Doug Gilmour

Doug Gilmour
Born	Douglas Robert Gilmour (1963-06-25) June 25, 1963 Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Other names	Killer
Occupation	Professional ice hockey player
Years active	1983–2003
Known for	NHL player, Stanley Cup champion (1989), Frank J. Selke Trophy winner (1992–93), two-time NHL All-Star, member of 1987 Canada Cup winning team
Notable work	Inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame and Ontario Sports Hall of Fame (2011), number 93 retired by Toronto Maple Leafs

Douglas Robert Gilmour (born June 25, 1963) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey athlete who played 20 seasons in the NHL across seven different franchises. Selected 134th overall by the St. Louis Blues during the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, Gilmour accumulated 1,414 points over 1,474 NHL contests spanning from 1983 to 2003. A two-time NHL All-Star, he secured the Stanley Cup title with Calgary in 1989 and was awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league’s premier defensive forward in the 1992–93 season. On the international stage, Gilmour represented Canada on three occasions, including as part of the victorious 1987 Canada Cup squad.

Known by the nickname "Killer," which may derive from his surname's similarity to that of serial killer Gary Gilmore or his aggressive style of play despite a relatively small frame, Gilmour spent three junior seasons with the Cornwall Royals, capturing the Memorial Cup in 1981. In the 1982–83 season, he was honored as the Ontario Hockey League’s most outstanding player after amassing an impressive 177 points—one of the highest totals ever recorded in league history. After retiring from playing, Gilmour took on head coaching duties for the Kingston Frontenacs in 2008 and advanced to general manager in 2011. That same year, he was inducted into both the Hockey Hall of Fame and Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, and his number 93 was retired by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Early life

Born on June 25, 1963, in Kingston, Ontario, Doug Gilmour is the younger son of Don and Dolly Gilmour. His older brother is David. Don served as a correctional officer at Kingston Penitentiary for over thirty years and also coached local youth baseball and hockey teams. Doug looked up to David, who was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks but never made an NHL appearance. As a young player, Doug participated in the 1976 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament representing a Kingston minor hockey squad.

Due to his smaller stature—standing five feet nine inches tall and weighing around 140 pounds during his junior hockey years—Gilmour faced cuts from multiple teams throughout his minor hockey tenure. Initially playing as a defenceman, he began his season at age sixteen (1979–80) competing in Junior B with his local team, the Kingston Voyageurs. Receiving minimal ice time of roughly three minutes per game, he requested release to return to Major Midget hockey for increased playing opportunities but instead moved up to Junior A with the Belleville Bulls. Starting as a defenceman there, injuries during playoffs led to his transition to left wing.

Junior

Gilmour was drafted by the Cornwall Royals of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) from Belleville and joined them for the 1980–81 season. The Royals, then reigning Memorial Cup champions, initially utilized him as an offensive defenceman before permanently shifting him to forward. Representing Canada at the 1981 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Gilmour appeared in all five games without registering a point as Canada finished seventh. Despite suffering a broken collarbone during that season, he tallied 35 points over 51 QMJHL games. Cornwall captured both the QMJHL championship and the 1981 Memorial Cup, with Gilmour contributing seven points in five contests and netting the championship-winning goal against the Kitchener Rangers.

Though eligible for selection in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, Gilmour was passed over and returned to Cornwall, now competing in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for the 1981–82 season. He led his team offensively with 119 points across 67 games, placing sixth overall in league scoring. Despite ongoing concerns about his size, St. Louis Blues chose him 134th overall in round seven of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. Back with Cornwall for 1982–83, Gilmour topped OHL scoring charts with totals of 70 goals and 107 assists for an extraordinary 177 points. He received the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as top scorer, earned all-star recognition, and was awarded the Red Tilson Trophy as OHL’s most outstanding player. His remarkable point total ranks third all-time in OHL history behind Bobby Smith and Wayne Gretzky. Additionally, Gilmour set an OHL record by maintaining a point streak spanning 55 consecutive games from October 19, 1982 to February 27, 1983.

St. Louis Blues

Although Gilmour demonstrated impressive skills in Cornwall, the Blues were initially reluctant to sign him. Without a contract offer, he intended to play in Düsseldorf, West Germany; however, the Blues extended a contract proposal in mid-August 1983. Jacques Demers, the head coach of St. Louis, envisioned Gilmour as a forward with defensive strengths. Gilmour made his NHL debut on October 4, 1983, facing the Pittsburgh Penguins and netted his first goal on November 1 against Detroit’s goaltender Eddie Mio. He completed the season with 25 goals and a total of 53 points. Known as "Killer" by teammate Brian Sutter due to his tenacious playing style, Gilmour quickly became a formidable presence on the ice.

