My Two Cents: San Jose Sharks Must Change Franchise Philosophy
Team Assessment
Apr 22, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks goalie Antti Niemi (31) celebrates with center Tomas Hertl (48) after game three of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. The Sharks defeated the Kings 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
As for the team, the only player the Sharks should focus on resigning is Alex Stalock, period.
You only have just five others that are untouchable players otherwise: Brent Burns, Tommy Wingels, Matt Nieto, Tomas Hertl and either Joe Pavelski or Logan Couture (but not both).
The rest are on the table and are subject to trade. The Sharks cannot do this “Refresh and Reset” BS again otherwise it will be the same result or worse. “Refresh and Reset” only coincides with the definition of insanity (doing the same thing over and over again, hoping for a different result that ultimately never happens). “Refresh and Reset” is a recipe for future franchise failures. After this loss they have no excuses unless the Stanley Cup means nothing to the franchise which sometimes I wonder about.
Doug Wilson either needs to be willing to change too, or the Sharks need to bring in a strong GM who will make what changes are needed (preferably one who has won a Cup as a GM). Team Teal will have a stain on their franchise now that will take many years to erase. The only thing that will erase this quite frankly is a Stanley Cup.
As for Plattner, if he is not willing to speak to even his season ticket holders, then the season ticket holders need to demand he sells the Sharks to someone who can set a strong course for the teal franchise (Oracle Owner Larry Ellison comes to mind). Agree or disagree, these are my own thoughts on the matter. I’ve been a Sharks fan since 1991 and I have never been more disappointed. It’s not that they loss to the Kings again (LA is a damn good team too); it’s how they lost.
The Sharks are one team who definitely seems incapable of learning from history and thereby are only doomed to repeat it unless they are willing to immediately scrap the franchises philosophy of “Refresh and Reset”.
It just doesn’t work, period.