Mike Grier

Lore & Background

Grier was raised in Holliston, Massachusetts, and played hockey at St. Sebastian's School. He is of Bajan descent. His father Bobby was an NFL executive, and his brother Chris served as general manager of the Miami Dolphins. Grier played college hockey at Boston University, where he was named a first team all-star in 1994–95. He was originally drafted by the St. Louis Blues but his NHL rights were traded to the Edmonton Oilers along with goaltender Curtis Joseph. Grier immediately made the Oilers as a checking-line right-winger. During his time in Edmonton, he was involved in an incident with Chris Simon in 1997; Grier allegedly made derogatory comments about Simon's Ojibwa heritage, and Simon allegedly responded with a racial slur. The spoken words were never confirmed, but Simon was suspended for three games. Grier was traded to the Washington Capitals in 2002, briefly reuniting him with Simon. The Capitals built a team around Jaromír Jágr and Olaf Kölzig but underperformed. Grier was traded to Buffalo in 2004, then signed with San Jose as a free agent. He was known for his penalty-killing ability; San Jose ranked 1st in penalty killing in one of his seasons there, and Buffalo ranked 2nd in 2009–10. He played his 1,000th game on November 3, 2010, and retired in 2011.

Reader's Guide

Mike Grier's significance lies in his dual role as a durable checking forward and a trailblazer off the ice. Over 14 seasons, he played 1,060 games, a milestone reached by only 254 players in NHL history. His penalty-killing was a key asset: San Jose ranked 14th, 1st, and 4th in penalty killing during his three seasons there, and Buffalo was 2nd overall in 2009–10. Grier's most notable off-ice achievement came in 2022 when he became the first black general manager in NHL history, hired by the San Jose Sharks. He had previously worked as a scout for the Chicago Blackhawks, an assistant coach for the New Jersey Devils, and a hockey operations advisor for the New York Rangers. His family includes his father Bobby, an NFL executive, and his brother Chris, a former NFL general manager. Grier also coached at his high school alma mater, St. Sebastian's School, and his son's youth team. His career reflects both steady on-ice contributions and a pioneering path in NHL front offices.

Did You Know?

• He played his 1,000th NHL game on November 3, 2010, against the Boston Bruins.
• Grier's father Bobby was an NFL executive, and his brother Chris was general manager of the Miami Dolphins.
• He was originally drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the ninth round of the 1993 NHL entry draft.