SAN JOSE — New San Jose Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky is leaving nothing to chance as he prepares for the team’s first day of training camp on Thursday.
The 36-year-old Warsofsky, the youngest coach in the NHL, said over the weekend that he and his assistants had rehearsed those first practices at Sharks Ice “four or five times” to help start this crucial new era for the franchise the right way.
“And we’ll probably do it again before Wednesday,” Warsofsky told the Sharks Audio Network, “just to make sure we’re on point.”
It’s easy to see why Warsofsky, a first-time NHL head coach, wants everything dialed in.
The 2023-2024 Sharks, with just 19 wins and 47 points, might have been the worst team in the NHL’s salary cap era (since 2005). The offense was atrocious, the defense was the most porous in the NHL, and the special teams units were subpar at best.
Fairly or unfairly, David Quinn paid the price, as he was fired as the team’s head coach by general manager Mike Grier shortly after the regular season ended. Warsofsky, who was on Quinn’s staff for his two years in San Jose, was named his successor nearly two months later.
Now, Warsofsky’s huge task begins. Here are his biggest priorities.
1. Develop the kids: Part of the reason Warsofsky got the Sharks job was his age and ability to help develop and relate to young players. Warsofsky got the most out of his players during his coaching stints in both the AHL and ECHL, and he’ll be expected to do the same in San Jose, considering who the Sharks will have on the roster.
Celebrini and Smith are thought to be two future organizational pillars. But they’ll no doubt experience their share of adversity and make mistakes in their first seasons as professionals.
When tough times hit, Warsofsky and his staff will have to find the right balance between encouragement and accountability. They don’t want to ruin anyone’s confidence, but they’ll also need to quickly correct any bad habits, without any ambiguity.
Considering Celebrini and Smith’s compete levels, those mistakes likely won’t be borne out of a lack of effort. But the potential of getting caved regularly by some of the NHL’s elite forwards this season will present some mental challenges, which Warsofsky needs to monitor.
2. Gain an identity: If the 2024-25 Sharks miss the playoffs, as is anticipated, they’ll at least need to form a baseline for what’s expected out of each player going forward. What does their forecheck look like, how are they defending, and can they finally become a team that’s hard to play against?
Let’s be honest: there were dozens of games in the last two years where there was nary a scrum or a shoving match. No one expects fights every game, but Warsofsky would be wise to right away instill a certain mindset of what it means to be a Shark. That means sticking up for teammates and not letting opponents take liberties with Celebrini, Smith, William Eklund, or anyone else.
3. Fix the defense: The Sharks allowed a league-worst 331 goals last season, including 231 during 5-on-5 play. Warsofsky has to own a part of that, and it simply can’t continue. They need to be more competitive.
Warsofsky will need to drive home early in camp that he expects his players, forwards, and defensemen alike, to play responsibly. That likely means ending plays quicker, having more awareness in the defensive zone, reducing turnovers, and cutting back on odd-man rushes against.
The Sharks’ improved roster should help in that manner. Still, the defense corps is a work in progress, and at this stage of the Sharks’ rebuild, some guys might be asked to do a bit more than they’re capable of. Warsofsky will need to put guys in a position where they can succeed.
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4. Communicate expectations: Perhaps Quinn’s greatest asset as a coach was his ability to communicate, something that the more emotional Warsofsky needs to replicate with this roster in his own way. With so many new faces, everyone needs to know their role on this team.
Players may not always like what they hear, but at least they’ll know what is expected of them.
“We’ve got to teach some new systems that are going to be put in place, starting on Thursday,” Warsofsky said. “And we’ve got to make sure we’re clear and concise on what we’re doing as a coaching staff, so there’s no gray area, there’s no confusion.
“Our players leave the arena, our locker room, and our meetings, and it’s crystal clear what we want.”