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001-028 hpc 9/25/06 3:22 PM Page 14front officeDoug WilsonExecutive Vice President and General ManagerThrough strong drafting, shrewd trades and timely free agent signings,Doug Wilson has crafted a talented team designed to compete for theStanley Cup annually without sacrificing the future or strapping the franchisefinancially.After a franchise-best 104-point season that saw the Sharks reach theWestern Conference Finals in 2004, the Sharks roared to a record-setting finishto the 2005-06 season following Wilson’s acquisition of 2006 Hart Trophyand Art Ross Trophy winner Joe Thornton. Erasing a slow start, the team tied the franchise recordfor most wins (44) and set a new franchise mark by winning eight consecutive games, en route toclinching a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the fifth overall seed in the Western Conference.A firm believer in identifying a core group of players and keeping them intact, Wilson has recentlysuccessfully re-signed many key players on the Sharks roster, ensuring continuity moving forward.Over the past year, Patrick Marleau, Jonathan Cheechoo, Evgeni Nabokov, Vesa Toskala, KyleMcLaren and Mark Bell signed multi-year contract extensions, surrendering potential unrestrictedfree agent status to remain in San Jose.In 2003-04, Wilson’s team captured the Pacific Division, setting a franchise record with 104points, earning the second seed in the Western Conference for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the firsttime in franchise history and a first-ever trip to the Western Conference Finals.In his current role, Wilson has overall authority regarding all hockey-related operations. He overseesall player personnel decisions, negotiates player contracts, coordinates the efforts of theteam's scouting department, leads the team in its draft day preparation and administers the club’splayer evaluation process at all professional, minor and junior levels.In his previous role as the team’s director of pro development (1997-03), the 16-year NHL veteran’sprimary responsibilities included evaluating talent at all professional and minor league levelsand continuous assessment of the Sharks roster and reserve list. In addition, he provided valuableinput assisting in the club’s player development programs and consulting with the hockey departmenton all major personnel issues, special assignments and contract negotiations.Working closely with the entire hockey department, Wilson played a major role in creating a positiveatmosphere in the dressing room and on-the-ice attractiveness to obtaining and retaining veteranfree agents such as Vincent Damphousse, Mike Ricci, Gary Suter, Scott Thornton and MikeVernon.The 47-year-old Wilson was an integral member of the NHL Players’ Association for four years(1993-97). With the NHLPA, he served as coordinator of player relations and business developmentand was primarily responsible for overseeing player relations, the development of business venturesand managing international affairs. Wilson is also a past president of the Players’ Association.Wilson sat on the board of the Canadian Hockey Association and has extensive experience intalent evaluation. He served as management consultant for Canada’s entries in the 1994, 1995, 1996and 1997 World Junior Championship tournaments — resulting in four consecutive gold medal finishesand also served on the management team for Canada’s entry in the 1998 Winter OlympicGames.Wilson draws on a vast amount of hockey knowledge and expertise throughout his experienceson- and off-the-ice. His older brother, Murray, played seven NHL seasons, capturing four StanleyCup Championships with the Montreal Canadiens (1973, 1976-78). As a member of the OntarioHockey League’s Ottawa 67s, Wilson played for Hall of Famer Brian Kilrea, junior hockey’s all-timewinningest coach. During his tenure with the Chicago Blackhawks, he was a teammate of NHL legendBobby Orr and a roommate with Hall of Famer Stan Mikita.In 2004, Wilson was named to the NHL Game Committee, a panel of players, coaches, executivesand media responsible for examining all aspects of the game. The committee, which initially metduring the offseason, included Hall of Fame Coach Scotty Bowman, Pittsburgh’s Chairman of theBoard Mario Lemieux and former national television analyst/goaltender and current president ofhockey operations for the St. Louis Blues, John Davidson, among others.A first round draft choice (sixth overall) by the Blackhawks in 1977 after a stellar junior careerwith the Ottawa 67s, Wilson played 14 seasons in Chicago and still ranks as the club’s highest scoringdefenseman in points (779 — fifth overall), goals (225 — 12th overall) and assists (554 — thirdoverall). Wilson ranks fifth all-time in games played (938) for Chicago. In addition, he led allBlackhawks defensemen in scoring for 10 consecutive seasons (1980-81 through 1990-91) andcaptured the 1982 James Norris Trophy, symbolic of the League’s top defenseman, when he tallied39 goals and 85 points — still Blackhawks single-season records for goals and points for adefenseman.He was selected to eight NHL All-Star Games (seven with Chicago and one with San Jose) andwhile with Chicago, Wilson was named to the NHL All-Star first team in 1981-82 and twice wasnamed to the NHL All-Star second team (1984-85 and 1989-90).14 sjsharks.com | sjsharks.com/wireless