Puck_Pun Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 https://www.espn.com.au/nhl/story/_/id/33691119/san-jose-sharks-gm-doug-wilson-stepping-19-seasons SAN JOSE, Calif. -- When Doug Wilson took over as general manager in San Jose in 2003, the Sharks were a middling franchise that had won four playoff series in more than a decade and were coming off a last-place finish. Under Wilson's leadership the past two decades, San Jose became a destination spot that attracted stars and the Sharks turned into one of the most consistent franchises in the NHL that did everything but win a Stanley Cup. The Sharks announced Thursday that Wilson was stepping down after 19 seasons on the job because of a medical issue that led him to go on leave in November. "This is clearly the most successful run in our franchise history and the envy of many other franchises as well," team president Jonathan Becher said. "But his impact goes beyond just the ice. His impact was on all of us in the organization, from the class act he was to how he treated everybody else to the culture that he built into this organization. ... His fingerprints are all over Sharks Sports and Entertainment." Becher said the organization had been operating with the expectation that Wilson would return until changing directions the past few days. "While I have made great progress over the last several months, I feel it is in the best interest of the organization and myself to step down from my current duties and focus on my health and full recovery," Wilson said in a statement. "I look forward to continuing my career in the NHL in the future." Joe Will has been running the team since Wilson went on leave and will continue in that role until a full-time replacement is hired. The search will be focused on external candidates and be handled by owner Hasso Plattner, Becher and Will. Becher said there is no rush, noting that a new hire might not be in place before the draft in July but should be hired before next season. Becher said that looking outside the organization will bring a fresh perspective but that the organizational philosophy of trying to compete every year remains in place. "By definition a new GM will have new ideas, but certain things are core to who we are as a franchise," Becher said. "We're a cap team. We're going to spend to the cap, not to the bottom. We're focused on making the playoffs every single year and competing for the Cup, not tanking for picks. We're going to keep our picks, grow the prospect pool, get younger. So those fundamental things you've heard us say over the last year remain true." NHL NHL Home Scores Schedule Standings Stats Teams Daily Lines Playoff Races Subscribe to ESPN+ Fantasy Hockey Trade Deadline Roundup How To Watch NHL Games Power Rankings Injuries Tickets Transactions In The Crease Podcast San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson stepping down after 19 seasons play Sasha Chmelevski cuts Sharks' deficit to one (0:57) Facebook Twitter Facebook Messenger Email 3:10 AM Associated Press SAN JOSE, Calif. -- When Doug Wilson took over as general manager in San Jose in 2003, the Sharks were a middling franchise that had won four playoff series in more than a decade and were coming off a last-place finish. Under Wilson's leadership the past two decades, San Jose became a destination spot that attracted stars and the Sharks turned into one of the most consistent franchises in the NHL that did everything but win a Stanley Cup. The Sharks announced Thursday that Wilson was stepping down after 19 seasons on the job because of a medical issue that led him to go on leave in November. EDITOR'S PICKS 2022 Stanley Cup Final hype tiers: Matchups we want to see 7hGreg Wyshynski NHL Power Rankings: The players under the most pressure for all 32 teams 11hKristen Shilton "This is clearly the most successful run in our franchise history and the envy of many other franchises as well," team president Jonathan Becher said. "But his impact goes beyond just the ice. His impact was on all of us in the organization, from the class act he was to how he treated everybody else to the culture that he built into this organization. ... His fingerprints are all over Sharks Sports and Entertainment." Becher said the organization had been operating with the expectation that Wilson would return until changing directions the past few days. "While I have made great progress over the last several months, I feel it is in the best interest of the organization and myself to step down from my current duties and focus on my health and full recovery," Wilson said in a statement. "I look forward to continuing my career in the NHL in the future." Joe Will has been running the team since Wilson went on leave and will continue in that role until a full-time replacement is hired. The search will be focused on external candidates and be handled by owner Hasso Plattner, Becher and Will. Becher said there is no rush, noting that a new hire might not be in place before the draft in July but should be hired before next season. Becher said that looking outside the organization will bring a fresh perspective but that the organizational philosophy of trying to compete every year remains in place. "By definition a new GM will have new ideas, but certain things are core to who we are as a franchise," Becher said. "We're a cap team. We're going to spend to the cap, not to the bottom. We're focused on making the playoffs every single year and competing for the Cup, not tanking for picks. We're going to keep our picks, grow the prospect pool, get younger. So those fundamental things you've heard us say over the last year remain true." The Sharks made the franchise's only Stanley Cup Final appearance during Doug Wilson's tenure as general manager, losing to the Penguins in six games in 2016. Brandon Magnus/NHLI via Getty Images Wilson's departure comes near the end of a season that will likely end with San Jose missing the playoffs for a third straight season for the first time in franchise history. The Sharks entered Thursday with a 29-31-9 record and are 16 points out of a playoff spot. But that was far from the case for almost the entirety of Wilson's tenure as the Sharks won the third-most regular-season games and second-most playoff series during his run. The Sharks made it to the conference finals in his first season on the job in 2004. After a lockout canceled the 2004-05 season, Wilson built the Sharks into one of the NHL's model franchises, starting with the trade that brought Joe Thornton to San Jose. The Sharks made the playoffs in 14 of Wilson's first 15 seasons, with five trips to the conference finals and the franchise's only Stanley Cup Final appearance, in 2016, when San Jose lost to Pittsburgh in six games. Despite not having high draft picks most years, Wilson built a perennial contender by drafting foundation players such as Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture, Tomas Hertl and Marc-Edouard Vlasic and bringing in veteran stars such as Thornton, Brent Burns, Dan Boyle and Erik Karlsson along the way. "Doug and his staff produced remarkable results over a span that very few NHL teams can match," Plattner said in a statement. Wilson, 64, played for the Sharks in their inaugural season in 1991-92. The longtime NHL defenseman, who won the Norris Trophy in 1981-82, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J0e Th0rnton Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 Love or hate the last few years, rhe man deserves a statue for the absolute fleecing trades he was able to pull off 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yave1964 Posted April 8, 2022 Share Posted April 8, 2022 Original Shark I still remember him as a Hawk defender in the old black and blue Norris division. In an age of knuckles and fighting he was a class act on the ice, respected throughout the league for his clean but physical play. Wilson as a GM...... he took over a middling team and got them so very close to the promised land. trading for Jumbo being the big one. The game is better with him in it. I cant help but think if he wants a job in the game again he will get it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OccamsRazor Posted April 10, 2022 Share Posted April 10, 2022 So any word on a guess or rumor who will replace him? Or has it been announced and I missed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted April 10, 2022 Share Posted April 10, 2022 (edited) 30 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said: So any word on a guess or rumor who will replace him? Or has it been announced and I missed it. Please let it be Chuck Fletcher...PLEASE!!! PS...sorry Joe. Edited April 10, 2022 by flyercanuck 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OccamsRazor Posted April 10, 2022 Share Posted April 10, 2022 6 minutes ago, flyercanuck said: Please let it be Chuck Fletcher...PLEASE!!! I second that vote. But who would Homer's new puppet be? Danny Briere? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted April 10, 2022 Share Posted April 10, 2022 2 minutes ago, OccamsRazor said: I second that vote. But who would Homer's new puppet be? Danny Briere? He can't be worse. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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