Doug Gilmour

Doug Gilmour
Born	June 25, 1963 (1963-06-25) (age 48) Kingston, Ontario, CAN
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight	175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Shot	Left
Played for	St. Louis Blues (1983–1988) Calgary Flames (1988–1992) Toronto Maple Leafs (1992–1997) Rapperswil-Jona Lakers(1994) New Jersey Devils (1997–1998) Chicago Blackhawks (1998–2000) Buffalo Sabres (2000–2001) Montreal Canadiens (2001–2003) Toronto Maple Leafs (2003)
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	134th overall, 1982 St. Louis Blues
Playing career	1983–2003
Hall of Fame, 2011

Douglas Robert Gilmour (born June 25, 1963) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who is the current general manager of the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). During his National Hockey League career, Gilmour played for 7 NHL clubs: the St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens, serving as captain for Calgary, Toronto and Chicago. Gilmour won a Stanley Cup with the Flames in 1989,^[1] and the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL's best defensive forward while with the Maple Leafs in 1993.^[2] He has been dubbed "Killer" for his physical play despite his small stature.^[3] Gilmour was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the class of 2011.

Playing career

Minor hockey career

Gilmour grew up playing minor hockey in his hometown of Kingston, Ontario playing rep for the Kingston Legionnaires program of the OMHA's Eastern Ontario Minor Hockey League. In 1979–80, Gilmour spent time with the local Kingston Voyageurs Jr.B. team before being signed by Floyd Crawford to play for the OHA Jr.A. Belleville Bobcats for their playoff run.

In the spring of 1980, Gilmour was selected in the 5th round of the OHL Priority Selection by the Cornwall Royals of the QMJHL.

Junior hockey career

Gilmour began his junior hockey career in 1980–81 with the Cornwall Royals of the OHL in the 1980–81 season. Gilmour spent three seasons with the team, helping the Royals win consecutive Memorial Cup championships. Gilmour was injured during the 1981 championship run, but in the 1981–82 season, he returned and led the Royals in scoring with 46 goals and 119 total points. Gilmour was passed over during the National Hockey League Draft in his first year of eligibility, but in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, the St. Louis Blues drafted him in the 7th round, 134th overall. Gilmour did not make the Blues squad for the 1982–83 season, and was returned to Cornwall. Determined to prove naysayers wrong, Gilmour earned the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as the OHL's leading scorer, totaling 70 goals and 107 assists for 177 total points. As a result of his scoring prowess, Gilmour was named the OHL's Most Valuable Player. During that memorable season, Gilmour set a (then) league record, scoring in 55 consecutive games.^[4]

Professional career

St. Louis Blues

Gilmour initially had difficulty reaching a contract with the Blues, who remained concerned that he was too small for the NHL game of the 1980s. Gilmour decided to take his talents abroad and almost resorted to playing professional hockey in Germany. However, two weeks before the 1983–84 NHL season began, Gilmour and the Blues agreed on a contract and he joined the team in time for the start of the season. A rash of injuries and the trust of Blues coach Jaques Demers provided Gilmour with the opportunity to play as the team's fourth line center, and he quickly became a defensive specialist. Teammate Brian Sutter nicknamed Gilmour "Killer" in part due to his on-ice intensity, but also because of Gilmour's resemblance to convicted serial killer Charles Manson.^[5]

During his first three seasons with the Blues, Gilmour was a consistent defensive presence, averaging a solid 50 points a season. During the 1986 playoffs, Gilmour broke out and scored 21 points in 19 games, (tied with Bernie Federko's 21 points in 19 games) as the Blues lost in the Campbell Conference finals.^[4] Gilmour's dynamic two-way play lead him to becoming one of the only players in history to lead in post-season scoring without making it to the Stanley Cup Finals; Peter Forsberg would also achieve that feat in 1999 with the Colorado Avalanche.

Just prior to the 1988–89 season, Gilmour was traded to the Calgary Flames along with Mark Hunter, Steve Bozek, and Michael Dark for Mike Bullard, Craig Coxe and Tim Cokery. The Blues traded Gilmour after he was named in a civil suit alleging sexual improprieties with a minor.^[5][6] Gilmour denied that the incident occurred, and a grand jury did not find enough evidence to indict him.^[7] The Blues failed to admit publicly that the trade was a result of the pending lawsuit against Gilmour, but Gilmour was convinced it was the reason: "I didn't want to leave St. Louis but from what has happened the past week, on our part and on the St. Louis Blues' part, it was our best solution."^[8]

Calgary Flames

The Blues hasty trade of Gilmour to the Calgary Flames after the 1987–88 season began to pay dividends for his new team almost immediately. With Calgary, Gilmour played a major role during the Flames march to the 1989 Stanley Cup championship. Before the decisive game six of the series, Gilmour kissed and shook hands with Hockey Night in Canada commentator Don Cherry for good luck; Cherry, who also hails from Kingston, affectionately called his favourite player "Dougie". Gilmour scored two goals in Game 6 including the Stanley Cup winning goal against Patrick Roy of the Montreal Canadiens to seal Calgary's first (and only) Stanley Cup Championship.

