Marchant on What Wingels & Sbisa Bring to Sharks, How Player Development Has Evolved (+)

The San Jose Sharks have re-shaped their player development program this summer.

“We’ll expand the analytics department, for sure. I think player development because it’s going to become a big part of the organization,” Mike Grier said on the day that he was introduced as the Sharks’ new GM. “We’ll definitely have some changes to the scouting department as well. It’s pretty much every part of the organization, we’ve talked about and looked into and are going to try and make better.”

Give Grier a Chance: First Thoughts on New Sharks GM

On the player development side, Grier hired Todd Marchant to be Director of Player Development. Marchant held that role with the Anaheim Ducks from 2011 to this past season.

Marchant enjoyed a distinguished playing career, suiting up for 1,195 games with the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Ducks. He won a Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007. Marchant and Grier were also roommates and linemates with the Oilers from 1996 to 2002.

What Will Be Key to Marchant’s Success With Sharks?

The Sharks have also hired fan favorite Tommy Wingels and Luca Sbisa as development coaches. Wingels and Sbisa will join incumbent development coach Mike Ricci, all under Marchant, to shepherd this generation of San Jose prospects to the NHL. Director of goaltending Evgeni Nabokov will stay in touch with the system’s netminders.

San Jose Hockey Now caught up with Marchant yesterday to talk about how the Director of Player Development role has evolved over the years, what’s the foundation of a strong development program, why he hired Wingels and Sbisa, and how duties will be divided between his three development coaches.