Doug Wilson
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2020
Wilson with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1977
Born (1957-07-05) July 5, 1957
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Chicago Blackhawks
San Jose Sharks
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 6th overall, 1977
Chicago Black Hawks
WHA Draft 5th overall, 1977
Indianapolis Racers
Playing career 1977–1993

Douglas Frederick Wilson (born July 5, 1957) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman, who later served as general manager of the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League, and is currently Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He won the 1984 Canada Cup with Team Canada.

Playing career

After a junior hockey career for the Ottawa 67's in the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League, Wilson was drafted in the first round, sixth overall, in the 1977 NHL Entry Draft. He then played 14 seasons with the Chicago Black Hawks and two years for the San Jose Sharks in the National Hockey League. He was the first captain in Sharks history, serving two years before retiring after the 1992–93 season.

Wilson played 14 seasons in Chicago and still ranks as the club's highest-scoring defenceman in points (779 — sixth overall), goals (225 — 12th overall) and assists (554 — third overall). Wilson is fifth all-time in games played (938) for Chicago. He also led all Blackhawks defencemen in scoring for 10 consecutive seasons (1980–81 through 1990–91). In 1982, he was awarded the James Norris Memorial Trophy, as the League's top defenceman.[1] That year, he had 39 goals and 85 points, which are still the Blackhawks single-season records for goals and points by a defenceman.

He was selected to eight NHL All-Star Games (seven with Chicago and one with San Jose).[1] While with Chicago, Wilson was named as an NHL First Team All-Star in 1982 and twice was named as an NHL Second Team All-Star (1985 and 1990).

Wilson agreed to waive his no-trade clause and was acquired by San Jose from Chicago just before the Sharks first season (1991–92) for prospect Kerry Toporowski and San Jose's 2nd round choice in the 1992 NHL draft. Wilson brought instant credibility and respect to the young franchise. He played two seasons for the Sharks, scoring 48 points (12 goals, 36 assists) in 86 games.[2]

Other career highlights include serving as the franchise's first team captain (1991–93), being the team's first representative in an All-Star Game (1991–92), playing in his NHL-milestone 1,000th game on November 21, 1992, (77th player in League history) and twice named Sharks nominee (1992 and 1993) for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy (for leadership and humanitarian contributions both on-and off-the-ice). At his 1,000th NHL game-played ceremony, he announced the creation of the Doug Wilson Scholarship Foundation. This scholarship provides assistance to worthy college-bound Bay Area students, and continues today.

Wilson announced his retirement as a member of the Sharks during training camp in 1993–94 after playing in 1,024 career games. In addition, he played in 95 career playoff games and scored 80 points (19 goals, 61 assists). The Ottawa native scored 827 points (237 goals, 590 assists) during his career that began in 1977–78 with Chicago.

Wilson was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame on June 24, 2020, in his 24th year of eligibility.[2][3]

Career achievements

  • Hockey Hall of Fame (2020)
  • James Norris Memorial Trophy winner as best defenceman in NHL (1982), finalist in 1990
  • King Clancy Memorial Trophy finalist(1992, 1993)
  • First Team All-Star (1981–82)
  • 2-time Second Team All-Star (1984–85, 1989–90)
  • 8-time NHL All-Star Game selection (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1992)
  • Member of gold medal-winning Team Canada at Canada Cup (1984)
  • Chicago Blackhawks leader in career goals and points by a defenceman
  • Led all Chicago Blackhawks defencemen in scoring for 10 consecutive seasons
  • First captain in San Jose Sharks team history

Retirement and executive career

In 2004, Wilson was named to the Positive Coaching Alliance's National Advisory Board. PCA, established at Stanford University in 1998, tries to create a positive character-building experience by using sports to teach life lessons. The "win-at-all-costs" mentality is de-emphasized in PCA.

Wilson was inducted into the Chicago Sports Hall of Fame in September 1999. He also serves on the NHL's board of directors for the alumni association.

In October 1998, the Ottawa 67s honored his career by retiring his No. 7 sweater.[1] Known as an offensive defenceman, he recorded 295 points in 194 OHL games with the 67s from 1975 to 1977. In addition, during the same weekend of activities in his hometown, he was inducted into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame.

