Breaking News – San Jose Sharks Make Historic Hire Naming Mike Grier As First Black General Manager In The NHL

Igor Burdetskiy July 5, 2022

2 1 minute read

The San Jose Sharks will announce Mike Grier as their new general manager on Tuesday, July 5th at 11am Pacific Time.

What’s everyone doing tomorrow at 11am PT? We’d love to formally introduce someone to you all. Check back with us then for a live stream. Sleep well, besties!

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) July 4, 2022

Mike Grier will become the first Black man in NHL history to hold the position.

Grier, 47, played 14 seasons in the NHL beginning in 1996, three of them with the Sharks. His last season was with the Buffalo Sabres and he retired from playing in 2011.

Once a dominant force in the Western Conference, the Sharks have missed the playoffs for three straight seasons, the longest drought in franchise history.

San Jose has a veteran corp of players with various levels of trade protection in their contracts. San Jose is 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.

Grier replaces interim GM Mike Will, who took over when Doug Wilson stepped away in November of 2021 for medical reasons. Wilson had held the position for 19 years and resigned in April.

The Detroit-born, but Massachusetts-raised Grier has held various non-playing positions since retiring. He spent two seasons behind the bench as an assistant with the New Jersey Devils from 2018 to 2020. A year ago, he was hired as an adviser to hockey operations for the New York Rangers. He has also served as a scout for the Chicago Blackhawks between 2014 and 2018.

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Igor Burdetskiy

Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & CEO at Hooked on Hockey Magazine

I grew up playing Ball and Roller Hockey day and night somewhat religiously throughout elementary and middle school. The two don't compare though when I lace up the skates and hit the ice. I live and breathe hockey beyond the perspective of "it's just a game" and I will gladly talk hockey for hours with anyone. Hockey is more than just a lifestyle, it's a culture of passionate people who make memories every time the puck is dropped. Hockey has not only helped me get through some of the hardest times in life but has created some of the best memories to date. Want to talk hockey with me? Shoot me an email: iburdetskiy@hookedonhockey.com and let's talk some hockey!