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Marco Sturm

Sharks Notes: Sturm, Couture, Celebrini

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San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier told reporters today that former NHLer Marco Sturm was a candidate for the Sharks head coaching position and the team did engage in conversations with Sturm but added that the 45-year-old was not a finalist for the position (as per Sharks writer Curtis Pashelka).

The veteran of 938 NHL games spent eight seasons with the Sharks from 1997 to 2005 and was dealt to the Boston Bruins as part of the Joe Thornton trade in November 2005. He last played in the NHL in April of 2012 and is the current head coach of the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League. Sturm also spent four seasons with the Los Angeles Kings as an assistant coach from 2018 to 2022

In other San Jose Sharks notes:

  • Mike Grier told reporters that he is not looking at moving veteran forward Logan Couture (as per Max Miller of The Hockey News). Grier added that Couture is the kind of person he wants around the Sharks younger players. Even if Grier wanted to trade Couture, it would be a difficult move to make as Couture has three years left on his contract with an AAV of $8MM and is coming off an injury-riddled season in which he played just six games and tallied a single assist. Couture also holds a modified no-trade clause that allows him to submit a list of just three teams he would accept a trade to.
  • Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now tweeted that Sharks general manager Mike Grier will meet with prospective first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini’s family and representation after the NHL Entry Draft to talk about whether or not the youngster will turn pro or remain in college for next season. Grier then joked with reporters about showing his hand 11 days before the draft. Miller reported ten days ago that Celebrini had yet to make up his mind about turning pro, but his decision will have a big impact on how the Sharks approach this offseason and whether or not to make immediate improvements to the roster or continue to develop young players and preach patience.

Sharks Notes: Warsofsky, Sturm, Graham, Wiseman, ECHL

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The threat of losing Ryan Warsofsky to another team was likely a contributing factor in the Sharks’ choice to name him as their next head coach, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet opined on Friday’s “32 Thoughts” podcast. Warsofsky, who became the youngest head coach in the league this week at age 36, would have received considerable interest from around the league if he was passed over for the job in San Jose for the second time in three years.

Warsofsky was always a strong candidate for internal promotion after serving as an assistant under David Quinn for the past two seasons. He was interviewed for the head coaching job in 2022 after they let go of Bob Boughner, but the team opted to go with Quinn instead. They still managed to land Warsofsky in an assistant role, though, a decision they evidently think has paid dividends by his recent promotion.

While all the other head coaching vacancies this summer were filled by the time San Jose made their choice, a late GM change in Columbus has had some wondering if Blue Jackets head coach Pascal Vincent could be dismissed. There hasn’t been a ton of noise around Vincent in recent days, though, and the longer it stays quiet, the safer his job is. Still, Warsofsky likely could have landed an associate coach title somewhere else if he didn’t get the San Jose job, a smaller but still meaningful promotion as he eyed a clearer pathway to becoming a head coach. It’s a moot point now, though.

Here’s more on the Sharks:

  • Kings AHL bench boss Marco Sturm may have finished second to Warsofsky in the Sharks’ search, but advancing to multiple rounds of interviews has still put him on other NHL teams’ radars, Friedman said. He remains under contract with Los Angeles next season, as confirmed by John Hoven of Mayor’s Manor, but it’s unclear how much longer he’s signed. Still, the Kings have obviously given him permission to seek other opportunities.
  • Neil Graham, who’s spent parts of the last five seasons as the head coach of the AHL’s Texas Stars, was also considered as one of the initial candidates for the Sharks’ vacancy, per Friedman. The 39-year-old has been in the Dallas organization for more than a decade, first joining as an assistant coach with the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads in 2012. He worked his way up to Steelheads head coach in 2015 and was promoted to the AHL bench four years later. The Calgary native hasn’t been connected to many NHL coaching jobs yet, but he’ll be a name to watch when the carousel starts spinning again next offseason.
  • Sharks assistant Brian Wiseman is “most likely” to stick with the club after being granted permission to speak with other teams this offseason, Jeff Marek of Sportsnet said yesterday. Wiseman, 52, worked with the Sharks’ forward group and power play unit under Quinn the past two seasons after stints with the Oilers and the University of Michigan as an assistant.
  • The Sharks have re-upped their affiliation agreement with the ECHL’s Wichita Thunder, per a team announcement. The Thunder have been affiliated with San Jose since the 2022-23 season after previously working under the Oilers’ and Senators’ organizational umbrellas.

Marco Sturm “Deep In the Process” Of Becoming Sharks Head Coach

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According to a report from Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now a few days ago, the San Jose Sharks were believed to be closing in on Ryan Warsofsky as their next head coach. However, Max Miller of The Hockey News reports that Marco Sturm is also thought to be deep in the interview process, which has been delaying the eventual announcement of the new bench boss.

At the very least, despite numerous candidates being rumored for the role, Sturm and Warsofsky are separating themselves from the pack. Jeff Blashill is the only other candidate confirmed to have gotten a second interview but it is believed that his chances of becoming the next head coach in San Jose have dropped significantly.

