San Jose Sharks: Why Pressure Is on General Manager Doug Wilson

The floor is Doug Wilson's now.  In a statement made by the San Jose Sharks earlier this month, he was given the reigns to the team for at least the near future.

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The on-ice results of our team this season are not acceptable to our fans, our organization or our ownership group. We will not lower our expectation that every San Jose Sharks team we put on the ice is capable of winning the Stanley Cup. Despite the fact that our team has experienced a tremendous amount of success over the past eight seasons, we are not satisfied with those results and neither is Doug. The ownership group has confidence that Doug will make the necessary changes to ensure our club remains among the NHL’s elite franchises.

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With Wilson's head on straight and his job now fully committed to by the ownership, coach Todd McLellan's job would seem to be next on the agenda.  However, Wilson didn't give anything away on that matter, despite the reports of his job being safe.

"You know that I don't respond to rumors," Wilson said. "We are doing our due diligence, and we are looking at every way to improve this hockey team."

Reports (h/t Yahoo!) earlier this month said that McLellan was notified he would continue to be the head coach of the Sharks just three days after the season ended. Wilson has yet to confirm that, though, according to CBC Sports' Elliotte Friedman.

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Doug Wilson apparently told Todd McLellan three days after the season ended that the Sharks' bench boss was staying. Odd that there's been no announcement, but it sounds like there is a debate about assistant coaches.

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So if the reports are true and things are set and ready to go for San Jose and the offseason, the pressure is now put on Wilson's shoulders.

The pressure is there first and foremost for his own job's sake.  The statement the Sharks made did not seem at all happy with the changes Wilson made over the past couple of years, and the team paid for it this past season when they received a first-round elimination from the St. Louis Blues.

Wilson's job has a one-year guarantee—anything more would be irresponsible of the Sharks ownership at this point.

The main attractions for Wilson this offseason are free agency and the trade market, in which the Sharks are expected to be fully involved.

The Blue Jackets' Rick Nash is sure to be one of those attractions to the Sharks, but it will take more than a superstar player like him to revitalize this struggling Sharks team.

The main goal for Wilson this offseason is to continue to keep the Sharks in playoff contention, and to do that by making lasting moves, because the current team is not fit to make a Stanley Cup run this next season.

Sharks ownership wants a Stanley Cup-contending team like in the past, and Wilson must regain their trust this offseason by going out and acquiring top-tier players with top-tier talent.

Easier said than done, at this point.

It is funny how just a year ago, Wilson was one of the best general managers in the NHL.  Now with the recent struggles of the team and a couple disappointing trades, his job is on the line.  He must get it back with one his best offseasons to date.

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