Pittsburgh Penguins name Doug Wilson senior advisor of hockey operations
After a two-year hiatus from hockey, Hall of Fame player and longtime executive Doug Wilson is back. But for first time in more than 30 years, he’ll be affiliated with an organization other than the San Jose Sharks.
Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations and GM Kyle Dubas announced Wednesday morning that Wilson, 66, has joined the team as senior advisor of hockey operations. In the position, Wilson “will provide counsel, opinions and expertise to hockey operations leadership on all matters including personnel decisions,” as outlined in a team release. Wilson “will join the team at home and on the road at various points during the season and offseason” and “will provide guidance and mentorship to all levels of hockey operations.”
“Doug brings over 40 years of NHL experience to our program. Over 16 years from his Hall-of-Fame playing career and over 25 seasons building consistent contending teams as the leader of the San Jose Sharks hockey operations department,” Dubas said in the team release. “Doug will serve as a source of both experience and wisdom to our entire hockey operations department. His ability to maintain high standards of performance and professionalism over two decades with Sharks is the type of consistency we all aspire to these positions. Doug will provide me and our entire program with a great resource and tremendous benefit as we get rolling. I am excited to add Doug to our management team today.”
Wilson built a Hall of Fame career as a defenseman, primarily as a Chicago Blackhawk, with whom he captured the Norris Trophy in 1981-82. He racked up 827 points in 1,024 games and was inducted to the Hall in 2020. Wilson finished his playing career as the first captain of the expansion San Jose Sharks and began a long and fruitful career in their front office a few years after he retired. After several years working in player development, he took over as GM in 2003-24. Across his 18 seasons in the role, the Sharks made the playoffs 14 times, won five division titles and reached a Stanley Cup Final.
Wilson went on medical leave from the Sharks in November of 2021, however, and resigned as GM in April 2022. The Pittsburgh hire marks his return.