Mike Grier becomes NHL's 1st Black general manager after San Jose Sharks hire former player

The San Jose Sharks have hired longtime NHL forward Mike Grier to become the first Black general manager in league history.

Grier fills the spot that opened when Doug Wilson stepped away for health reasons earlier this year.

The Detroit native spent three of his 14 seasons in the NHL with the Sharks from 2006-09, and he has spent the past decade filling various roles as a coach and scout around the league. He was most recently the hockey operations adviser for the New York Rangers.

Speaking at his introductory news conference, Grier said he felt great pride in being the NHL’s first