The San Jose Sharks hired Wilson as general manager on May 13, 2003,[4] replacing Dean Lombardi, who had been dismissed on March 18.[5] As general manager, Wilson was credited with building the Sharks into a perennially competitive team, reaching their first Stanley Cup Finals in 2016.[6] On April 7, 2022, Wilson stepped down from the position permanently to focus on his health, having been on medical leave since November 26, 2021, following two months of a non-COVID-19 related persistent cough; assistant general manager Joe Will filled in for the remainder of the season.[4] On July 5, 2022, still dealing with his undisclosed illness, Wilson retired, with former San Jose Shark Mike Grier replacing him as general manager.[7]

He spent a further year away from hockey before resuming his career in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins on September 6, 2023 as Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations. He serves as a counselor and mentor to all levels of the Penguins hockey operations department. [8]

Personal life

Doug and his wife, Kathy, have four children: Lacey, Doug, Charlie and Chelsea. His daughter Chelsea plays volleyball for the University of Southern California. His son Doug played hockey in Australia for the Melbourne Ice before joining the front office of the Sharks.[9][10] His daughter Lacey was Miss Massachusetts USA in 2010 and Miss Illinois Teen USA in 2002.[11]

His brother, Murray Wilson, won the Stanley Cup four times with the Montreal Canadiens.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1974–75Ottawa 67'sOMJHL552958877572356
1975–76Ottawa 67'sOMJHL58266288142125101524
1976–77Ottawa 67'sOMJHL4325547985194202434
1976–77Ottawa 67'sMC—————5210128
1977–78Chicago Black HawksNHL771420347240000
1978–79Chicago Black HawksNHL565212637—————
1979–80Chicago Black HawksNHL7312496170728106
1980–81Chicago Black HawksNHL761239518030332
1981–82Chicago Black HawksNHL7639468554153101332
1982–83Chicago Black HawksNHL7418516958134111512
1983–84Chicago Black HawksNHL661345586450332
1984–85Chicago Black HawksNHL7822547644123101312
1985–86Chicago Black HawksNHL791747648031122
1986–87Chicago BlackhawksNHL691632483640000
1987–88Chicago BlackhawksNHL278243228—————
1988–89Chicago BlackhawksNHL661547626941230
1989–90Chicago BlackhawksNHL7023507340203121518
1990–91Chicago BlackhawksNHL511129403252132
1991–92San Jose SharksNHL449192826—————
1992–93San Jose SharksNHL423172040—————
NHL totals 1,024 237 590 827 830 95 19 61 80 88

International

Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1984 Canada CC 7 2 1 3 4

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Podnieks, Andrew (2003). Players: The ultimate A–Z guide of everyone who has ever played in the NHL. Toronto: Doubleday Canada. p. 912. ISBN 0-385-25999-9.
  2. 1 2 "Wilson entrance into Hockey Hall of Fame worth the wait". NHL.com. November 16, 2021. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  3. ↑ 2020 Hockey Hall of Fame class: Iginla, Hossa, Wilson, St-Pierre, Lowe, Holland
  4. 1 2 Gulitti, Tom (2022-04-07). "Wilson steps down as Sharks general manager after 19 seasons". NHL.com. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
  5. ↑ "Sharks name Doug Wilson new GM". CBC.ca. 2003-05-13. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
  6. ↑ "Doug Wilson Built Quite the Legacy in San Jose".
  7. ↑ "Mike Grier Named to become first Black GM of the NHL". sportsnet.com. July 4, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Penguins Name Doug Wilson Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations | NHL.com". www.nhl.com. 2023-09-06. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
  9. ↑ Sharks promote Wilson Jr to Director of Hockey Operations
  10. ↑ Sharks Conclude 2019 NHL Draft With Five Selections
  11. ↑ "Pageant Update - Lacey Wilson, Miss Massachusetts USA 2010". Pageantupdate.info. Archived from the original on 2012-06-27. Retrieved 2012-05-28.
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