Sharks fill out front office and scouting department, including former Grier linemate
The Sharks and new general manager Mike Grier are nearing a full staff with just over two months to go before their regular season begins.
Grier, who was hired last month, added a head coach last week in David Quinn, and Monday he and the Sharks filled out the front office, adding several new faces to leadership positions.
New assistant general manager Tom Holy joins the Sharks from the Dallas Stars, where he was the team’s VP of communications and broadcasting over the last 10 years. Prior to his time in Dallas, Holy was on the Sharks’ media relations staff. In his return, he’ll oversee analytics, staff budgeting and contracts — a vital part of the Sharks’ aim to rebuild after they’ve worked to get out from under several sizable deals (Evander Kane, Brent Burns) in the last year.
Holy will work alongside existing assistant GM Joe Will, Grier said Monday during a video conference, and Tim Burke will move from being an assistant GM to senior advisor/pro scout.
“He’s very passionate about the Sharks,” Grier said of Holy. “I don’t think people realize the kind of work he’s done behind the scenes with both the Sharks and in Dallas. He’s someone who’s been a confidant to both GMs at both places and coaches at both places.”
Former 1,000-game NHL player and Grier teammate Todd Marchant will take over as the Sharks’ director of player development. He held the same job with the Ducks since 2011, transitioning two years to become Anaheim’s director of player personnel. The former Rangers, Oilers, Blue Jackets and Ducks player will also be a senior advisor. He played alongside Grier, often together on Edmonton’s checking line, during the first six seasons of the new Sharks GM’s career.
Chris Morehouse is taking over as the director of amateur scouting, where he will head up the Sharks’ draft plans. He recently spearheaded the New York Rangers’ scouting in North America and previously worked in amateur scouting for Columbus.
Grier said the Sharks intend to hire a few more scouts and fill out Quinn’s assistant coaching corps in the coming weeks. The Sharks will also have to hire a new strength and conditioning coordinator as Mike Potenza is leaving the team to join the Warriors.
In adding more positions to the front office, Grier said he hopes to promote an exchange of ideas to propel the Sharks forward.
“The more good hockey people that are around me, I think that’ll just make me better and keep challenging myself to get better and hopefully that moves the organization as a whole to get better,” Grier said.
Scott Fitzgerald will join the Sharks as the director of player personnel, focusing on pro and amateur scouting for San Jose after 16 seasons with the Boston Bruins. His brother Tom is the New Jersey Devils’ general manager.
On the international front, the Sharks hired Ryan Stewart, formerly the Chicago Blackhawks’ assistant GM, as a senior advisor on pro personnel. Stewart was let go by Chicago earlier this year after working for the team for more than a decade, predominantly in scouting.