Doug Wilson announced on Thursday that he is
stepping down as Sharks General Manger after serving in the role for 19 years.
Wilson took a leave of absence from the team earlier this season for health
reasons. Joe Will continues to serve as interim-GM until the Sharks can find a
replacement.
"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."
Sharks owner Hasso Plattner, team President Jonathan
Becher and Will be conduct a search for Wilson's replacement. It's unlikely
that any coveted candidate would be available until after the completion of the
playoffs.
Under Wilson, the Sharks made the playoffs 14 times,
including an appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals in 2016.
I
want to personally thank Doug for his 19 seasons as general manager of the San
Jose Sharks," said Plattner in a release. "Doug and his staff produced
remarkable results over a span that very few NHL teams can match, highlighted
by our 2016 Stanley Cup run. Doug has been an integral part of this franchise
since the teams inception in 1991, and his impact on and off the
ice will continue to be felt long into the future. Doug, and his wife
Kathy, will always have a place as members of the Sharks family..
The franchise finds itself at a crossroads. With
several high-priced veterans on the roster, they are almost assured of missing
the playoffs for the third consecutive season. They were sellers at the most
recent trade deadline, and have a farm-system which is considered in the bottom
half of the league.
A revival isn't going to happen overnight, so
Wilson's replacement will have a sizeable challenge waiting for him/her when
they take on the task.