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LA Kings’ Assistant Trent Yawney on Doug Wilson’s Hall-of-Fame Call

(Photo credit: Top left & bottom left/Graig Abel-Getty Images;
Top right/Randy Vazquez-Bay Area News Group;
Bottom right/Don Smith-Getty Images)

In his executive career, he is known as the longest-serving general manager in the NHL. Of course, the quality of his playing career is nothing to take lightly, either. The Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee agreed with the latter, in fact, making Doug Wilson one of the six inductees for the class of 2020.

Having served as the San Jose Sharks’ GM for 17 years, Doug Wilson has certainly established himself as one of the top executives in all of hockey. This past week, though, it was Wilson’s 16-year playing career that was recognized — and celebrated — and justifiably so.

A native of Ottawa, Wilson had the privilege of spending his major-junior career playing for the hometown 67’s, coached by fellow Hall-of-Famer Brian Kilrea.

Drafted 6th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 1977, Wilson wasted little time in making his mark with his new club.

An offensive defenseman, Wilson would become an eight-time all-star, lead Blackhawks blueliners in scoring for 10-straight seasons. In fact, his 152 goals and 524 points leads Blackhawks defensemen all-time in scoring.
Aside from his numbers, though, Doug Wilson was a leader. The more established he was an NHL veteran, the more valuable Wilson’s leadership was to younger Chicago blueliners — one of which was current Los Angeles Kings assistant coach, Trent Yawney.

Yawney would join the Blackhawks in February 1988 and would spend the next three-and-a-half seasons under the veteran’s wing, so to speak.

After going their separate ways in 1991, the two defensemen would reunite in 2008 when Yawney joined the Sharks as an assistant coach.

This past Thursday, I asked Yawney how he felt about his former teammate’s entrance into hockey’s Holiest shrine.

“I’m excited for him and his family,” the Kings’ assistant coach emphasized. “It’s the highest honor there is for an individual player.”

Wilson would lead the Blackhawks to three-straight division titles in his first three seasons with the club. The Ottawa native would help lead the Blackhawks to seven division titles and five conference finals appearances but it was Wilson’s demeanor that made him such a great teammate.

“He always took the time to communicate with rookies and made sure they were always taken care of,” Yawney noted. “He was very approachable.”

For any rookie, coming into the NHL is a significant transition.

After the Blackhawks drafted him in 1984, Yawney would spend the next few seasons with Canada’s national team. But, when it was time to begin his NHL career, any reluctance or anxiety Yawney may have had joining the Blackhawks was quickly quelled by Wilson.

“When I landed in Chicago in February 1988, Doug was there to greet me on behalf of the Blackhawks,” Yawney reflected. “He even took me into his home for a couple of days until I got my accommodations figured out and made me feel comfortable.”

Following the 1990-91 season, Wilson joined the expansion San Jose Sharks, becoming the franchise’s first-ever captain. Yawney, meanwhile, would be traded to the Calgary Flames. But, this wasn’t the end of the pair working in close proximity.

After three seasons as an assistant in San Jose and three seasons in the AHL, Yawney would join the Anaheim Ducks’ coaching staff in 2014, joining another side of the California rivalry. Still, Wilson and Yawney remained professional.

“My relationship with Doug during my time in San Jose was always professional,” Yawney said.

“[In 2018 when] we played in Anaheim, Doug had put together a good team that beat us 4-0 and I had no problem congratulating him after the series via text because they were just better than us in the series. As far as L.A., I never ran into Doug in any of the games that we played but I would expect that nothing has changed with our relationship.

“I have always had a good relationship with Doug. He was always an easy guy to talk to.”

In 16 NHL seasons, Doug Wilson played 1024 games, scoring 237 and 590 assists for 827 points. His efforts made him a five-time Norris nominee as the league’s top defenseman, winning the award in 1982. Wilson even has his No. 7 retired by the 67’s.

This coming November, we will celebrate the career of one of the most underrated defensemen in NHL history. Doug Wilson, already a member of the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame and Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame, will add the entrance into hockey’s Holiest shrines to his accomplishments to cap off a memorable playing career — and it is very much deserved. Just ask any of his former teammates, including Trent Yawney.

 

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