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San Jose Sharks News: Doug Wilson’s Days Numbered

By Adam Savard

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Last offseason the San Jose Sharks promised big changes and didn’t follow through.  There will be no such problem after this season.

The San Jose Sharks trail the Winnipeg Jets by four points for the last wild card playoff berth.  All of the teams energy and focus should be on the ice and the upcoming game.  Thanks to GM Doug Wilson scratching at old wounds that isn’t happening.

Recall at the start of the season the big changes Wilson promised?  There were a few players let go and John Scott was brought in.  I already talked about some of those moves and the unlikely playoff berth this season.

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    • Well last week the issue of the captaincy and Joe Thornton came up again. Wilson had this to say to a group of San Jose Sharks season-ticket holders when asked about the change, as quoted by the San Jose Mercury News:

    "“He cares about the game so much. The reason we took the ‘C’ off him . . . He carries the weight of the team on his shoulders and he’s got such a big heart that when stress comes on him he lashes out at people,” Wilson said, “and it kind of impacts them.”"

    Sounds to me like Wilson is blaming Thornton for some sort of issues, perhaps going back to last seasons unfortunate playoff collapse against the Los Angeles Kings.  And Thornton chose to remain silent no longer about the matter.

    "“I think Doug just needs to shut his mouth,” Thornton said after his team’s morning practice. “I think that’s the bottom line.”Thornton added: “All I’ve got to say is I’ve been here every day working hard. I haven’t taken a sabbatical. He just needs to stop lying, shut his mouth.”"

    Shots fired, indeed.

    Losing a series after being up 3-0 has to take its toll on everyone in the organization, from the players through the front office and everywhere in between.  Unfortunately for the San Jose Sharks it has manifested itself somehow to create a rift at least between Thornton and Wilson.  It doesn’t help matters that Wilson has spoken about the choice with Thornton multiple times since the season started.

    In a game where passion is never more clear than in the Stanley Cup playoffs I have a hard time believing that Thornton cared too much and deserved to be penalized for it.  The 18-year veteran and three-time Hart Trophy winner is among the most prolific players to ever lace up skates and he’s going to go in the Hall of Fame.

    It’s cliché to say but you win and lose as a team and for Wilson to essentially lay this at the feet of his captain so publicly and continue to discuss it reeks of something more personal.  I’m not going to get into that here because that’s for the men involved to figure out face to face and I won’t disrespect either party involved by throwing out uninformed guesses from a distance.

    One thing is certain and that is the San Jose Sharks may not talk about big offseason moves this year but they are coming.  If I’m pulling the strings I start with Wilson.  As the general manager you can make mistakes with decisions on acquiring and signing talent and potentially earn another chance, particularly if your franchise has been as successful as the San Jose Sharks have been in the last decade.

    What you can’t do is allow your dirty laundry to be aired in such a way that people being to question the on-ice product.  How much of the struggles this season have been a result of the way Wilson handled Thornton?  That answer may never be clear.  This season could be the result of holding on to a core too long after it peaked.  It could be both.

    Decisions will be have to be made on a few unrestricted free agents led by Antti Niemi.  Thornton and Patrick Marleau are among a handful of players under long-term deals.  If the San Jose Sharks miss the playoffs there will be plenty of talk about that core staying together.

    Whether Wilson makes those decisions shouldn’t be.  Change will be inevitable for the San Jose Sharks this offseason.  The off-ice decision maker is the place to start.

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