Q & A with Sharks GM Doug Wilson: On Erik Karlsson, Hasso Plattner, and a comparison to the Warriors

SAN JOSE — Sharks general manager Doug Wilson was back in San Jose on Saturday morning, watching his team go through the paces on the second day of training camp two days after he pulled off a trade for defenseman Erik Karlsson.

Wilson might have been a bit tired from the flight back from Ottawa, where he met with Karlsson and his representatives and secured the deal with the Senators. But there was no questioning his enthusiasm, especially after assembling a roster the he believes has a real shot at winning a Stanley Cup.

As practice continued outside one of the doors of his office, Wilson chatted with a few reporters in his office Saturday to talk about the Karlsson trade and its aftermath.

Here is a sample of that conversation, with some questions and answers edited for brevity.

Q: What have the last 48 hours been like for you?

DW: Hockey-wise, we talked about adding this difference maker, I think it really brings some juice and energy to this group. Whatever the timing was that we were going to pursue this, it came to fruition. Sooner is better than later, because you get to start the year, you get some continuity, you get to integrate and get systems in place.

Q: Were they asking for some of your top end young players, like a Timo Meier?

DW: I never talk about discussions with other GMs, but your question is an accurate question. You try to do deals where, if you’re in a today mode, you don’t want to fill one hole and create others and give up other key pieces. There were certain players or pieces that were non-starters for us, there’s no doubt.

Q: Was there a deal in place before the trade deadline?

DW: No. Not with us. … We had a lot discussions. We’ve been in the market for a game-changer, a difference-maker for a while. There’s only a few of them, and you want to make sure you’re included in those things. You never know when they become available. Like our Sharks Facebook page for more San Jose Sharks news, commentary and conversation.

Q: It’s fair to say that if you had pulled that off, you wouldn’t have gotten (Evander) Kane also, right?

DW: Never say never. There’s different ways to do it. It depends on the assets that were needed. If you take a look at it, to me it’s all kind of combined. You look at what you acquired, net-out assets, cap space. Not every deal is connected, but obviously certain pieces … the deal might have been different done at the trade deadline than was just done now.

Q: You want to get him locked up for the long-term. Can you give us any insight on where that might stand?

DW: I don’t talk about negotiations.

Q: But you want him for a long time, and I’m sure you have some idea of what this might cost.

DW: We wouldn’t have done this deal if we weren’t very comfortable of that opportunity, and that’s why I was able to have discussions with their agents and with Erik. Look at the history. That’s all I can say. Jumbo, Burns, Kane, Jonesy. When you have the type of ownership we have, the type of team and the type of players, (knowing) what players are looking for, I think we fill all those boxes.

I’ve had conversations, in confidence with people, and came to the comfort zone of where we’re at today.

Q: Does the Drew Doughty contract (eight years, $88 million) set the bar?

DW: Top players are going to get paid well, they are. And they deserve to get paid well. It’s just the distribution of your cap and when you’re trying to build a team trying to win a Stanley Cup, it’s a team-building concept. Joe Thornton, I can’t even put into words what he does for this organization when it comes to that. My job and my owner’s job is to make this a place players want to play and then once players get here, they’ll do whatever to take care of each other. But believe me, it starts with Jumbo, the things he does, the flexibility under a cap system, we can’t thank him enough. For complete Sharks coverage

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Q: How much was Hasso (Plattner) involved in this whole thing?

DW: Very much. Hasso, with this team, he’s aware of the rookie tournament, the players. There is no better owner in the NHL than Hasso Plattner.

Q: We saw him at the meeting with (John) Tavares.

DW: And if we could have done it without you guys knowing that, that he was there and sat in traffic for two-and-a-half hours each way, and flew in, he does that all the time. I mean this. This organization starts at the top. There might not be a better owner in sports than Hasso.

Q: Was he in Ottawa?

DW: No, but he (had) several conversations with both Erik and (his wife Melinda). Melinda, that’s a big part of it, as a couple, but Hasso talked to both of them.

Q: There’s a lot of star players and only one puck.

DW: The Warriors don’t seem to have a problem, and there’s only one ball. When you can put players that all love to play the game together, it’s amazing how they all have the common bond of trying to win.

Q: Safe to say it’s not a concern?

DW: Ah, no. I think the people that might say that wish they had those options. Our power play was one area we really wanted to address. Without having Kane or Jumbo, I think we scored 252 goals, our PK was good, our goals against, but our power play wasn’t where it needed to be. I think (Karlsson’s) a big difference maker. He’s a power play quarterback. There are five points of attack that we think will be tough to defend against.

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Home sweet home? Giants, visitors at Oracle Park, tie franchise record in win Q: How much do you think last year wore on him, given his competitiveness?

DW: Great athletes need to have chances to win. Whether they’re going through a rebuilding mode or whatever, it’s one of the reasons why — it’s not judging other people — I would have a very difficult time as a GM going through a rebuilding mode. When you’ve signed high-end players to long-term contracts, and then you’re telling them, ‘Oh, by the way, we don’t have a chance to win.’ It’s just a personal belief. Not having a chance to win would be difficult.

Q: Any concern about his ankle?

DW: No. You get to do your tests and medicals prior to and as part of it. … We did our research. This guy, he’s tough as nails.

Q: So there wouldn’t be any reservations about offering him an eight-year contract.

DW: No, there wouldn’t be. We’ve done our research. Honestly, I really believe he’s just coming into his prime.

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