Over the following two seasons, Gilmour consistently contributed offensively, achieving 57 points in 1984–85 and 53 points in 1985–86. Demers positioned him at center to neutralize elite opponents by combining defensive responsibility with an agitator’s role. During the 1986 Stanley Cup playoffs, Gilmour emerged as a vital offensive asset, accumulating 21 points across 19 games and sharing the playoff scoring lead with Bernie Federko, despite the Blues’ defeat in the Campbell Conference Final to Calgary. In the 1986–87 season, he led the Blues in scoring and ranked fifth league-wide with 105 points, including a personal best of 42 goals. This outstanding performance secured him a place on Team Canada for the 1987 Canada Cup, where he contributed two goals en route to Canada’s tournament victory.

In the 1987–88 campaign, Gilmour recorded 86 points. Notably, on December 19, 1987, he participated in an NHL record-setting sequence with Boston’s Ken Linseman by scoring just two seconds after Linseman’s goal—the quickest pair of goals ever scored consecutively in league history.

In August 1988, Gilmour became embroiled in a $1 million lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault involving a minor; both the Blues organization and his wife were also implicated. The team faced allegations of hiding these accusations during trade talks. Shortly thereafter, on September 6, the Blues traded Gilmour along with Mark Hunter, Steve Bozek, and Michael Dark to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Mike Bullard, Craig Coxe, and Tim Corkery; Bozek was subsequently sent to Vancouver on that same day. While disappointed by the trade, Gilmour acknowledged it was the most appropriate course given recent circumstances.

Calgary Flames

Gilmour’s legal challenges persisted into the early part of the 1988–89 NHL season after joining Calgary: he and his wife filed countersuits alleging slander and libel against their accusers in October, while a grand jury investigated potential criminal charges. Denying all allegations, Gilmour was ultimately not indicted by year’s end; the lawsuit was later dismissed, allowing him to move forward.

On the ice, Gilmour tied with Håkan Loob for second place in team scoring with 85 points behind Joe Mullen’s leading total of 110 as Calgary secured the Presidents' Trophy for best regular season record. He played an instrumental role during Calgary’s journey to the 1989 Stanley Cup Finals, particularly impacting the second-round series against the Los Angeles Kings by contributing key goals and effectively limiting star player Wayne Gretzky’s offensive production. Gilmour concluded playoffs with 11 goals and 11 assists over 22 games. In game six of the finals against Montreal Canadiens, he scored twice—including the cup-winning goal—clinching Calgary’s first Stanley Cup championship.

Early in the 1989–90 NHL season, Gilmour scored a shorthanded goal with only 15 seconds remaining before teammate Paul Ranheim scored four seconds later; this tied an NHL record for fastest two goals by one team and set a new record for quickest pair of shorthanded goals. He led Calgary with 67 assists and ranked second in overall points (91). Appointed one of the Flames' captains for the 1990–91 NHL season, Gilmour surpassed both 600 games played and career points milestones. Late that season, he was involved in an altercation with Los Angeles Kings assistant coach Tom Webster, resulting in suspensions for both parties.

A contract dispute with GM Doug Risebrough extended into the 1991–92 NHL season. Playing under an option year at $450,000 USD, Gilmour sought a salary increase; arbitration awarded him $750,000 annually for two seasons. He accused team officials of tampering during arbitration but remained active on ice with a point-per-game pace (38 points in 38 games) while requesting a trade following the ruling. After delivering a notable performance on New Year's Eve, Gilmour departed from Calgary on January 1, 1992—later describing it as one of his most difficult decisions.

The following day saw Calgary execute a ten-player trade sending Gilmour along with Jamie Macoun, Ric Nattress, Kent Manderville, and Rick Wamsley to Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Gary Leeman, Craig Berube, Michel Petit, Alexander Godynyuk, and Jeff Reese. This transaction stands as the largest trade ever recorded in NHL history. The deal immediately revitalized Toronto while signaling the beginning of a prolonged decline for Calgary.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Shortly after the trade, Gilmour and the Maple Leafs finalized a contract reportedly valued at $4 million over a four-year span. During the 1991–92 season, Toronto struggled significantly, securing just 30 wins in 80 games, ranking among the NHL’s weakest teams; however, 20 of those victories occurred following Gilmour’s arrival. He tallied 49 points for Toronto that season, ending with a total of 87 points overall, and changed his jersey number from #39 to #93.

