Joe Thornton says GM Doug Wilson "needs to stop lying, shut his mouth."

[terminator]

Well, atleast this puts SJ out of the race.

[Dagger]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Thornton will not be traded in the summer because he does not want to leave SJ. It doesn't matter what Wilson wants.

If Wilson gave Thornton an opportunity to win elsewhere, he'd bolt. Below is an excerpt from an interview in November:

“Because I think we have a really good team that has a legitimate chance of doing something,” Thornton, 35, said. “If I didn’t think that, I don’t think I’d still be here. But I still think we have a good group of guys and we can do something.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2014/11/0...-trade-rumours

[Badgers Nose]

This is wicked awesome! Perfect timing too! I like it when a player skips the cliches and says what is really on their minds.

[prizefighterinferno]

Hypothetically speaking, and assuming the acquisition cost wasn't prohibitive (which isn't necessarily realistic), there would be a certain appeal to adding an experienced, big-bodied guy like Joe to a young but rapidly improving roster that might not be quite ready to win just yet but might in the next couple years (Joe has two years remaining on his contract after this one, as far as I can recall).

Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Bennett-Thornton-???
Bouma-Backlund-Jones
Byron/Ferland-Stajan-Jooris
Colborne

Would allow Bennett to break in on the wing while learning from one of the best faceoff guys in the league, much like Seguin during his time in Boston.

Factor in the progression of the many young players and the return of Gio, and assuming something could be done to shore up the right side and 5-6-7 D, and that would be a lineup reminiscent of the 08-09 Blackhawks, in my opinion. Maybe not a cup winner but a young contender ready to make some playoff noise.

[Da_Chief]

I doubt Jumbo would waive to come to Calgary and doubt the Sharks trade him to us. Would love to have him though. Backlund + likely has to go the other way.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Dagger

If Wilson gave Thornton an opportunity to win elsewhere, he'd bolt. Below is an excerpt from an interview in November:

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2014/11/0...-trade-rumours

I would make a sizeable bet he would not. I can also guarantee he would never play for the Flames. I grew up in St. Thomas ON, know the Thornton's pretty well, was friends with with his brothers more than Joe but I have had some good talks with Joe. Let's just say he is not a fan of the Calgary Flames.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I would make a sizeable bet he would not. I can also guarantee he would never play for the Flames. I grew up in St. Thomas ON, know the Thornton's pretty well, was friends with with his brothers more than Joe but I have had some good talks with Joe. Let's just say he is not a fan of the Calgary Flames.

Not to prod too much...but say Tampa Bay called the Sharks and were willing to make a reasonable offer for Thornton. Would he consider going to a place like that?

What I'm getting at is he may not like the Flames as a team or some of their management...or is it more a case of he rather would stay out of a hockey mad market like Calgary, or Montreal, or Toronto?

[sureLoss]

McKenzie said on TSN that Thornton likes San Jose and plans to outlast the coach and GM.

He also said that this fracture between management and Thornton has been there since the offseason. This is just the first time it came out in the public

[Rerun]

I'm behind Joe on this one.
After Joe got stripped on the Captaincy he kept his mouth shut and said nothing.. nada.. zilch. Although I'm sure he wanted to say lots.

Unfortunately Wilson couldn't do the same thing. Joe was right. Wilson should shut his mouth.

Totally classless on Wilson's part.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Not to prod too much...but say Tampa Bay called the Sharks and were willing to make a reasonable offer for Thornton. Would he consider going to a place like that?

What I'm getting at is he may not like the Flames as a team or some of their management...or is it more a case of he rather would stay out of a hockey mad market like Calgary, or Montreal, or Toronto?

It is more of a he loves San Jose thing, he has built his family life there and he really likes his teammates. I think if he had to go he would almost certainly want to stay in California so I would bet on the Ducks or Kings being his other choices.
I have no idea if he would play in Tampa. I will probably run into him at the Midtown in St.T in the summer at some point, his best friend owns it, I could ask him but getting a straight answer from Joe on anything is very slim, lol. It isn't a mad hockey market thing, he just likes San Jose and doesn't want to uproot everything.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

McKenzie said on TSN that Thornton likes San Jose and plans to outlast the coach and GM.

He also said that this fracture between management and Thornton has been there since the offseason. This is just the first time it came out in the public

I thought that was pretty public knowledge.

Didn't the series of events go that they explored options to trade him, Thornton wouldn't waive, so they stripped the C hoping that would entice/embarrass him into leaving?

I seem to remember something like that.

[landshark]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I thought that was pretty public knowledge.

Didn't the series of events go that they explored options to trade him, Thornton wouldn't waive, so they stripped the C hoping that would entice/embarrass him into leaving?

I seem to remember something like that.

No, Wilson has not asked either Thornton or Marleau to waive - said that he would not do that - that they would have to come to him and ask. But, of course, that might be another of Wilson's 'lies'.

Thornton has a family with little kids - he surely won't want to play in TB.

[Buzzard]

Anyone catch Brad May almost drop an eff bomb there talking about it?

"Why in the f... er... world would they take this public?" lol

[landshark]

And, BTW, don't be surprised if this really galvanizes the team. A lot of press are saying that the team will now fully implode... I dunno... Thornton has ALWAYS been at his best when he's REALLY mad. The rest of the players seem to have his back on this... who knows - I'm already resigned to be on the sidelines in the post season...

[To Be Quite Honest]

Maybe Wilson was talkin' about Shaft.

[Buzzard]

Originally Posted by landshark

And, BTW, don't be surprised if this really galvanizes the team. A lot of press are saying that the team will now fully implode... I dunno... Thornton has ALWAYS been at his best when he's REALLY mad. The rest of the players seem to have his back on this... who knows - I'm already resigned to be on the sidelines in the post season...

Yeah...I'm thinking it's not going to though the way things have been going lately.

I predict free fall.

[IgiTang]

After reading the full quote, Thornton saying that Wilson "needs to stop lying", this almost seems like a ploy by management to stir it up and make things uncomfortable for Joe in hopes he will give up and agree to move on.

But this appears to have him digging in and creating a absolute mess for management and a serious black eye for the organization.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by IgiTang

After reading the full quote, Thornton saying that Wilson "needs to stop lying", this almost seems like a ploy by management to stir it up and make things uncomfortable for Joe in hopes he will give up and agree to move on.

But this appears to have him digging in and creating a absolute mess for management and a serious black eye for the organization.

Fine with me. Its well past time for SJ to enter the downswing of their competitive cycle. It couldnt happen at a better time for the Flames.

[cannon7]

Ok, so who are the frontrunners for Sharks GM?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by cannon7

Ok, so who are the frontrunners for Sharks GM?

Hopefully not Jay Feaster. Mike Milbury has some free time...