NHL & Minor Leagues » San Jose Haichen

Tuesday, May 13

Wilson makes first jump to front office

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Associated Press

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Doug Wilson was hired Tuesday as general manager of the San Jose Sharks, who missed the playoffs for the first time in six seasons.

"We want to show what happened this past season won't happen again," Wilson said. "This team will be fine. We have a chance to accomplish our goal, which is to be the top team in the league."

Wilson, the first captain in franchise history and the team's director of pro development the last five years, will replace Dean Lombardi, who was fired in March.

"Doug has always been one of the most respected and dedicated people in hockey, whether during his playing days or as a leader in our front office," owner Greg Jamison said. "His expertise, knowledge and feel for the game and the San Jose Sharks are a perfect fit."

Other finalists for the position were Vancouver's David Nonis and St. Louis' John Ferguson Jr., who are directors of hockey operations for their teams.

Wilson said the current coaching staff, led by head Ron Wilson, will remain intact.

"The last six years have been successful," Doug Wilson said. "Things are in place. The preparation and detail will be addressed starting tomorrow."

Wilson cited penalty killing, goals against and penalty minutes as three areas that need immediate improvement.

The Sharks' front office has been in disarray since March 18 when Jamison fired Lombardi, completing an overhaul of an organization that won the Pacific Division last season and had made five straight postseason appearances.

Lombardi is considered one of the sport's bright young minds and had developed the Sharks into a Stanley Cup contender.

San Jose was second-to-last in the conference, ahead of only Columbus, finishing 28-37-9-8 for 73 points. It was easily the biggest dropoff in the NHL. Nearly half the Sharks' roster from last season has been traded or dropped.

Owen Nolan, the franchise's leading career scorer and captain since 1998, was traded to Toronto. Niklas Sundstrom, Bryan Marchment, Marcus Ragnarsson, Jeff Jillson, Dan McGillis and Matt Bradley followed Nolan out the door.

"There will probably be some changes in some areas," Wilson said. "You can't rest on the status quo. There's no reason this group of players can't step up and be dominant."

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