Toronto Maple Leafs

On January 2, 1992, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Cliff Fletcher made a blockbuster trade with the Calgary Flames. Fletcher had served as Calgary's general manager during the late 1980s before coming to Toronto, and had been responsible for compiling their 1989 championship team. The Leafs acquired Gilmour along with defensemen Jamie Macoun and Ric Nattress, prospect Kent Manderville and goaltender Rick Wamsley in exchange for underachieving Gary Leeman, Russian defenseman Alexander Godynyuk, goaltender Jeff Reese, defenseman Michel Petit and enforcer Craig Berube. The 10-player deal was the largest in NHL history, and statistically speaking, one of the most lopsided. In the end, Fletcher fleeced the Calgary general manager, Doug Risebrough, something Calgarians have yet to forgive him for.^{[citation needed]}

Toronto fans did not have wait long for the Gilmour acquisition to pay off, as the feisty forward produced exceptionally well for the remainder of the 1991–92 season. The 1992–93 regular season, Gilmour's first full season in Toronto, saw the diminutive superstar score a franchise-record 127 points. As a result of his breakout season, Gilmour was the runner-up for the Hart Trophy as regular-season MVP and was awarded the Selke Trophy as the league's best defensive forward, the first major NHL award that a Maple Leaf player had won since 1967.

During the 1992–93 playoffs, Gilmour was the offensive and defensive catalyst as the Leafs eliminated the powerful Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues, both in seven game series. The signature goal of Gilmour's career was scored during the 1993 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the St. Louis Blues, in the second sudden death overtime period. Gilmour found himself behind the net with possession of the puck and while deking right, left and right again, stuffed the puck past a sprawling Curtis Joseph (whom would later become a popular Leafs player from 1998–2002) to end Game 1 of the Norris Division Finals.

In the 1993 Campbell Conference Final, Gilmour's Toronto Maple Leafs came face-to-face with Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings. Late in Game 1, Gilmour was leveled by a hard, high elbow from the Kings' Marty McSorley. Leafs captain Wendel Clark subsequently pummeled and bloodied McSorley, both of whom received major misconduct penalties, while Gilmour lay on the ice with trainers attending to him. Days later, Toronto was leading the series three games to two, and many fans, including CBC's Don Cherry, were hoping for an all-Canadian final as the Montreal Canadiens had already advanced to the championship series. However, during overtime of Game 6, Gretzky high-sticked Gilmour in the Toronto defensive zone, drawing blood, and was not assessed a penalty by referee, Kerry Fraser. Moments later, with Gilmour in the Leafs dressing room receiving medical attention, Gretzky scored the winning goal to stave off elimination, igniting the '100th Stanley Cup Controversy'. During Game 7 at Maple Leaf Gardens, the Leafs were trailing 5–3 after Gretzky completed his hat-trick. The Leafs scored to close the gap to one goal, but could not find the equalizer, and the Kings advanced to the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals against Montreal. Gilmour finished the postseason with 35 points in 21 games, second behind only Gretzky.

Gilmour finished the 1993–94 season fourth overall in regular-season scoring with 111 points, just one behind third-place finisher Adam Oates. Gilmour made his second consecutive trip to the NHL All-Star Game and finished as runner-up for the Selke Trophy. In the playoffs, Gilmour once again led his Leafs to the Western Conference Final (formerly Clarence Campbell Conference), where they fell to the Vancouver Canucks in five games. The Leafs were the only team in the NHL to reach back-to-back conference finals over the 1992–93 and 1993–94 seasons. As well, no player other than Adam Oates scored more points than Gilmour (238) over the 1992–93 and 1993–94 seasons.

When the Leafs traded captain and fan favourite Wendel Clark to the Quebec Nordiques in the off-season of 1994, Gilmour was named team captain in a cermeony at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto where former Leafs captain Red Horner presented him with the Leafs "C."

