from Jeff Z. Klein of the New York Times,

The players say that any problems have been addressed and that they are united now. But a degree of stress still seems evident as the Sharks make an early-season swing through the metropolitan area, which ends Sunday at Madison Square Garden against the Rangers. The players stiffen when they sense the inevitable questions coming with each city they visit.

“It made for good TV,” defenseman Scott Hannan said of the reports of internal friction. “That was last year. Everyone in here, everything’s great.”

Referring to the Sharks’ perennial playoff woes, forward Tommy Wingels said: “I don’t know why we haven’t cleared that hurdle. But unfortunately we’re not going to be given another opportunity for many months now, until the playoffs are to begin. We’d love to fast-forward there.”...

During the summer, McLellan relieved Thornton of the captaincy, with the responsibility delegated to a number of alternates. Wilson said the Sharks were “going young.”

Before Saturday’s game against the Devils, Thornton said: “It was disappointing, but life moves on. It hasn’t affected me as a guy or as a player.”

Wilson also said he gave Thornton the chance to leave the Sharks if he did not want to be part of the youth movement. Thornton, 35, said he chose to stay for a simple reason. “I had a three-year contract — that’s pretty much it,” he said, laughing.

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