The 1992–93 campaign marked the peak of Gilmour’s career as he shattered franchise records by recording 95 assists and 127 points. He matched Babe Pratt’s team record by assisting on six goals in a single game and ranked seventh in overall NHL scoring. Despite receiving an eight-practice-day suspension for slashing Tomas Sandström, Gilmour played a pivotal role in guiding Toronto to their first winning season since 1978–79.

In the 1993 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Gilmour set a new team record with 35 points as Toronto advanced to the Campbell Conference Final. The sixth game of the series ended amid controversy when Wayne Gretzky’s high stick on Gilmour went unpenalized, resulting in a game-winning goal for Los Angeles that eliminated Toronto. This missed call remains a notable source of debate among fans and officials.

That season, Gilmour earned multiple honors: he participated in the 1993 All-Star Game, received the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL’s premier defensive forward, and placed second in Hart Trophy voting behind Mario Lemieux. Following these achievements, he signed a five-year contract worth $15 million, including endorsement rights, which was anticipated to keep him with Toronto for his career.

During the 1993–94 season, Gilmour recorded his third season surpassing 100 points, finishing fourth in NHL scoring with 111 points. After receiving death threats that necessitated police protection for a brief period, he maintained strong playoff performances as Toronto reached the Western Conference Final once again. He ranked fourth in Hart Trophy voting and was runner-up for the Selke Trophy.

On August 18, 1994, Gilmour was appointed as the 15th captain in Maple Leafs history, succeeding Wendel Clark. Due to the 1994–95 NHL lockout, he temporarily signed with Switzerland’s Rapperswil-Jona Lakers, appearing in nine games before returning to Toronto after the labor dispute concluded. That season, he contributed 10 goals and 23 assists over 44 games.

In the 1995–96 season, Gilmour achieved a milestone by reaching his 1,000th career point on December 23, 1995. Remaining one of Toronto’s most beloved players, he also served as an NHLPA spokesperson at community events and featured alongside his then-wife Amy in "Got Milk?" advertisements.

Later career

As the Maple Leafs faced ongoing challenges, general manager Cliff Fletcher traded Gilmour along with defenseman Dave Ellett to the New Jersey Devils in 1997 in exchange for center Steve Sullivan, prospect Alyn McCauley, and defenseman Jason Smith. During Gilmour’s time with New Jersey, the team experienced early playoff eliminations.

In the summer of 1998, Gilmour signed as a free agent with the Chicago Blackhawks to aid in revitalizing the franchise. Despite his contributions and eventually assuming team captaincy following Chris Chelios’ trade request, Chicago remained near the bottom of the standings. On February 13, 1999, he scored during the final game held at historic Maple Leaf Gardens, earning a standing ovation from fans. Late that season, a herniated disk injury required surgery and ended his playing year.

In spring 2000, Gilmour was traded to the Buffalo Sabres along with left winger J.P. Dumont in exchange for forward Michal Grošek. He assisted Buffalo in reaching the playoffs where they were defeated in five games by the Philadelphia Flyers. The subsequent season saw injuries limit his regular-season appearances; however, he excelled during playoffs as Buffalo overcame Philadelphia before being upset by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Following an unsatisfactory season with Buffalo, Gilmour contemplated retirement but ultimately signed a one-year contract worth $1.8 million with the Montreal Canadiens on October 6, 2001. His addition addressed center-depth issues after Saku Koivu’s cancer diagnosis. Montreal qualified for the playoffs but fell to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Gilmour re-signed with Montreal for another year on August 9, 2002. At the 2003 NHL trade deadline, he was traded back to playoff-bound Toronto for a sixth-round draft pick. Unfortunately, during his second shift in his first game back with Toronto, he tore his ACL after colliding with Calgary Flames' Dave Lowry, ending both his season and effectively his playing career. At age 40, he announced retirement on September 8, 2003; new Leafs GM John Ferguson Jr. confirmed he would not be offered a new contract.

Concluding his NHL tenure with totals of 450 goals and 964 assists across 1,474 games played,

On January 31, 2009, Gilmour’s number 93 was honored by the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre as their seventeenth player so recognized. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011. On October 15, 2016, Toronto officially retired his number alongside all other previously honored jerseys.

