Sharks Stay Chummy with Wilson

Yesterday the San Jose Sharks re-signed its head coach and two assistant coaches to new multi-year contracts. Ron Wilson took over the head-coaching position when Sharks management fired Darryl Sutter in December 2002, a low point in the Sharks' existence that only got lower when the team finished last in its division that season. In 2003-04 -- the first full season under Wilson -- a reenergized team turned everything around, breaking franchise records and for the first time reaching the Western Conference finals. (Never mind that in those finals we lost to the Calgary Flames, who are coached by Darryl Sutter.) But anyone who can turn around a team like the 2002-03 Sharks the way Wilson did deserves recognition, and we're glad to see he and his assistants got it. SFist looks forward to visiting the Stanley Cup at the HP Pavilion this time next year (actually, we still like to call it the San Jose Arena and always appreciated that they put the accent over the e).

Check local sports blogger Jon Swenson's Sharkspage for the latest in local hockey news and analysis, ya hoser.