Trouble in paradise for Big Joe?

[Jasmine]

There appears to be friction between Joe Thornton and San Jose Sharks' front office, with the veteran centre calling out general manager Doug Wilson on Friday.

As reported by David Pollak of the San Jose Mercury News, Sharks general manager Doug Wilson spoke at a question-answer session for season-ticket holders Thursday night and fielded a question on the decision to take the captaincy away from Thornton last summer. "He cares about the game so much," Wilson explained. "The reason we took the 'C' off him...Joe carries the weight of the team on his shoulders, and he's got such a big heart that when stress comes on him, he lashes out at people and it kind of impacts them.

"The pressure and stress, I felt, was getting to Joe. And I sat him down and said we need other players to step up and share this. He got it. He didn't like it, but he got it and he understood it."

The veteran centre responded Friday to Pollak simply saying, "Doug needs to shut his mouth."

Wilson responded to Thornton's comments Friday afternoon to CSNCalifornia.com.

“If he’s got an issue, he knows exactly where I am, and I’ll be glad to talk to him about it,” Wilson told CSNCalifornia.com. “There’s zero issue here. I was asked a question at a season ticket holder function, and my response was to do my job and be accountable to our season ticket holders and tell the truth. It’s nothing I haven’t said before.”

Thornton, 35, has 13 goals and 44 assists over 64 games this season, his 10th with the Sharks.

San Jose currently sits three points out of the playoffs.

http://www.tsn.ca/thornton-doug-needs-t ... h-1.230111

[Alfie11]

Re: Trouble in paradise for Big Joe?

What a dumb thing to say from Thornton. I swear, at least 50% of players in the league are morons.

[Josh]

Re: Trouble in paradise for Big Joe?

What a dumb thing to say from Thornton. I swear, at least 50% of players in the league are morons.

Heh, have you ever played organized hockey or gotten to know a hockey player? It's no surprise that the ones who end up making millions and having even MORE inflated egos aren't the brightest or most humble bunch.

It was a dumb thing to say for sure. I'll be surprised if he's still a Shark next season. If he waives, I could definitely see him traded to Toronto for Kadri and Connor Brown, or something similar.

[Alfie11]

Re: Trouble in paradise for Big Joe?

What a dumb thing to say from Thornton. I swear, at least 50% of players in the league are morons.

Heh, have you ever played organized hockey or gotten to know a hockey player? It's no surprise that the ones who end up making millions and having even MORE inflated egos aren't the brightest or most humble bunch.

It was a dumb thing to say for sure. I'll be surprised if he's still a Shark next season. If he waives, I could definitely see him traded to Toronto for Kadri and Connor Brown, or something similar.

But would Toronto, who's entering a rebuild, want to trade a young proven player for someone who will be 36 by the time he would play a game for them?

[Josh]

Re: Trouble in paradise for Big Joe?

What a dumb thing to say from Thornton. I swear, at least 50% of players in the league are morons.

Heh, have you ever played organized hockey or gotten to know a hockey player? It's no surprise that the ones who end up making millions and having even MORE inflated egos aren't the brightest or most humble bunch.

It was a dumb thing to say for sure. I'll be surprised if he's still a Shark next season. If he waives, I could definitely see him traded to Toronto for Kadri and Connor Brown, or something similar.

But would Toronto, who's entering a rebuild, want to trade a young proven player for someone who will be 36 by the time he would play a game for them?

I guess it depends on the pieces they get back for their current vets, and how badly they think Kadri's issues will affect that younger core. Despite the issues Wilson brought up, I'd imagine Jumbo would be a better mentor than Kadri.

[Alfie11]

Re: Trouble in paradise for Big Joe?

That's true. Also, if Thornton was available, perhaps that changes Toronto's mind about rebuilding? They could add the #1 centre they need and get a top pairing defenseman within a couple years.

[Josh]

Re: Trouble in paradise for Big Joe?

That's true. Also, if Thornton was available, perhaps that changes Toronto's mind about rebuilding? They could add the #1 centre they need and get a top pairing defenseman within a couple years.

Yeah, I was thinking of something along those lines too. In two seasons they'll be celebrating the franchise's centennial, which makes me doubt a full-scale rebuild is in the cards at this point..

[Josh]

Re: Trouble in paradise for Big Joe?

Wow. Just read some stuff from Dreger (yeah, I know) that says Toronto and Ottawa were working on a Kadri-Zibanejad swap last summer but the Leafs wanted the Sens to add so BM backed out. Gotta' say in glad that didn't go down.

He also mentioned that Jumbo Joe won't waive to go anywhere. Apparently the Sharks' management have been fed up with him for a long time and want him out but he just refuses to leave. Losing respect for him by the boatloads this week..

[Josh]

Re: Trouble in paradise for Big Joe?

Sorry, it's actually Dreger with the Kadri-Zibanejad thing but McKenzie with the Thornton info.

[Jasmine]

Re: Trouble in paradise for Big Joe?

He also mentioned that Jumbo Joe won't waive to go anywhere. Apparently the Sharks' management have been fed up with him for a long time and want him out but he just refuses to leave. Losing respect for him by the boatloads this week..

Yep, I heard that yesterday. What a bastard...

[Matt the Aussie]

Re: Trouble in paradise for Big Joe?

Sorry, but if you're going to offer job security both in term of contract AND in no move clause then you'd be a fool not to take advantage. He's making great money in a great place to live. Who cares if no one likes him or wants him there anymore? :P

[Josh]

Re: Trouble in paradise for Big Joe?

Sorry, but if you're going to offer job security both in term of contract AND in no move clause then you'd be a fool not to take advantage. He's making great money in a great place to live. Who cares if no one likes him or wants him there anymore? :P

Well, I guess you're correct that it is definitely his right. Still, when you're making that kind of money to play hockey.. Well, yeah you're right I'd probably play out the 2 years in Cali too :lol:

[Alfie11]

Re: Trouble in paradise for Big Joe?

Honestly, I don't have a problem with him not waiving his NTC. He probably took less money to get one in his contract, and now he's choosing to utilize it. For the same reasons you couldn't really be disappointed if Neil or Phillips don't want to waive theirs.

[thedaigle1]

Re: Trouble in paradise for Big Joe?

I'm gonna go ahead and side with Jumbo Joe on this one. And I know that I'm biased cos I've been following the Sharks as long as I've been following hockey and I'm a Thornton fan. Nonetheless, players say stupid things cos they're players and that's what they do. The GM should be held far more accountable for airing team laundry publicly. I never want to say "fire the coach and GM cos everything is their fault" and I know that to say so is the easy way out. But in this case, McClelland and Wilson need to go. This team has some seriously elite offensive talent and a lot of promising young players coming up. Wilson had completely failed to manage his assets and McClelland has failed to implement them (see Brent Burns). There are a lot of GMs who look at this team and salivate at the options they have with so much available talent. Wilson has completely failed to bring in support players to round out the roster. John Scott is a full time player with this team, seriously?! The Sharks are only a few pieces away from being really good and they have the money to go out and get those pieces. I pray that their ten-season playoff streak ends and the owner does the right thing by bringing in some new minds to get this thing right.

-Figure out who your franchise goalie is
-Bring back Matt Irwin and snag a D in free agency (there are plenty of good ones this year) so that Burns can move back up to the wing
-Round out your bottom six with guys not named John Scott

[Matt the Aussie]

Re: Trouble in paradise for Big Joe?

On your last point, I hear Greening is available... :P