This hockey player was born in hockey mad Canada.  After a couple of years dominating junior hockey, it was clear that this young man was full of potential.  He was drafted by a team that was down in the dumps, one that had no direction, was in ownership uncertainty, and had missed the playoffs for a few years in a row. 

This player immediately jumped to the big club, as everyone in the organization could see the talent, and, well, because there wasn't much talent in the organization.  But the player performed well (albeit with some defensive lapses), and helped the team make the playoffs for the first time in a long time.  His team was eliminated in the first round, but it was expected. Everyone knew great things were to come.

A few years later, the player was named the youngest captain in franchise history.  Upon being named captain, the player blossomed, and the team became a perennial participant in the playoffs. Expectations continued to grow for both the captain and his team.

Oh, but the playoffs.  Only once could the captain get his team to the conference finals, and his team was constantly compared to the dominant team of his time that won multiple Stanley Cups.  The team, clearly talented itself, instead had multiple flameouts in the second round.  The captain began to clash with his coach, who was extremely hard on him.  Whispers began to circulate that the player should be traded, that he didn't "elevate his game" or that he wasn't a "leader" in the playoffs, despite point totals that suggested otherwise.  The trade demands made by the fans were deafening after his team, the #1 seed and the President's Trophy winner, lost to a clearly inferior team that simply appeared to "want" it more.  It was clear that the other team's goaltending (and a little . . . no, a LOT of luck) played a role.  But the fans didn't care.  They wanted changes.

And so the Detroit Red Wings acceded to ownership and fan anger, and traded Steve Yzerman to the Ottawa Senators.  Can you imagine?

Doug Wilson, don't listen to the fans.  Ownership, trust your hockey people.  Patrick Marleau is not the problem.  Patrick Marleau being the captain is not the problem.  The team is thisclose, even though it seems it looks like they took a step back.  Believe, even when it opens you up to pain.

Go Sharks