The hiring of Sturm would represent a homecoming of sorts, as he started his professional career as a player with the Sharks organization back in 1997-98 after being signed out of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. Sturm spent nearly eight years in San Jose before he was traded to the Boston Bruins in exchange for the eventual Hart Memorial Trophy winner of the 2005-06 season, Joe Thornton.

After his playing career ended after the 2011-12 NHL season, Sturm bounced around as a head coach at the international level for Team Germany, coaching the country’s World Junior Championship team, World Championship team, and Deutschland Cup team, among others. It wasn’t until the 2018-19 season that Sturm returned to the NHL as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Kings. Sturm would spend four years in that role before finally becoming the head coach of the organization’s AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, a position which he still holds.

Sturm has coached the Reign to a 76-55-8-5 record over the last two years and has coached the team as far as the Second Round of the Calder Cup playoffs. If the Sharks hire Sturm as the organization’s next head coach, it would be the highest role Sturm has achieved at the professional level as a coach.

Nevertheless, no decision has been made up to this point, and Warsofsky still has a legitimate chance of being the team’s next head coach. Having plenty of experience with the organization, Warsofsky has spent the last two years as an assistant coach for the Sharks and almost became the head coach before San Jose ultimately chose David Quinn.

Coaching Notes: Sharks Head Coach, Wiseman, Kings Assistant, Greco

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As the last non-playoff team to have a vacancy at the head coaching position, the San Jose Sharks are expected to conclude the search this week. According to David Pagnotta of TheFourthPeriod, the Sharks have interviewed Marco Sturm, Ryan Warsofsky, Jeff Blashill, Todd McLellan, and Dean Evason.

Of the five who have confirmed to have been interviewed by San Jose, Pagnotta lists Sturm, Warsofsky, and Blashill as the favorites up to this point. Warsofsky, currently serving as an assistant coach for the Sharks, will likely become a head coach at the NHL level in the next couple of years if he is not awarded the position in San Jose.

The Sharks appear to be taking their time in hiring a new head coach, as the decision will have an important impact on a foundational part of the rebuild. At the start of next season, San Jose is expected to have one of the most exciting young 1-2 combos at the center position, recently bringing in forward Will Smith on an entry-level contract, and expected to draft standout prospect Macklin Celebrini with the first overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft.

Other coaching notes:

  • Sticking in San Jose, the Sharks have permitted assistant coach Brian Wiseman to speak with other teams about a possible change of scenery. Wiseman was a long-time assistant coach with the University of Michigan of the NCAA before finally making his debut in the NHL as an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oilers during the 2019-20 season. Enjoying a solid run with Edmonton, Wiseman moved to San Jose after reaching the Western Conference Finals with the Oilers in the prior year.
  • Earlier today, John Hoven of Mayors Manor looked at five candidates most suitable for the vacant assistant coach position with the Los Angeles Kings. Of the five, Lane Lambert appears to be the most qualified, as he recently held the position of head coach of the New York Islanders for nearly two years. Before his time with the Islanders, Lambert spent over a decade as an assistant coach with the Nashville Predators and Washington Capitals.
  • After losing Mitch Korn to the Predators organization earlier today, the Islanders will still have some stability in their goaltending development. Beat writer Stefen Rosner reported today that though Korn has decided to leave the organization, goaltending coach Piero Greco is expected to continue in his current role. Greco has held the position since the 2018-19 NHL position and has helped with the play of goaltenders such as Robin Lehner, Ilya Sorokin, and Semyon Varlamov throughout his tenure.

Latest On The Coaching Market

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The Sharks have the lone remaining head coaching vacancy in the league, as the Kraken are expected to officially name Dan Bylsma their next bench boss on Tuesday. It’ll soon be zero, though, as The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta reports San Jose is entering the final stages of their search. AHL Ontario bench boss Marco Sturm is among the finalists for the position, Pagnotta said, also confirming a report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman yesterday that assistant Ryan Warsofsky also advanced to the second stage of interviews.

There’s also been some smoke around former Red Wings coach and current Lightning assistant Jeff Blashill for the role, with Friedman also saying yesterday that he had a second interview with the club in the past few days. But for the three remaining coaches on the market who were fired from their posts during this season – Dean Evason, Todd McLellan and Jay Woodcroft – it looks like there aren’t enough seats left for them on the coaching carousel.

That could change soon, though. With the Blue Jackets expected to appoint former Hurricanes GM Don Waddell as their top hockey operations executive early this week, there’s a chance the team may look to overhaul their staff further by parting ways with head coach Pascal Vincent, who has one season left on his contract. Columbus struggled to just 66 points under Vincent this season after he took over early in training camp with Mike Babcock resigning, and the first-year bench boss often drew criticism for the lack of playing time awarded to top prospects like David Jiříček and Kent Johnson.

As Pagnotta points out, there are also assistant coach openings with the Ducks, Flames, Jets, Kings, Kraken, Maple Leafs, Penguins and Senators, who have yet to resolve some minor bench changes they made earlier this offseason. There are also AHL head coaching jobs available with the Kraken’s, Penguins’, Rangers’ and Sabres’ affiliates.

