SAN JOSE — The NHL fined San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky $25,000 for what it termed ‘inappropriate conduct’ during the team’s game Saturday against the Utah Hockey Club.
Money from the fine, announced Tuesday, goes to the NHL Foundation.
Saturday’s game at SAP Center featured several contentious moments in which Sharks players, coaches, and fans disagreed with some of that night’s officiating.
In particular, a nearby official did not call what appeared to be a boarding penalty for Utah forward Kevin Stenlund’s hit from behind on Sharks rookie center Macklin Celebrini, who crashed hard into the boards but was not injured.
Chris Rooney and Riley Brace were the referees for Saturday’s game, which the Sharks lost 4-3. Utah forward Clayton Keller scored a power-play goal with less than a minute left in regulation time as defenseman Cody Ceci was called for high sticking.
After the game, Warsofsky did not wish to comment on the officiating. Asked Tuesday, though, if he was expecting to hear from the NHL, Warsofsky said, “It’s my first time through it, so obviously, talked to other coaches through the league about it. But it is what it is.”
Still, this isn’t the first time Warsofsky has faced discipline from a league office as a head coach. The AHL also fined him during the 2021-22 season when he was coaching the Chicago Wolves, who would go on to win the Calder Cup that year.
“It’s something that I’m trying to get better at,” Warsofsky said. “At the same time, I’m passionate. I wear my emotions on my sleeve. Sometimes, it gets the best of me, but at the end of the day, I’ve got to have our players back, and that’s not going to change.
“Do I wish I used different words or whatnot? But at the end of the day, we’re all in this together as a group, myself, the coaches, the trainers, the equipment staff, the players, and I’m going to have our players back as long as I’m here.”
This marks the second time in three years that the NHL has fined a Sharks coach.
In March 2023, in a Sharks game against the Washington Capitals, David Quinn unleashed an expletive-filled tirade against one of that day’s officials. Quinn was ejected from that game and later fined $25,000 by the NHL for “conduct demeaning the officials.”
The Sharks lost to the Capitals 8-3 and Quinn apologized after the game. Warsofsky left the Chicago Wolves after the 2021-22 season and was an assistant on Quinn’s staff for two seasons. The Sharks fired Quinn in April, and Warsofsky was named his successor in June.
“A few coaches have been fined, Torts the most, I think,” Warsofsky said, referring to Philadelphia Flyers coach John Tortorella, who has been issued over $200,000 in fines during a 23-year NHL coaching career. “It is what it is. Got to move forward.”
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