. So far, the additions have not produced the results San Jose wanted. The Sharks are 7-9-1 with 15 points, sixth in the Pacific Division, and have lost five of their last six games. Their latest setback was a 7-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday.
The defeat was followed by a players-only meeting. Forward Kiefer Sherwood made it clear that the players were not blaming the coaching staff for the results.
“It’s not on the coaches right now,” Sherwood told reporters. “We’re not winning our battles. We’re not being hard to play against. We’re not making plays.”
Warsofsky is still working with a young group led by Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, Michael Misa and defenseman Sam Dickinson, with Yaroslav Askarov in goal. Injuries to center Alex Wennberg and winger Igor Chernyshov have also affected the lineup.
The Sharks continue their road trip with games against Minnesota on Friday and Dallas on Saturday.
Edited by Sonali Verma