Another name that could join Evason et al. in contention for those minor bench openings is current Sharks assistant Brian Wiseman, who Pagnotta says is drawing interest from other clubs. The 52-year-old was on David Quinn’s staff for the past two seasons in San Jose and served as an assistant for the Oilers for three years prior. Of course, that would leave the Sharks with an additional assistant vacancy – something they may end up with anyway if Warsofsky is their head coaching choice.

Coaching Notes: Evason, Woodcroft, Bylsma, Leach, McFarland, Keefe, Sturm, Colliton

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While he hasn’t interviewed for the position yet, former Wild coach Dean Evason is becoming a candidate to watch for the Kraken’s vacancy behind the bench. Mike Benton of 93.3 KJR reported last night that Evason was becoming a “dark horse” for the job, which was later seconded by The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta.

Evason was linked to the Senators’ vacancy earlier in the offseason, but that was since filled by Travis Green. Among coaches with NHL experience, he joins ex-Kings coach Todd McLellan among those connected to Seattle.

Pagnotta also confirmed Thursday that the Kraken are discussing a pair of internal promotions: AHL bench boss Dan Bylsma and NHL assistant Jay Leach. In fact, they’re likely the front-runners to replace Dave Hakstol, who was fired shortly after the regular season came to a close. They’ve advanced to the second round of interviews, Pagnotta said, although it doesn’t appear a decision is imminent. Bylsma’s season isn’t over yet as AHL Coachella Valley is still alive in the Calder Cup Playoffs, advancing to the Western Conference Final for the second year in a row. They’re awaiting the winner of the Central Division Final series between Grand Rapids and Milwaukee.

More on the NHL’s coaching carousel over the past 24 hours:

  • The Kraken also let go of assistant coach Paul McFarland when firing Hakstol late last month after he’d served on Hakstol’s staff for the franchise’s first three seasons. He’s landing on his feet, though. He’s expected to become the next head coach of the Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen, Jeff Marek of Sportsnet said Wednesday. McFarland has a few seasons of head coaching experience at the major junior level, holding the role for the Ontario Hockey League’s Kingston Frontenacs from 2014-15 to 2016-17 and again in 2020-21, although that season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He replaces longtime WHL coach Steve Hamilton, who won’t be returning after six seasons behind the Hitmen bench.
  • With Sheldon Keefe signing a four-year deal to become the next head coach of the Devils, his previous two-year extension with the Maple Leafs is no longer intact, Pierre LeBrun of TSN reports. As part of Toronto granting permission for him to speak with New Jersey, the Devils canceled his extension and are paying him more money annually on his new deal than he would’ve made on his extension with the Leafs. Thus, Toronto no longer owes Keefe the balance of his extension.
  • After receiving permission to speak to him from the Kings, the Sharks are expected to interview Marco Sturm for their vacancy next week, Pagnotta reports. If San Jose doesn’t end up going with their former top-nine fixture on the wing, Sturm is a strong candidate to rejoin the Kings’ NHL staff as an assistant to Jim Hiller. He would replace the outgoing Trent Yawney, who mutually parted ways with the organization last week.
  • San Jose is also one of the teams keeping tabs on Jeremy Colliton, said Pagnotta. The former Blackhawks head coach has been in the Canucks organization for the past two seasons as the head coach of their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford. He does not have a contract with them for next season, though. He had an 87-92-26 record in parts of four seasons behind the Chicago bench.

Sharks Receive Permission To Interview Marco Sturm For Head Coaching Job

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Current Kings AHL head coach Marco Sturm has been granted permission to interview for the Sharks’ head coaching vacancy, Pierre LeBrun of TSN said Wednesday night.

Sturm becomes the third candidate firmly linked to the San Jose opening, joining former Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill (article) and internal promotion candidate Ryan Warsofsky (article). They remain on the hunt for a replacement after dismissing David Quinn with one year left on his contract last month.

It would be a homecoming of sorts for Sturm, who was drafted 21st overall by the Sharks in 1996. He would become one of the premier young defensive wingers in the league, accumulating 128 goals and 273 points in 553 games with the squad. Just months after the NHL resumed play following the 2004-05 lockout, he was traded to the Bruins as part of the blockbuster deal that sent Joe Thornton to San Jose.

Sturm last played in 2013 after a short stint with Kölner Haie of the Deutsche Eisehockey Liga and began his off-ice career as Germany’s head coach for the 2016 World Championship. He drew significant NHL interest after coaching the Germans to a silver medal at the 2018 Olympics, landing with the Kings as an assistant on John Stevens’ bench. He remained with the club as they fired Stevens for Willie Desjardins early in the 2018-19 season, as well as when they brought in Todd McLellan the following summer.

After four years on the NHL bench, the organization re-assigned him to the AHL’s Ontario Reign for his first crack at being a head coach in the pros. He’s coached the Reign to a 76-55-13 record over the past two seasons, losing to the Coachella Valley Firebirds in this year’s Pacific Division Final.

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