SAN JOSE – Doug Wilson joined a very rare club on Thursday night when the puck dropped for the Oilers-Sharks game at SAP Center.
The longtime general manager, as well as the first captain in franchise history, is now one of just four individuals to have played in 1,000 NHL games and served as a general manager for another 1,000.
Oddly enough, he's the first non-Bob to achieve the feat, joining Bob Clarke, Bob Pulford and Bob Gainey.
"I've been extremely blessed to have been able to be involved in this great game for more than 40 years," said Wilson, who began his NHL career in 1977-78.
"It's a testament to all of the great players I was fortunate to play with and manage over the years, as well as the coaches, fans and people I have worked with and for, particularly ownership. Most importantly is the love and support of my family, because you go on a lot of road trips over 40 years. I would not be here without them."
After he was drafted by Chicago with the sixth overall pick in 1977, Wilson played 1,024 games with the Blackhawks and Sharks, posting 827 points (237g, 590a), ranking him 15th among NHL defensemen all-time. An eight-time NHL All-Star, Wilson won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best blueliner in 1982 with Chicago.
Wilson spent two seasons as a player with the Sharks, from 1991-93, and was named general manager on May 13, 2003. Since that time, the team has missed the playoffs just once, has won the Pacific Division five times, and appeared in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 2016.
Coach Pete DeBoer is in his second season behind the Sharks' bench, and spoke about Wilson's achievement on Thursday morning.
"I think Doug's greatest strength is the people that he surrounds himself with. I'm not personally patting myself on the back, I'm talking about scouts, and assistant GMs, and the people around his inner group up there. And then, he allows them to work. He doesn't micro manage anybody, and I think that's his greatest strength.
"The people around him that he's hired have done a great job of keeping the cupboards fill here. We've been able to reload on the fly here even though some of our great players are getting a little bit older. Our American League team is doing very well. I think they've done a great job."
Captain Joe Pavelski has been in the Sharks organization since he was a seventh round draft pick in 2003.
"[Wilson has] put together good teams," Pavelski said. "He's made a few good deals along the way, and he's been consistent that way."
