REPORT: Mellanby a Sharks GM Candidate?

Here comes a new challenger?

Mike Grier and Ray Whitney have already been named as “probably” finalists for the San Jose Sharks general manager position. There’s also an unidentified third finalist.

REPORT: Whitney, Grier “Probably” Sharks GM Finalists

For what it’s worth, Sharks interim GM Joe Will said today that there could be up to five finalists.

Could Scott Mellanby be one of them?

Some wondering around the league if the Sharks are poised to announce the hiring of a new GM. One of the names that has surfaced this week…Scott Mellanby. He’s been in the mix before and is believed to be ready. If nothing else, other clubs are talking about it.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 1, 2022

It’s not clear if Dreger is talking about Mellanby as a finalist or as someone who has interviewed for the job but isn’t in the final group. But it is the first time that Mellanby’s name has emerged in a significant way in the San Jose Sharks GM search.

Mellanby does have a lot more front office experience than either Grier or Whitney. From 2014-21, he was Montreal Canadiens AGM. Before that, he was Canadiens director of player personnel, St. Louis Blues assistant coach, and Vancouver Canucks senior advisor and scout.

Mellanby left the Canadiens in Dec. 2021 when he was passed over for the Montreal GM job when Marc Bergevin was fired.

In contrast, Whitney was a Carolina Hurricanes scout from 2015-18 and has been with the NHL Department of Player Safety since then. Grier is currently a New York Rangers advisor, and before that, a New Jersey Devils assistant head coach, and a Chicago Blackhawks scout.

“[Mellanby] would be a good choice. From what I am seeing, he would be above all those guys,” a source opined to San Jose Hockey Now. “He has been in the AGM role and the other names haven’t had much in the way of managerial experience.”

That is a big difference in front office experience but judging by what we’ve heard about the San Jose Sharks’ GM search, that hasn’t been an organizational priority.

Whitney and Grier being finalists is proof of that.

We should see soon. Jason Gregor of The Daily Faceoff has said the Sharks could reveal their new GM as soon as this week. It would make sense for the Sharks to unveil their new GM before the Jul. 7 Draft — the bright lights of the Draft is a good PR springboard to introduce him or her to the hockey world and the general public. Logistically, before the beginning of free agency on Jul. 13 also makes sense, so the new GM can have a hand in shaping the 2022-23 Sharks.