Doug Gilmour

Doug Gilmour (born June 25, 1963 in Kingston, Ontario) was a player in the National Hockey League.

Related Topics:
June 25 - 1963 - Kingston, Ontario - National Hockey League

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He started his career with the St. Louis Blues in 1983. After being traded from St. Louis in disgrace, having been accused of having sex with his children's baby sitter and facing criminal charges (he was acquitted), Gilmour went on to win the Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames.

Related Topics:
St. Louis Blues - 1983 - Stanley Cup - Calgary Flames

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Several months after the Toronto Maple Leafs hired Cliff Fletcher to be their new general manager, Fletcher made a blockbuster trade with Calgary, where he had previously been general manager. He acquired "Killer" (a nickname given to Gilmour by Brian Sutter, then a St. Louis teammate, because of the fierce look in his eyes) as well as many other players that would help the Leafs and their Stanley Cup dreams.

Related Topics:
Toronto Maple Leafs - Cliff Fletcher

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Toronto fans did not need to wait long for the Gilmour acquisition to pay off, as the feisty forward was a key player during 1993 playoffs. The Leafs took down powerhouse Detroit Red Wings in the first best-of-seven series and went on to play his former team the Blues in the second round. Gilmour was the runner-up for the Hart Trophy as regular-season MVP and won the Selke Trophy as best defensive forward, the first major NHL award that a Leaf player had won since 1967.

Related Topics:
Detroit Red Wings - Hart Trophy - Selke Trophy

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One of Gilmour's most memorable goals was scored during the 1992 second round playoffs series against the St. Louis Blues. Many fans remember him skating back and forth behind the St. Louis net multiple times before finally sliding the puck behind a sprawling Curtis Joseph. The Maple Leafs would go on to win the series, but would eventually be eliminated in the next round by Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings. Toronto was leading the series against Los Angeles 3-2. However, during overtime of game six, Gretzky high-sticked Gilmour without being given a penalty. The Los Angeles Kings won the game, and subsequently, the series. Some people feel the outcome of the series was a result of biased officiating, owing to the fact that the NHL would lose money if two Canadian teams were in the finals, since very few Americans would watch such a series.

Related Topics:
Curtis Joseph - Wayne Gretzky - Los Angeles Kings

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When the Leafs traded captain and fan favourite Wendel Clark to the Quebec Nordiques in 1994, Gilmour was named as the Leafs' newest captain. After six years as a Leaf during which he built up a large fan base, Gilmour was traded by Fletcher to the New Jersey Devils in 1997. In the summer of 1998 Gilmour signed as a free agent with the Chicago Blackhawks. As luck would have it, Chicago was Toronto's opposition on the night of the last game in the historic Maple Leaf Gardens. Gilmour ended up scoring that game and in the closing ceremonies, Gilmour was given a standing ovation by the Toronto fans, showing that even though he had been traded, he was forever a Toronto Maple Leaf.

Related Topics:
Wendel Clark - Quebec Nordiques - New Jersey Devils - Chicago Blackhawks - Maple Leaf Gardens

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In spring, 2000 Gilmour was again traded to the Buffalo Sabres where he spent a couple of seasons. Then Gilmour, a well travelled player by this time, signed as a free agent with the Montreal Canadiens, the Maple Leafs' rivals. Gilmour had a good playoff run with the Canadiens but it was cut short by the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round.

Related Topics:
Buffalo Sabres - Montreal Canadiens - Carolina Hurricanes

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Rumours floated around the hockey world that Gilmour wanted to finish his NHL career and he might be retiring. To the delight of Maple Leaf fans the NHL trade deadline of 2003 brought good news: the Canadiens traded Gilmour to the Maple Leafs so that he could finish his career in Toronto. Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury in his first game back on March 13, and he never played again. He officially announced his retirement on September 8, 2003.

Related Topics:
2003 - March 13 - September 8

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

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