Sharks fire Wilson after latest disappointing playoff run

After putting together a 20-game streak without a regulation defeat shortly before the regular season ended, the second-seeded Sharks seemed poised for their playoff breakthrough, with many experts picking them to win their first title.

San Jose, the NHL's best road team and the league's best penalty-killers during the regular season, tenaciously held off Keenan's Calgary Flames in the first round before falling into an 0-3 hole to the Stars in the tight second-round series, which featured four overtime games.

"I can't control guys falling down," Ron Wilson said, remembering the decisive goal in San Jose's Game 2 loss to Dallas, which was set up by Joe Pavelski's pratfalling turnover to Brad Richards. "I can't control bounces in the playoffs. I would play that series again and go in with the same game plan. You out-chance and outshoot a team, and sometimes it isn't meant to be."

Wilson's cerebral, sarcastic nature has appealed to many of his players over the years, but others chafed under his style. Though Doug Wilson got his job five months after the Sharks hired Ron Wilson in December 2002, the two former NHL defensemen seemed to forge a strong working bond during their half-decade together.

"Dougie has been an unbelievable guy to work with," Ron Wilson said. "Today is the one day you don't want to see Dougie Wilson come into your office with a stern look on his face, but that's life, and you move on."

Wilson, who also has coached the U.S. national team on several occasions, is likely to be a candidate for most NHL coaching vacancies if he decides to jump right back behind a bench. Colorado, Atlanta, Florida and Toronto currently have openings, but Wilson said his first priority is to decompress back home in South Carolina before a summer which includes his oldest daughter's wedding.

"The only thing the team can do better, apparently, is win the Stanley Cup," Ron Wilson said. "There's enough talent there, and that's why I wanted to come back."