Toronto Maple Leafs/Toronto Marlies (AHL)

On September 15, 2006, Gilmour was named player development advisor for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He remained in this capacity until August 7, 2008, when he transitioned to an assistant coaching position with the Leafs' AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, working alongside head coach Greg Gilbert. A few months later, in November 2008, Gilmour departed to assume the head coaching role for the Kingston Frontenacs.

Kingston Frontenacs

Gilmour assumed head coaching duties for the Kingston Frontenacs on November 17, 2008, taking charge of a team undergoing reconstruction with an initial record of 5–13–5. He concluded that season with a 13–27–5 record, falling short of playoff qualification.

In his first complete season (2009–10), Gilmour guided Kingston back into the OHL playoffs by achieving a 33–30–5 record and accumulating 71 points, which earned them second place in the East Division. The Frontenacs were eliminated in a seven-game series by the Brampton Battalion during the opening round. Subsequently, Gilmour secured a five-year contract extension.

During the 2010–11 campaign, the team’s performance dipped slightly to a 29–30–9 record and 67 points but still secured a playoff berth. They were ousted in five games by the Oshawa Generals. Following this season, Gilmour moved into the general manager position, succeeding Larry Mavety, while Todd Gill was promoted to head coach.

As general manager, Gilmour initiated a rebuilding phase; Kingston finished last in the Eastern Conference in 2011–12 with a 19–41–8 record. The subsequent season (2012–13) saw improvement with a 27–35–6 tally and a playoff appearance; however, they were swept by the Barrie Colts. In 2013–14, the Frontenacs achieved an impressive 39–23–6 record (84 points), ranking third in the East Division. Despite leading the Peterborough Petes 3–0 in their first-round series, Kingston lost four consecutive games and was eliminated.

In 2017, Gilmour resigned as general manager to take on the role of team president. Two years later, in 2019, he departed to join the Maple Leafs organization as a community representative.

Personal life

Gilmour has been married three times and is father to four children. His daughter Maddison—married to hockey player Evan McGrath—is from his first marriage to Robyne Gilmour; his sons Jake and Tyson are from his second marriage with Amy Gilmour; and his daughter Victoria is from his current marriage to Sonya Gilmour.

Regular season and playoffs

				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
St. Louis Blues	NHL	80		42	63	105	58	6		2	2	4	- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
NHL totals !1,474 !450 !964 !1,414 !1,301 !182 !60 !128 !188 !235 | } International Year Team Tournament   GP G A P PIM 1981 Canada WJC 5 0 0 0 0 1987 Canada CC 8 2 0 2 4 1990 Canada WC 9 1 4 5 18 Junior career totals 5 0 0 0 0 Senior career totals 17 3 4 7 22 Coaching record Team Season Games Wins Losses Overtime Losses Points Standing Playoff outcome Kingston Frontenacs 2008–09 45 13 27 5 31 5th in East Did not qualify for playoffs Kingston Frontenacs 2009–10 68 33 30 5 71 Finished 2nd in East Eliminated in conference quarter-finals (3-4 vs. Brampton) Kingston Frontenacs 2010–11 68 29 30 9 67 Ranked 3rd in East Lost in conference quarter-finals (1-4 vs. Oshawa) OHL career totals 2008–2011 181 75 87 19 169 4-8 (0.333) Awards and honours Ontario Hockey League Award Year Memorial Cup champion 1981 Red Tilson Trophy Most valuable player 1983 Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy Top scorer 1983 First team All-Star selection 1983 National Hockey League Award Year Stanley Cup winner 1989 Frank J. Selke Trophy recipient 1993 NHL All-Star Game appearances 1993, 1994 Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the year 2011. Records Career achievements Record description Figure achieved Reference Most assists in a single season for the Sarnia Sting (OHL) 107, during the 1982–83 season Highest point total recorded in one season for Sarnia (OHL) 177, achieved in the 1982–83 season OHL record for longest consecutive games with a point scored 55 games, from October 19, 1982 to February 27, 1983 Toronto franchise record for most assists in one season 95, during the 1992–93 campaign Toronto franchise record for highest points total in a single season 127, achieved in the year 1992–93 Toronto franchise record for most assists in a single game 6, on February 13, 1993 (Tied with Babe Pratt, January 18,1944) NHL record for quickest two goals scored by both teams combined 2 seconds, December 19,1987 (Ken Linseman, BOS at 19:50; Gilmour, STL at19:52) See also List of NHL statistical leaders References Professional record: External links