Sharks Majority Owner Hasso Plattner "sent a 513-word message to season-ticket holders Thursday" that said both GM Doug Wilson and COO John Tortora "'did a good job' last year and offered no hint of potential changes at the top of the organization," according to David Pollak of the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS. Recognizing "fan disappointment in not making the playoffs, Plattner at the same time reaffirmed his commitment to Wilson's rebuild." Plattner wrote, "We had hoped we could do both, stay competitive and rebuild at the same time. It was close, but other teams in our conference were better, at least throughout the whole season, and deservedly finished ahead of us." Pollak notes Plattner's message "was not well received on social networks by a fan base that has become increasingly disenchanted over the past 12 months." The letter also touched on a wide range of other issues, including ongoing talks with the city of San Jose to finalize "a new arena deal keeping the Sharks." That was a reference to negotiations for improvements at the 21-year-old SAP Center as an alternative to possible relocation elsewhere in the Bay Area. Plattner wrote, "Are we perfect? No, not all moves will play out as thought, and the competition will do everything to keep us at bay. But we have a tremendous core, the older players are still fully committed, and some of the sophomores will enter their third year" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 4/24). In S.F., Ross McKeon notes Plattner's letter also "raises a couple red flags -- the team’s frustrations over a poor television contract and its continued dealings with the city of San Jose to get a new lease" (SFGATE.com, 4/23). Plattner wrote in the letter that he has been "unsuccessful in altering" the local TV deal that is "below market value" (ESPN.com, 4/23).
