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executives<br />
FRONT OFFICE<br />
<strong>Sharks</strong> goaltenders on- and off-the-ice. He also oversees the work of Goaltending Coach Corey Schwab, who<br />
handles goaltending coaching duties for <strong>Sharks</strong> prospects in Worcester, Kalamazoo, and other amateur leagues.<br />
Thomas serves an important role as a liaison between the coaches, training staff and the hockey department,<br />
facilitates the interaction of hockey department personnel within the organization, coordinates the construction<br />
of the <strong>NHL</strong> pre- and regular season schedules, assists the efforts of the <strong>Sharks</strong> scouting staff and coordinates a<br />
variety of front office administrative matters.<br />
Under Thomas’ direct supervision and following the franchise’s goal of developing players from within, the<br />
<strong>Sharks</strong> AHL affiliate system has produced a number of key players on the <strong>Sharks</strong> current roster, which were<br />
acquired through the <strong>NHL</strong> Entry Draft such as Evgeni Nabokov, Joe Pavelski, Ryane Clowe, Devin Setoguchi,<br />
Douglas Murray and Jamie McGinn.<br />
In his role as <strong>Sharks</strong> assistant coach from 1993-96, Thomas assisted with game strategy, advance scouting<br />
of opponents and performed individual work with the <strong>Sharks</strong> goaltenders. In addition, he collaborated with the<br />
general manager on a year-round basis regarding administrative matters.<br />
Thomas joined the <strong>Sharks</strong> coaching and management staff for the 1993-94 season after spending three<br />
seasons (1990-93) as an assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues. Thomas also served in that capacity with the<br />
Chicago Blackhawks in 1987-88 and was head coach at Peoria (International Hockey League) from 1988-90 and<br />
at Salt Lake City from 1985-87. His 1985-86 squad captured the IHL’s Turner Cup Championship.<br />
A former <strong>NHL</strong> goaltender, his playing career consisted of 243 games over nine seasons, including stints with<br />
Montreal, Toronto and the New York Rangers. Thomas was a member of the Canadiens 1972-73 Stanley Cup<br />
Championship squad. Additional career highlights included being selected to and getting the win at the 1976 <strong>NHL</strong><br />
All-Star Game as a member of the Maple Leafs, posting 10 career shutouts — including one in his first <strong>NHL</strong> start<br />
— and a lifetime goals-against average of 3.34. After his retirement in 1981, Thomas spent four seasons as an<br />
assistant coach with the Rangers.<br />
Thomas has a bachelor’s degree in physical education from the University of Wisconsin, where he played<br />
three years of hockey from 1967-70.<br />
Joe Will<br />
Director of Hockey Operations<br />
Joe Will, 45, begins his fifth season as director of hockey operations. Will has<br />
been a member of the <strong>Sharks</strong> organization since its inception in July 1990, serving<br />
as scouting coordinator and assistant to the general manager before his promotion.<br />
Will works closely with Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug<br />
Wilson on all daily departmental functions and his primary responsibilities include<br />
contract research and negotiations, scouting operations, fiscal planning and salary<br />
cap analysis and hockey administration. He is the lead coordinator and planner for<br />
the <strong>Sharks</strong> training camp scouting meetings and scouting conference calls each<br />
season.<br />
One of his most important duties involves the tracking, analyzing and projecting of the team’s player<br />
payroll relative to the current and future National Hockey League salary cap to prevent the team from be<strong>com</strong>ing<br />
financially handcuffed.<br />
Will also works with the organization’s professional scouts and management team in player research for<br />
expansion, waivers, free agency and trades. His expert analysis of economic trends in the <strong>NHL</strong> has led to the<br />
<strong>Sharks</strong> acquisition and retention of key veteran players over the years.<br />
The Bloomington, Minn. native also works with Director of Scouting Tim Burke in the development and<br />
implementation of draft prospect testing, draft table operations and <strong>com</strong>puter scouting analysis. He’s an integral<br />
part of draft-day strategy that has acquired numerous players. Without his coordinating efforts, the team would<br />
not have drafted 2001 Calder Memorial Trophy winner Evgeni Nabokov in 1994. In addition, he developed the<br />
<strong>Sharks</strong> <strong>com</strong>puter scouting program that pioneered the advent of scouting programs used throughout the National<br />
Hockey League.<br />
Before joining <strong>San</strong> <strong>Jose</strong>, Will spent six years in the Minnesota North Stars organization in various<br />
capacities.<br />
18 sjsharks.<strong>com</strong> • sjsharks.<strong>com</strong>/wireless
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