The San Jose Sharks named Mike Grier as the NHL’s first black general manager on Tuesday.
He replaces interim general manager Joe Will, who took over in November when Doug Wilson resigned for medical reasons. Wilson officially retired in April.
Grier, 47, was a hockey consultant for the New York Rangers last season and previously worked as a 14-year scout for the Chicago Blackhawks (2014-18) and as an assistant coach for the New Jersey Devils (2018- 20). Player career that included a stint in San Jose.
“I’m really excited to go to work and be back in the Bay Area,” Grier said in a short video posted to the team’s Twitter account. “I know there have been a lot of ups and downs but I’m willing to work hard and get this thing back on track. We will start winning some matches in Shark Tank and get it working again. “
Grier, whose older brother Chris is the GM of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, is taking over a Sharks franchise that has missed the playoffs for the past three seasons.
The franchise fired head coach Bob Boughner last week.
Grier had 383 points (162 goals, 221 assists) and 510 penalty minutes in 1,060 games for the Edmonton Oilers, Washington Capitals, Buffalo Sabers and Sharks from 1996 to 2011.
He had 78 points (35 goals, 43 assists) in 221 games in three seasons with San Jose (2006-09).
– Field level media