Insider Trading: Will the NHL season start a bit later again next year?

With the announcement that GM Doug Wilson will step down after this season, what is next for the Sharks? What will Wilson do next in hockey? Where will December's World Juniors be played since Russia isn't an option? Will the NHL season start a bit later again next year? TSN Hockey Insiders Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun discuss this and more.

Sharks to conduct extensive GM search

Gino Reda: They are the Insiders, Pierre LeBrun and Chris Johnston. Gentlemen, considering the unique set of circumstances surrounding Doug Wilson, the San Jose Sharks wanted to give him all the time he needed to make a decision. Now that he’s decided he’s stepping away, what’s next for the Sharks here?

LeBrun: What’s next is a pretty extensive external search by the San Jose Sharks who will be hiring their first GM in 19 years so they want to leave no stone unturned. And we’re talking about looking at former GMs, up and coming AGMs, player agents, former players. They want to talk to a lot of different people here and they are in no rush because they know certain candidates won’t be available until later in the summer. They have belief in the current front office that they can handle the draft, they can handle free agency so if it takes until September so be it. But the key part of this process for me is this. Sharks owner Hasso Plattner does not want a full rebuild and that will be made very clear to candidates that you’re not coming in and going scorched earth on this roster. That may affect which candidates are interested perhaps but that’s going to be a key component of it.

Reda: Another key part of all of this is the fact that Doug Wilson has not retired and that’s critical.

LeBrun: Right. He made it in the last line of his statement