• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • Atlantic Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Metropolitan Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Pacific Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle NHL
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • Fantasy Hockey
  • THW Archives
  • More…
    • Columns
    • NWHL
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • Long Read
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • Atlantic Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Metropolitan Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Pacific Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle NHL
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • Fantasy Hockey
  • THW Archives
  • More…
    • Columns
    • NWHL
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • Long Read
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
San Jose Sharks

Doug Wilson, Joe Thornton and Steven Spielberg

By Zeke March 13th, 2015

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Jaws

There is that scene at the end of Steven Spielberg’s classic movie Jaws. The Shark has swallowed the scuba tank, Chief Martin Brody shoots the tank and the shark is blown to bits. Not often considered, but the recently eaten body of the late captain Quint (played so brilliantly by the great Robert Shaw) would have also been blown to bits in that explosion.

(Icon SMI)

Joe Thornton probably prefers facing off against Pavel Datsyuk than against his own GM. (Icon SMI)

On the subject of sharks and captaincies being blown to bits, welcome to Ice Insights, an annual event for San Jose Shark season ticket holders, hosted by by Sharks General Manager Doug Wilson. There was real substance to some of Wilson’s answers worth mentioning. I’d go with Wilson’s nonsensical effort to justify Brent Burns remaining as a defenseman, but alas, no one will remember this event for that response. Or any other response, except one: Wilson’s answer to a question about the late captaincy of Joe Thornton.

Wilson cited the stress on Thornton and Thornton’s “lashing out” as important issues on why the ‘C’ got removed in the offseason. No need for Spielberg to add any special effects for this one. Thornton wasted little time in getting the media a response. It featured terms like “shut his mouth” and “stop lying”. Whatever battle Wilson picked, Thornton made certain this wasn’t going to end well for everyone associated with the teal.  This struggle will have winners and losers. Sides are being chosen.

 Jaws 2

Nearly a year ago, there were clear signs of friction between players and management following last season’s playoff meltdown. The extent of that friction and any recovery had been unknown. No longer.

doug wilson nhl

Doug Wilson made himself perfectly clear when it comes to Joe Thornton  (Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIRE)

While the ‘C’ has been removed, Thornton still wears an ‘A’, which at this point, is the highest rank for a Shark player. Whether Thornton is currently the Sharks best player or team leader is debatable. What is not debatable, Thornton is among the team leaders in the locker room and among the team’s best players on the ice — and the Sharks are a better team with him than without him. Wilson continues to show he thinks his job is secure, otherwise he doesn’t pick this battle-royale with Thornton.

The GM threw it down at the player. The player went right back at the GM. And the GM is firing back at the player. The head coach, Todd McLellan, it should be noted, is not about to let himself get sucked into this, at least not publicly.

It is not worth providing further bite-by-bite commentary over the content specifics. This is not going away today or tomorrow or next week. Things have blown up and Shark parts, along with the captaincy, are all over the place. But unlike the movie Jaws, this one is not nearly over.

Sequels anyone?

  • Tags
  • Doug Wilson
  • Joe Thornton
  • Todd McLellan
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Facebook Comments

Editor’s Picks
'Mr. Hockey' Gordie Howe

'Mr. Hockey' Gordie Howe

9526
'Brass Bonanza' - The Sound of Hockey

'Brass Bonanza' - The Sound of Hockey

8424
Recent Posts
Dec 6th 12:50 PM
Arizona Coyotes

NHL Rumors: Coyotes, Hall News, Canadiens, Maple Leafs, More

Dec 6th 12:35 PM
Column

Tape2Tape: Should Fines Stem From Thornton-Mrazek Melee?

Dec 6th 12:20 PM
Seattle NHL

Seattle & Golden Knights – Comparing the Expansions a Year In

Dec 6th 12:05 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs’ Andreas Johnsson Goes on Long-Term Injury List

Dec 6th 10:45 AM
Archives

Top 5 Moments of Joe Thornton’s Career

Dec 6th 10:30 AM
Archives

Martin St. Louis, the Little Big Man

Dec 6th 10:25 AM
Editor's Choice

Jets’ 4th-Line Reload Coming Soon

Dec 6th 10:05 AM
New York Islanders

Islanders Can Be Serious Cup Contenders

Dec 6th 9:50 AM
San Jose Sharks

Sharks Surging After Rough Start

Dec 6th 9:35 AM
Vancouver Canucks

Canucks Should Trade for Toffoli

Stay in Touch
Contact Us

Via our Newsletters
RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Our Partners
HFBoards

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

Join over 18 000 Subscribers of our free bi-weekly Newsletter.

© The Hockey Writers 2018. All rights reserved.
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • Atlantic Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
  • Metropolitan Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Dallas Stars
    • Minnesota Wild
    • Nashville Predators
    • St Louis Blues
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • Pacific Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle NHL
    • Vegas Golden Knights
    • Vancouver Canucks
  • Store
  • The THW Archives
  • Prospects
  • The Goalie Page
  • NHL Salary Cap Information
  • Join Our Team
  • Search THW