Playing Career
After a stellar junior hockey career for the Ottawa 67's in the Ontario Hockey Association, Wilson was drafted in the first round, 6th 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 — fifth 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. That year, he had 39 goals and 85 points, which is still the Blackhawks single-season records for goals and points for a defenceman.
He was selected to eight NHL All-Star Games (seven with Chicago and one with San Jose). 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).
Acquired by San Jose from Chicago just before the Sharks first season (1991–92), 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 and, entering this season, ranks T-56th on the Sharks all-time scoring list, T-17th all-time among defencemen.
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 Nov. 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, Ontario native scored 827 points (237 goals, 590 assists) during his career that began in 1977-78 with Chicago.
Read more about this topic: Doug Wilson (ice Hockey)
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