During the 1994 National Hockey League lockout, Gilmour decided to play in a handful of games for the Rapperswil-Jona Lakers of the Swiss League. However, after compiling 2 goals and 13 assists in 9 games for the Lakers, 16 minutes in penalties frustrated Gilmour it was apparent that his physical style did not suit him well in the Swiss League. As a result, Gilmour decided to leave Switzerland and join Wayne Gretzky's all-star hockey tour that was making its way through Europe at the time. Gilmour also took part in the NHLPA's Four-on-Four tournament at the Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario where his Team Ontario defeated Team Quebec in the championship game.

Throughout his six years as a Leaf, Gilmour was one of the most popular players on the team and in the league. He was a fan and media darling, as the spokesman for the NHLPA in community and charity events, and he also appeared in a series of memorable "Got Milk?" TV commercials, one which also featured his then wife Amy.

New Jersey Devils

With the Leafs once again struggling to compete on a nightly basis, Cliff Fletcher was forced to trade Gilmour and defenseman Dave Ellett to the New Jersey Devils (although Gilmour's first choice was the Florida Panthers) in 1997 for centerman Steve Sullivan, prospect Alyn McCauley and defenseman Jason Smith. Gilmour performed admirably for the Devils during the 1997 and 1998 postseasons but could not keep the Devils from early playoff exits.

Chicago Blackhawks

In the summer of 1998, Doug Gilmour signed as a free agent with the Chicago Blackhawks. Chicago had fallen on hard times and Gilmour was brought in to help resurrect the franchise. At the time of his signing, Gilmour was told the Blackhawks were also going to sign free-agent Brett Hull and allow him to wear his father's retired #9. That signing never happened as Hull signed with the Dallas Stars instead. Chicago's overall lack of talent and minimal depth drove the team into the bottom half of the standings, ultimately culminating with Chicago captain Chris Chelios requesting a trade to the hated Detroit Red Wings, and Gilmour assumed the team captaincy.

In a twist of fate, Gilmour's Blackhawks faced off against the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 13, 1999 as the last game in historic Maple Leaf Gardens was played. Gilmour ended up scoring in that game and in the closing ceremonies, he was given a standing ovation by the Toronto fans. Gilmour suffered a back injury (herniated disk) late in the season and while rumors persisted that Blackhawks then-GM Mike Smith had a deal in place to trade Gilmour to Buffalo, the veteran center opted for season-ending surgery and the supposed deal never came to fruition.

Buffalo Sabres

In the spring of 2000, with the Blackhawks once again floundering among the bottom of the NHL, Gilmour was traded to the Buffalo Sabres along with left winger J.P. Dumont for forward Michael Grosek in a salary-dump move for Chicago. Gilmour made an immediate impact with the struggling Sabres, which had been Stanley Cup finalists the season before, helping them to make the playoffs. However, Gilmour was felled by a severe stomach flu which limited his effectiveness as the Sabres were defeated in five games by the Philadelphia Flyers.

In 2000–01, injuries limited Gilmour's regular season stats but he had a strong playoff performance as the rejuvenated Sabres defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in the Quarterfinal Round of the NHL playoffs. The Sabres were subsequently upset by the Pittsburgh Penguins in a tough second-round series that saw Gilmour play some of his most inspiring playoff hockey since his days in Toronto.

Montreal Canadiens

Gilmour, having entertained thoughts of retirement after a fruitless season and a half in Buffalo, finally decided to sign as a free agent in 2001 with the Montreal Canadiens. With Saku Koivu, Montreal's captain, out of the lineup due to his battle with stomach cancer, Gilmour filled a veteran leadership void and once again became one of his team's most popular players in the dressing room. Gilmour lead the Canadiens on a memorable 2002 playoff run only to be ended by the Carolina Hurricanes. Notably before a playoff game just before the Iraq War, Gilmour also taped a message to Habs fans not to boo the US national anthem.

Return to Toronto

Once again, rumours began to float around the National Hockey League that Gilmour was considering retirement. To the delight of Maple Leaf fans, the 2003 NHL trade deadline brought good news: the Canadiens traded Gilmour (with his consent) to the Maple Leafs for a sixth round draft pick in an effort to allow the aging veteran one last kick at a Stanley Cup run with a strong team in Toronto. However, Gilmour's first game with the Leafs turned out to be his last as he and the Calgary Flames Dave Lowry collided inadvertently during Gilmour's second shift, resulting in a torn ACL for Gilmour. He missed the remainder of the season while holding out hope for a return during the playoffs, never played another NHL game. Gilmour officially announced his retirement on September 8, 2003 after John Ferguson, Jr. made a public announcement that the Maple Leafs would not re-sign the veteran center.

