Sharks hire former bruising fan favorite as assistant general manager

The Sharks' all-time playoff penalty minutes leader will be joining their front office.

SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks are adding a fan favorite from the team’s golden era to their front office. 

General manager Mike Grier announced Wednesday that San Jose has hired Ryane Clowe as an assistant general manager. Clowe was seen sitting with members of the Sharks’ front office during the first day of development camp on Tuesday.

Clowe, 41, spent the majority of his decade-long NHL career in the South Bay after being selected by the Sharks in the sixth round of the 2001 NHL Draft.

He played in 423 games for San Jose, scoring 101 goals and dishing out 170 assists. Clowe’s 271 points are the 14th-most in franchise history, and his 567 penalty minutes are fifth-most all-time. 

The forward also played well in the postseason, scoring 18 goals and putting up 27 assists in 68 career games. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in playoff penalty minutes with 97.

Clowe, who will work with Grier and fellow assistant general managers Tom Holy and Joe Will, has spent the past three seasons with the New York Rangers in an advisory role. 

Before that, Clowe coached the Newfoundland Growlers for part of the 2018-19 season, and also spent time as an assistant coach for the New Jersey Devils from 2016-18 after retiring from playing following the 2015 season.