My Two Cents: San Jose Sharks’ Long Offseason Won’t Be Dull
Other Conference Call Takeaways
Wilson is clearly bothered and upset with the end result of playoff series versus the Kings.
Apr 28, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings celebrate after a goal by right wing Justin Williams (14) against the San Jose Sharks during the third period in game six of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center. The Los Angeles Kings won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Wilson pointed to Game 6 as the turning point when the Sharks fell apart as a team after a late controversial Kings goal put the Sharks behind. He also pointed to Game 5 as an inexcusable performance. DW also advised that he wasn’t looking so much to change directions as he was looking to get more of the team’s youth involved in the future of the franchise. Wilson acknowledged that the goal is to do the right things for this team and warned that getting there will not be easy. DW took a question from Drew Remenda regarding the resigning of Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau perhaps being premature, and he defended the move saying that both received market value contracts and were still regarded highly as two of the best players in the league. Wilson expressed his hope that what just happened will serve a great tool for motivation as well as a learning experience for the younger players in particular. The team has to learn and maybe relearn how to put team away once they have control of a playoff series. For all the team has accomplished, DW strongly advised the only thing that resonates now is the most recent results.
Wilson also advised that there are “no options off the table” when it comes to who may or may not be on the roster come opening day in October. Wilson noted that the actual process to transition this team to a younger core group began after last season had ended. As for the coaching staff being kept in placed, Wilson stated that the coaches on the staff have between them 12 Stanley Cups that they have had a hand in one respect or another. Larry Robinson will return to the Sharks bench which thus far may be the best news of all. Wilson acknowledged that several Sharks sustained injuries; however he refused to use that as an excuse for the team’s most recent post season failure, stating that all teams still playing today likely have the same amount of injuries. Joe Pavelski had a shoulder injury that required surgery (which has since happened), Jason Demers had a broken foot, Brent Burns had a torn thumb ligament, Patrick Marleau had a torn ligament in his wrist.
As far as the UFA market or trades are concerned, DW advised the team is going younger and pretty much left it at that. Wilson advised that the team will still focus on winning while reconstructing internally. Wilson reiterated that all decisions the Sharks make will be “hockey based” decisions. Finally Wilson acknowledged that the team’s belief system in their own abilities had a lot to do with the loss to the Kings. The Sharks lost faith in their game while the Kings re-established their’s. As for the power play, the Sharks were too predictable which was one reason the team went 0 for their last 16 power plays in the series and ultimately scored only just two goals between game’s five and seven. Wilson finally advised that contrary to popular belief, all player contracts have some “flexibility”.