Injecting some additional uncertainty into the future of an organizational structure in San Jose that’s already up in the air, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman passed along an interesting rumor in his weekly 30 Thoughts column suggesting Sharks GM Doug Wilson could take on a different role with the team, with someone else filling in as general manager:
Word on potential San Jose changes could come down at any time, but a few sources indicate one of Doug Wilson’s suggestions is creating another layer between him and the coaching staff. He becomes President with a GM in the middle or something like that.
Were it to actually happen, this sort of move would be very much in line with a recent trend across the NHL that’s seen respected figures like Brian Burke and Brendan Shanahan take on President of Hockey Operations roles in which they’re typically responsible for overseeing an organization as a whole, including the general manager. Just last year, longtime Philadelphia Flyers GM Paul Holmgren was promoted to team president with Ron Hextall taking over in his place.
If the Sharks made Wilson team president and merely promoted one of current assistant general managers Wayne Thomas or Joe Will into the GM role, it’s unlikely much would change in terms of the franchise’s strategy going forward. Where things might get interesting is if owner Hasso Plattner were to bring in someone from outside the organization to serve as GM. Anyway, all of this is just speculation at this point which should be cleared up when Wilson addresses the media tomorrow.
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