San Jose Sharks Captaincy Issue

There was quite a bit of head scratching among NHL hockey executives and fans alike when last week San Jose Sharks coach Todd McLellan announced that heading into training camp the positions for team captain and assistants would be wide open. After that statement became public many in the hockey circles were trying to figure out if this was meant as a shakeup for the team heading into the season or perhaps if it meant that Patrick Marleau whose been captain since 2004 and Joe Thornton who was last year’s assistant are perhaps on the trading block. Even though the Sharks had a tremendous regular season in winning the President Trophy with 117 points it was still a disappointing finish as they lost in the first round to the Anaheim Ducks. Thornton, who became a Shark in November 2005 showed his optimism by saying that he supported what the coach is doing and fully understands the motive. “I think it might be innovative,” Thornton who scored 86 points last year said. “I think more teams will probably look at this and say, ‘hey, we can’t get by the second round, some team aren’t making the playoffs,’ maybe they’re going to change it too, so I think it might be innovative on San Jose’s part.” Not all agree with the 11 year veteran. Many San Jose fans are wondering if perhaps McLellan did this to fire up Marleau and Thornton or perhaps if it was done to wipe the slate clean on a club that has drastically underachieved for a couple of years now in the post season play. Showing to be a team player Marleau who was drafted second overall in 1997 did not make an issue after hearing this announcement. “I’m just here and I want to win so if they think this is what we need to do to win, then I’m all for it,” Marleau who scored 71 points last year said. “We’ve had really good teams there in the past and we haven’t won it and maybe this will be the thing that takes us over the hump.” Even though various rumors have been circulating that Marleau is about to be traded the veteran forward isn’t buying into that talk and fully expects to be wearing the teal this coming season. “It hasn’t been expressed to me that way so I can’t really speculate on what’s happening in the back but as far as I know, no, it’s not going to transpire that way.” Meanwhile critics have often pointed to Thornton’s lack of production in playoff games. In 76 post-season games this London Ontario native has produced only 12 goals and 41 assists.