Friedman: Thornton is "alpha male" of Sharks' room

Elliotte Friedman was on Calgary’s Sportsnet 960 on Monday morning.

As part of a larger discussion of the Joe Thornton/Doug Wilson situation:

“I think the other thing that certainly is a factor here is that I just think that he really believes, ‘You know what? I’ve done everything that this organization asked of me, aside from winning a Stanley Cup.’

“He’s been a good citizen. He’s been their best player consistently. He’s re-written the franchise record book. He’s done a lot of good on and off ice for the team.

“Now, I will say this: The thing about Thornton lashing out – he’s the alpha male of that room. And they really do believe that... other (veteran) guys who are supposed to be leaders – I’m not sure they feel this way about Pavelski, but I think they do about Couture and some other guys – they really shrink around him. When he gets going in his way – and he’s a, like I said, an alpha male - I think there are guys who back away from him.

“That’s what they really wanted to accomplish here. Can some other guys step up and try to take the leadership, or become bigger leaders for the team. And they feel that they can’t do it around him and I know Thornton is very sensitive to that.”

Source: Sportsnet 960/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

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