Gilmour scored 450 goals and 964 assists in 1474 games in his NHL career.

On January 31, 2009 Gilmour's number 93 was honoured by the Toronto Maple Leafs as it was raised to rafters at the Air Canada Centre.^[9] Gilmour became the seventeenth player to be honoured in such a way by the Maple Leafs. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011.

Coaching career

Toronto Maple Leafs/ Toronto Marlies (AHL)

On September 15, 2006, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced that Gilmour would become their player development advisor.^[10] Gilmour held that position with the Leafs until August 7, 2008, when the Maple Leafs announced that Gilmour would join the Toronto Marlies, the Leafs AHL affiliate, as an assistant coach under Marlies head coach Greg Gilbert.^[11]

Gilmour would remain in that position for only a few short months, as on November 17, 2008, he announced that he was leaving the Maple Leafs organization to become the head coach of the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL.^[12]

Kingston Frontenacs

Gilmour was named head coach of the Kingston Frontenacs on November 17, 2008, taking over a rebuilding club that had a 5–13–5 record under Larry Mavety, who had coached Gilmour with the Belleville Bulls when the Bulls were still in the OPJHL. Gilmour finished out the season with Kingston with a 13–27–5 record in their last 45 games and the team failed to make the playoffs.

In his first full season with the club in 2009–10, Gilmour helped guide the team back into the OHL playoffs, as Kingston recorded a 33–30–5 record, earning 71 points, good enough for second place in the OHL's East Division, and fourth place in the OHL's Eastern Conference. The Frontenacs faced the Brampton Battalion in the first round of the playoffs, which Brampton won in seven games. After the season, Gilmour signed to a five year contract extension with the Frontenacs.^[13]

In 2010–11, the Frontenacs slipped under the .500 level during the regular season, going 29–30–9, earning 67 points; however, they made the playoffs. In their first round matchup against the Oshawa Generals, Kingston struggled and the Generals eliminated them in five games. At the conclusion of the season, Gilmour left the Frontenacs' head coaching position to become the team's General Manager, replacing good friend Larry Mavety, who became an advisor to the club. Former Maple Leafs teammate Todd Gill was selected to replace Gilmour behind the Front's bench.

Personal

Gilmour has been married 3 times and has 4 children. His daughter Madison is from his first marriage to Robin Gilmour; sons Jake and Tyson from his second marriage to Amy Gilmour; and daughter Victoria with his current wife, Sonja Gilmour.^[14] Jake and Tyson Gilmour are promising young hockey players with the Don Mills Flyers organization.^[15]

Awards and achievements

Medal record
Competitor for  Canada
Ice hockey
Canada Cup
Gold	1987 Canada	Ice Hockey

• 1982–83: OHL – Red Tilson Trophy (Most Outstanding Player)
• 1982–83: OHL – Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy (Leading Scorer)
• 1982–83: OHL – First All-Star Team
• 1988–89: NHL – Won Stanley Cup championship with the Calgary Flames
• 1992–93: NHL – Nominated for Hart Trophy (League MVP)
• 1992–93: NHL – Frank J. Selke Trophy (Best Defensive Forward)
• 1992–93: NHL – Played in All-Star Game
• 1993–94: NHL – Played in All-Star Game
• 2006–07: FCHL – Had division named in his honour
• 2011 Inducted into Hockey Hall of fame

Records

• 1992–93: NHL – Most points in one season (127), Toronto club record
• 1992–93: NHL – Most assists in one season (95), Toronto club record
• 1992–93: NHL – Most assists in one game (6), Toronto club record
• 1988–89: NHL – Two fastest shorthanded goals (scored 4 seconds apart) NHL record

