Well, yesterday happened.
Joe Thornton provided the days entertainment from coast to coast in the National Hockey League when he fired back at Doug Wilson’s comments.
“I think Doug just needs to shut his mouth. I think that’s the bottom line,… Thornton said. “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.… (Mercury News)
That’s pretty cut and dry; there’s no trying to read between the lines there.
Thornton’s right, Wilson should shut his mouth. With 14 games left in the regular season and your team in a playoff fight sometimes you need to just say “next question…, or at the very least give some watered down response so as not to put new Greyhound tire marks on your faux captain. It’s an unnecessary distraction that didn't need to be aired publicly. It’s pretty widely known that those two haven’t seen eye to eye for a while so it shouldn't shock Wilson when the situation blows up.
The idea that this may push Thornton out the door is insane. He likes San Jose, regardless of how poor he’s treated. He isn’t going anywhere. Doug Wilson’s repeated attempts to force him out continue to blow up in his face. Wilson is Wile E. Coyote and Thornton is the Road Runner. You aren’t going to win, Doug, just quit trying. Here’s a quote from TSN’s Bob McKenzie on Insider Trading:
“And if you think this might hasten Thornton's departure from San Jose, think again. He wants to stay and he plans on out-lasting just about everybody there - the general manager, the coach, you name it.… (Nichols On Hockey)
Hopefully there’s truth to McKenzie’s nugget of information. Doug Wilson is turning this franchise into a place where no player in their right mind would want to sign – certainly not with how they’ve watched Joe Thornton get treated. That’s on top, of course, the speculation that Wilson also has a broken relationship with Todd McLellan.
The Sharks ownership needs to step in and end the madness. The front office and coaching staff needs to be cleaned out. The players might not talk to the media on the issues that have come up with Thornton, but I’d bet they’re on their fellow colleague’s side of things. That makes for a bad atmosphere within the organization. Doug Wilson is not a good general manager and Todd McLellan has worn out his welcome. Fire them both and everyone attached to them.
The San Jose Sharks have become the drama queen of the NHL and everyone’s watching them just like everyone watches a train wreck – they can’t look away.
*****
San Jose has a matinee date with the Chicago Blackhawks today as they look to continue their playoff push. The Kane-less Hawks are 4-1-1 without #88 but they’ve been having trouble scoring goals. Chicago is averaging 1.83 goals per game without Kane.
Missing Kane, though, doesn’t make the Blackhawks awful – which sucks for San Jose. The Sharks are going to have to find the possession game that’s escaped them for the last two wins. You can’t keep playing hockey that way and win games. Eventually the other team is going to start putting pucks in the net at will. Credit to Antti Niemi for a few solid performances but, let’s be honest here, he most likely won’t be able to keep saving the day.
Last night the Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t do the Sharks any favors when they executed tactical tank movements on the Calgary Flames. Anaheim did help a little by beating Minnesota, though.
Right now the Sharks stand with a 24.8% chance to make the postseason. Winnipeg, Vancouver, Calgary, Minnesota and Los Angeles are all in action tonight. Here’s hoping that all five of them lose.
Going back to the Thornton/Wilson nonsense before I wrap it up today, Darren Dreger threw Ray Shero’s name out as a replacement for Doug Wilson and we could probably speculate the return of Dan Bylsma to the NHL if Shero got the position. Dreger also wanted to link Todd McLellan to Toronto and Edmonton when he gets fired.
If you think Doug Wilson is a competent GM I would like to read your reasoning (with examples) in the comment section.
Thanks for reading.
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