Doug Wilson is temporarily stepping down
San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson will be temporarily stepping down for medical reasons.
The California organization made the announcement on Friday, without specifying the exact nature of the medical condition afflicting the 64-year-old man.
His deputy, Joe Will, will assume the role of general manager on an interim basis, pending Wilson’s return, and take care of day-to-day duties.
Wilson, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame earlier in November, has held the job since 2003. He also concluded his playing career with the Sharks after 14 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks.
It is also for this course of 16 seasons as a player that he was immortalized in Toronto. The former defenseman had 827 points in 1,024 games, in addition to winning the Norris Trophy once, during the 1981-1982 season, but was never able to lift the Stanley Cup.
Heading into their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night, the Sharks were 10-8-1, good for 21 points in 19 games, which earned them fifth place in the Pacific Division.
The Californian team had also been struck by an outbreak of COVID-19 cases in early November, when eight skaters had seen their names appear on the list of players unavailable due to the virus.
After their duel against the Toronto team, the Sharks will begin a trip during which they will play five games in eight days. They will stop first in Chicago, to face the Blackhawks, before making stops in New Jersey (Devils), New York (Islanders and Rangers), then Columbus (Blue Jackets).