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1980–81	Cornwall Royals	QMJHL		51	12	23	35	35		19	8	13	21	6
1981–82	Cornwall Royals	OHL		67	46	73	119	42		5	6	9	15	2
1982–83	Cornwall Royals	OHL		68	70	107	177	62		8	8	10	18	16
1983–84	St. Louis Blues	NHL		80	25	28	53	57		11	2	9	11	10
1984–85	St. Louis Blues	NHL		78	21	36	57	49		3	1	1	2	2
1985–86	St. Louis Blues	NHL		74	25	28	53	41		19	9	12	21	25
1986–87	St. Louis Blues	NHL		80	42	63	105	58		6	2	2	4	16
1987–88	St. Louis Blues	NHL		72	36	50	86	59		10	3	14	17	18
1988–89	Calgary Flames	NHL		72	26	59	85	44		22	11	11	22	20
1989–90	Calgary Flames	NHL		78	24	67	91	54		6	3	1	4	8
1990–91	Calgary Flames	NHL		78	20	61	81	144		7	1	1	2	0
1991–92	Calgary Flames	NHL		38	11	27	38	46		—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		40	15	34	49	32		—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		83	32	95	127	100		21	10	25	35	30
1993–94	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		83	27	84	111	105		18	6	22	28	42
1994–95	Rapperswil-Jona Lakers	Swiss-A		9	2	13	15	16		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		44	10	23	33	26		7	0	6	6	6
1995–96	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		81	32	40	72	77		6	1	7	8	12
1996–97	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		61	15	45	60	46		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	New Jersey Devils	NHL		20	7	15	22	22		10	0	4	4	14
1997–98	New Jersey Devils	NHL		63	13	40	53	68		6	5	2	7	4
1998–99	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		72	16	40	56	56		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		63	22	34	56	51		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		11	3	14	17	12		5	0	1	1	0
2000–01	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		71	7	31	38	70		13	2	4	6	12
2001–02	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		70	10	31	41	48		12	4	6	10	16
2002–03	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		61	11	19	30	36		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
QMJHL/OHL totals				186	128	203	331	139		32	22	32	54	24
NHL totals				1474	450	964	1414	1301		182	60	128	188	235

International feats

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	P	PIM
1981	Canada	WJC		5	0	0	0	0
1987	Canada	Can-Cup		8	2	0	2	4
1990	Canada	WC		9	1	4	5	18
Junior int'l totals				5	0	0	0	0
Senior int'l totals				17	3	4	7	22

Coaching record

Team	Year	Regular season						Post season
		G	W	L	OTL	Pts	Finish	Result
KGN	2008–09	45	13	27	5	31	5th in East	Missed playoffs
KGN	2009–10	68	33	30	5	71	2nd in East	Lost in First round
KGN	2010–11	68	29	30	9	67	3rd in East	Lost in First round
OHL totals	2008–2011	181	75	87	19	169

See also

• Captain (ice hockey)
• List of NHL statistical leaders
• List of NHL players with 1000 points
• List of NHL players with 1000 games played

References

1. ^ 1988–89 Calgary Flames at Hockey Reference
2. ^ NHL.com – Frank J. Selke Trophy
3. ^ "Fearless". CNN. 1998-10-12. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1014231/index.htm. Retrieved 2010-05-01. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Doug Robert Gilmour". Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum. http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=10539. Retrieved 2008-07-30. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Scher, Jon (1993-05-31). "The Rink Rat". Sports Illustrated. http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1138231/1/index.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-30. 
6. ^ Luecking, Dave (2001-02-21). "Say It Ain't So: St. Louis Blues". CNNSI. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/news/2001/02/07/sayitaintso_blues/. Retrieved 2008-07-30. 
7. ^ "No Indictment". The New York Times. 1988-12-28. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE2D71139F93BA15751C1A96E948260. Retrieved 2008-07-30. 
8. ^ "Blues Trade Gilmour". The New York Times. 1988-09-06. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE0D91331F935A3575AC0A96E948260. Retrieved 2008-07-30. 
9. ^ Hunter, Paul (2008-07-22). "Leafs to honour Clark, Gilmour". Toronto: The Star. http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Hockey/article/464758. Retrieved 2010-12-06. 
10. ^ http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article.jsp?content=20060915_122746_5108
11. ^ Gilmour joins Marlies coaching staff – Sportsnet.ca
12. ^ Zeisberger, Mike."Gilmour leaves Marlies" "Toronto Sun"
13. ^ http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/juniorhockey/news?slug=yhoo-gilmoursigns5yearextensionw
14. ^ Cox, Damien (2009-01-17). "Gilmour has come full circle". The Star (Toronto). http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/572772. 
15. ^ http://www.torontosun.com/sports/hockey/2010/09/19/15405106.html

External links

• DougGilmour.ca Official website
• Doug Gilmour's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database

Preceded by Wendel Clark	Toronto Maple Leafs captain 1994–97	Succeeded by Mats Sundin
Preceded by Chris Chelios	Chicago Blackhawks captain 1999–2000	Succeeded by Tony Amonte
Preceded by Guy Carbonneau	Winner of the Frank J. Selke Trophy 1993	Succeeded by Sergei Fedorov
Preceded by Larry Mavety	Head Coach of the Kingston Frontenacs 2008–2011	Succeeded by Todd Gill

Persondata
Name	Gilmour, Doug
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1963-06-25
Place of birth	Kingston, ON, CAN
Date of death
Place of death