Sharks veteran center Joe Thornton is firing back after GM Doug Wilson told season-ticket holders that Thornton was stripped of the team captaincy because the pressure and stress became too much.

"I think Doug just needs to shut his mouth," Thornton told the San Jose Mercury News on Friday.

"All I've got to say is I've been here every day working hard. I haven't taken a sabbatical. He just needs to stop lying, shut his mouth," Thornton told the newspaper.