Chicago Blackhawks Greatest 100- #10 Doug Wilson

In our countdown of Greatest Chicago Blackhawks of All-time, we have arrived to my 2nd greatest defenseman who ironically doesn’t have his jersey number hanging from the rafters at the United Center. 

There were two players that didn’t wear helmets when I started watching the Chicago Blackhawks, one was my favorite player of all-time Al Secord, and the other was Doug Wilson.

Wilson was a tremendous two-way defenseman that was able to do things that no other defenseman did in Chicago Blackhawks history.

Wilson was drafted 6th overall in the 1977 draft, and he was instantly put into the lineup with the likes of Keith Magnuson.  Of course Wilson wasn’t the big hitting defenseman, but he was able to always be in the right defensive position.

Where Wilson really shined was on the offensive end.  Wilson had a huge slap shot that was very effective in the 1980’s high scoring hockey that was really fun to watch.

Wilson scored 12 or more goals in 12 different seasons, but his biggest season was in the 1981-82 season when Wilson would score 39 times and had 46 helpers for 85 points. The Hawks made it all the way to the Conference Finals that season before falling to the ugly looking sweaters of the Vancouver Canucks.

Wilson would win his only Norris Trophy after the 82 season, he would also finish top 4 in the Norris three other times.

Like so many Blackhawks that we have talked about in the last week or two, Wilson and the Chicago Blackhawks just couldn’t get over the hump and win the Conference Final with the Edmonton Oilers being their biggest issue.

Wilson would get traded to the San Jose Sharks late in his career and become one of their first Captains, and he’s been their General Manager for years now.

Wilson holds the career high for Blackhawks defenseman with both goals (225) assists (554) and Points (779).  If you watched him play you can probably picture his gliding on the ice with his hair flowing and then delivering a huge slap shot for a goal or an assist.

Only 10 days left until the Chicago Blackhawks season begins! Are you excited? I know I am!