Miller, Vanek headline additions to Sharks’ Hockey Ops

San Jose has added some new blood to the front office and its scouting staff. General Manager Mike Grier announced on Aug. 18, 2023, that the team has added five new people to the Sharks’ Hockey Operations Staff.

Ryan Miller added as goaltending coach, scout

Headlining the additions is former Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller.

“Miller will scout draft-eligible goaltenders as the Sharks goalie scout, and also assist Director, Goaltending Evgeni Nabokov in the organization’s development of the goaltending prospects and players,” read the news release from the Sharks.

Miller, obviously, comes with playing experience on par with Nabakov’s. He played 18 seasons for the Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks. Miller played 796 career games and finished with a 391-289-88 record, a .914 save percentage and 2.64 goals against average. He is a member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame and won a silver medal with Team USA at the 2010 Olympics. He was also named MVP of the tournament.

Miller and Grier played together in Buffalo.

Thomas Vanek joins Sharks as an amateur scout

Also joining the Sharks is fellow Buffalo teammate Thomas Vanek.

According to the news release, Vanek will serve as the Sharks’ scout in the Minnesota region. Vanek played 14 seasons in the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks and Columbus Blue Jackets.

He played a total of 1,029 games in which he scored 789 points (373 G, 416 A). Vanek has some knowledge of the Minnesota region. Before he turned pro, he helped Minnesota win an NCAA National Championship in 2003.

Other Sharks hires

The team added two other scouts.

Jaren Burke will serve as an amateur scout in the Ontario region. Burke previously worked with the Toronto Maple Leafs as the club’s management development associate.

Igor Eronko will be the team’s scout in Russia. Eronko was the assistant general manager with Avangard Omsk in the KHL for the last three seasons.

Meanwhile, Jack Anderson joins the team as an assistant strength and conditioning coach. Anderson will work with the Director of Strength and Conditioning Steven DiLustro to help track player fitness and collect on-ice skating data.

Anderson has previously worked with P3 as a performance coach. He also spent four years with the Washington capitals as a strength and conditioning coach and served as Director of Strength and Conditioning at the University of Mary Washington.