- The Sharks signed head coach Ryan Warsofsky to a multi-year extension on Thursday
- San Jose improved by 19 wins and 34 points last season and missed the playoffs by four points
- Read below for what Warsofsky said about his contract situation back in April
Ryan Warsofsky is not going anywhere.
The Sharks signed the youngest head coach in the NHL to a multi-year extension on Thursday, a few hours after training camp opened. General manager Mike Grier announced the deal, and per club policy San Jose did not disclose the terms. Warsofsky had been set to work the final year of his contract.
He earned it with one of the biggest single-season swings in the league. San Jose went 39-35-8 for 86 points, fifth in the Pacific Division and four points behind the Kings for the final wild card spot in the West.
That was 19 more wins and 34 more points than the year before, when the Sharks finished last in the NHL standings.
Scoring drove most of the jump. San Jose climbed from last in the league in goals per game (2.54) to 16th (3.04), and the power play went from 26th to 16th.
Warsofsky was asked in April whether he was comfortable heading into the last year of his deal without an extension. He told Sharks beat reporter Curtis Pashelka those were private conversations for him and Grier, then made his own preference pretty obvious.
“I love this organization. I love this area. My family loves it here.”
Watch his full media availability from that day:
His young group grew up in a hurry. Macklin Celebrini set franchise rookie records and finished as a Calder finalist, Will Smith landed in the top five among rookies in nearly every offensive category, and William Eklund posted career highs in goals, assists and points. San Jose led the NHL with 192 points from players 22 and under.
More is on the way. Ivar Stenberg scored twice in 25 seconds in his first game in a Sharks sweater at the Rookie Faceoff last weekend.
Camp got going Thursday morning at Sharks Ice. Take a look at day one:
San Jose opens the regular season against the Panthers on Oct. 1.
