from Mark Purdy of the Mercury News,

It still boggles the mind a bit that at age 34, Wilson decided to leave a solid Chicago team and throw in with a guaranteed expansion loser. But he had consulted with business friends about Silicon Valley and was eager to see what it might offer. He's just grateful that his family came aboard with the plan. Wilson and his wife, Kathy, came west with four children, ages 7, 5, 3 and 1.

On this celebration weekend for the Sharks, it's no time to discuss all of the ups and downs that followed. Jack Ferreira the Sharks first general manager, who's now a special assistant in the Los Angeles Kings front office, is familiar with the slings and arrows faced by every general manager. Maybe that's why Ferreira always thought in terms of the good rosters that Wilson kept assembling season after season rather than the playoff results.

"I think he's done a great job," said Ferreira, who noted that one of Wilson's underrated qualities is his retention and support of key personnel people such as scouting director Tim Burke and his staff.

Shark fans have not always agreed with that assessment. Particularly after the 2014 playoff collapse against the Los Angeles Kings -- when the Sharks lost four straight games after taking a 3-0 series lead -- there were calls for Wilson's head. There were even louder calls for franchise stalwarts Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau to be traded. But team owner Hasso Plattner stuck with Wilson.

Those who deal with Wilson will always mention the same thing: Sometimes he is too loyal to his players and his deals, standing behind the personalities and decisions even as they don't always pan out.

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