Sharks unlikely to pursue major deal
What to do now? With Joe Thornton, the Sharks’ heart-and-soul, likely sidelined for at least six weeks, the cry from fans to Doug Wilson will be make a trade to fill the sudden need.
If I know San Jose’s long tenured general manager, that’s just not going to happen. While no one expected Thornton to sustain a second knee injury in nine months that required surgery after all those years of durability, Wilson had to realize — and plan for — the likelihood of the 38year-old being sidelined for an extended period of time.
What’s hard for fans, and probably teammates, too, is figuring out how the Sharks can continue to be successful without their alternate captain.
Thornton beat the odds and returned at full strength for training camp this season after having surgery to repair tears to his left ACL and MCL sustained in late April. After a slow start to this season, he’d scored 26 points in his past 28 games before being injured Tuesday.
Thornton may surprise everyone again and return inside of six weeks. That’s probably why the Sharks didn’t set a timetable for his return. They know Thornton will try to beat any return date they toss out. And he might.
But two significant injuries in a relatively short time for a player in his 20th season are a reminder that Thornton will not be here forever. He might not even be here next season. And that’s why I’m sure Wilson has a plan, and it won’t involve a panic, quick-fix move.
Wilson has worked too hard keeping his team in contention while transitioning from a roster built around a veteran corps to one that leans heavily on younger players. It’s the same model Detroit has used for years. And it’s not easy to sustain.
There’s no immediate replacement for Thornton. But Wilson is not going to make a trade now — and potentially surrender key assets like high picks for young talent — to bolster San Jose’s playoff hopes this spring while simultaneously putting the Sharks in position to miss out on the postseason in future seasons.
Wilson will trust coach Peter DeBoer’s ability to read his players and adjust his lines to keep the Sharks contending despite the large hole in the middle and a nightmarish second-half schedule that awaits. Wilson will take his chances on the team making the playoffs this season, but he’s not going to mortgage the future.
Yes, Islanders center John Tavares is due to be an unrestricted free agent July 1. He’s a unique player who will hit the open market and instead of being on the wrong side of 30 — as most UFAs are — Tavares is 27. Drafted first overall in 2009 by the Islanders, Tavares will be the hot commodity this summer if New York doesn’t deal him at the Feb. 26 deadline and if he doesn’t sign an extension. Tavares will be in high demand, and he knows it.
The Sharks, who have squirreled away valuable cap space, may not be in the Tavares sweepstakes. But Wilson knows his roster could benefit by fortifying the center-ice position, especially in light of recent developments.
Winning teams are deep at center. It’s been a priority for Wilson & Co. to stockpile the system with centers and move some to the wings as they develop and progress through the the organization. It’s a bit thin now on top, and Wilson in reality has until next fall to strengthen the team at that position.
My guess is that’s exactly his plan. Midseason awards: The Pro Writers Hockey Association held a recent vote on midseason awards and here are your winners: Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov for the Hart (MVP), Victor Hedman for the Norris (top defenseman) and Andrei Vasilevskiy for the Vezina (top goalie), Boston’s Patrice Bergeron for the Selke (top defensive forward), Mathew Barzal of the Islanders for the Calder (top rookie), Calgary’s Johnny Gaudreau for the Lady Byng (gentlemanly play), Los Angeles’ Drew Doughty for Rod Langway Award (best defensive defenseman) and Vegas’ Gerard Gallant and George McPhee for coach and GM of the year, respectively. Briefly: Quick, who is the Sharks leading goal-scorer on defense? It’s not Brent Burns, who rallied from zero after 20 games to his current seven. It’s Marc-Edouard Vlasic, who scored his eighth Thursday. … Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian, drafted third overall in 2008, will undergo hip surgery and be out for the rest of the season. … And, finally, Wayne Gretzky turned 57 Friday.