Former Oiler Mike Grier becomes NHL's first Black GM

CTV National News: 'Hopefully it opens the door' Former NHL player Mike Grier has become the first Black general manager in the league's history. Tom Walters reports.

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 stepped away for medical reasons. Wilson officially retired in April.

Grier, 47, spent last season as the hockey operations adviser for the New York Rangers and previously worked as a scout for the Chicago Blackhawks (2014-18) and assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils (2018-20) following a 14-year playing career, which included a stint in San Jose.

"I'm really excited to get to work and be back in the Bay Area," Grier said in a brief video posted to the team's Twitter account. "I know there's been lots of ups and downs, but I'm ready to work hard and get at it and get this thing back on the tracks. We're gonna start winning some games in the Shark Tank and get it going again."

Grier, whose older brother, Chris, is the GM of the NFL's Miami Dolphins, takes over a Sharks franchise that has missed the playoffs in each of the past three seasons.

The franchise fired head coach Bob Boughner last week.

Grier accumulated 383 points (162 goals, 221 assists) and 510 penalty minutes in 1,060 games with the Edmonton Oilers, Washington Capitals, Buffalo Sabres and Sharks from 1996-2011.

He had 78 points (35 goals, 43 assists) in 221 games over three seasons with San Jose (2006-09).

--Field Level Media