Today is a dark day for the San Jose Sharks.
They had the pieces to be a playoff team but couldn't put together a consistently complete performance all season long and now they’re left without a post-season invitation for the first time in ten seasons. They made it interesting over the last several games but couldn't get out of the hole they spent all season digging. We can officially move toward next season now that this year’s campaign is officially lost. I'll get into how disastrous this year was at a later date.
In Worcester, the baby Sharks are trying to hold on to a playoff position, sitting with a three point cushion. Nikolay Goldobin had a goal and an assist in his AHL debut on April 3rd but was held off the scoresheet yesterday in a 4-1 loss. If the Worcester games interest you the AHL streams each game for $7.99 if you don’t want to purchase the package.
Hopefully, from a development position, the Sharks load up Worcester with anyone that is eligible to play for them as they move towards the playoffs.
Let’s dig up old ghosts and bring up Joe Thornton – everyone’s favorite topic.
Here’s a quote from
Elliotte Friedman on Calgary’s Sportsnet 960 radio yesterday via NicholsOnHockey.com:
“I’ve been told that when – and I have no proof of it – but when the owner stepped in when everybody kind of blew up at each other there, the word I was given was that Joe Thornton was told he was not going anywhere. That he’s going to stay and he’s going to retire a San Jose Shark. Which I do believe is the case. Joe Thornton has made it very clear he’s not getting traded unless he wants to be and he doesn’t want to be.
“And to be perfectly honest, he’s been their second-best player this year. So why would you want to trade him anyway.”
The key words from that quote? “the word I was given was that Joe Thornton was told he was not going anywhere. That he’s going to stay and he’s going to retire a San Jose Shark.”
Now there’s an interesting statement.
If that’s true – if Thornton was told that – I can’t imagine it came from Doug Wilson’s mouth. So if it didn’t come from Wilson, who said it? Since there is no hockey buffer between Wilson and Plattner let’s assume it came from Hasso himself. Interesting plot twist in Joe v. Doug, no?
Having both Wilson and Thornton beyond this season is a volatile situation. There’s no scenario where that plays out with sunshine and lollipops. Thornton doesn’t like Wilson and Wilson is hell bent on trying to make Thornton leave. We all saw the drama that touchy relationship created this year and, really, do the Sharks want that to surface again? It’s a distraction that isn’t necessary and the Sharks have a big enough cloud hanging over their head by missing the playoffs this year already.
If Thornton is going to retire a Shark then this imaginary rebuild needs to come to a halt and San Jose needs to re-tool in July to get back into the postseason because the two years left on his contract isn’t going to be the end of Joe Thornton. He’s probably got another one to two left after that considering he’s still a 60+ point player right now in a world where 80-some points wins the Art Ross.
You can’t legitimately rebuild when you “just” miss the playoffs and if you think the Sharks are going to plummet to the basement of the league with Thornton and Marleau still around you’re insane. If they stay then the push for the post-season, and the chasing of a Cup, must continue. Keep all your draft picks and make wise selections, but don’t lie and pretend you’re in a rebuild – because you’re not.
Thanks for reading and welcome to the off-season.
*I'd like to send a huge thank you out to everyone who donated to the Canadian Cancer Society and helped me hit (and exceed) my fundraising goal for the Ottawa Marathon. I crossed over the 100% mark and the support is greatly appreciated. http://convio.cancer.ca/goto/timchiasson
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