Doug Gilmour
Nicknamed 'Killer', Gilmour was a two-time All-Star and Selke Trophy winner who played 20 NHL seasons and had his number 93 retired by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Douglas Robert Gilmour (born June 25, 1963) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for seven different teams. Gilmour was a seventh round selection, 134th overall, of the St. Louis Blues at the 1982 NHL entry draft and recorded 1,414 points in 1,474 games in the NHL between 1983 and 2003. A two-time All-Star, he was a member of Calgary's 1989 Stanley Cup championship team and won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL's best defensive forward in 1992–93. Internationally, he represented Canada three times during his career and was a member of the nation's 1987 Canada Cup championship team.
- Status
- Retired; Inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame (2011)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Gilmour was nicknamed 'Killer' by a Blues teammate. Teammate Brian Sutter began calling Gilmour 'Charlie', after Charles Manson, in reference to both his 'mean' style of play and an apparent resemblance to the serial killer; it morphed into 'Killer', a nickname Gilmour retained throughout his career. The source does not mention Gary Gilmore in connection with the nickname.
In Their Own Story
Gilmour's journey to glory included a historic playoff run with the Calgary Flames in 1989. Playing a pivotal role against the Los Angeles Kings, he scored or assisted on key goals while neutralizing Wayne Gretzky. In the sixth game of the Stanley Cup Final against the Montreal Canadiens, Gilmour scored two goals, including the championship-winning tally, securing a 4–2 victory and the franchise's first Cup. Earlier in his career, he tied Bernie Federko for the league lead in playoff scoring in 1986 despite St. Louis falling short of the Final. Off the ice, he faced significant turmoil; sued in August 1988 by parents alleging sexual assault, Gilmour and his wife countersued for slander, and a grand jury eventually chose not to indict him. By year's end, the lawsuit was dropped, allowing him to focus on his pivotal role in Calgary's title run.
Reader's Guide
Gilmour played three seasons of junior hockey for the Cornwall Royals where he was a member of their Memorial Cup championship team in 1981. In 1982–83, Gilmour was named the most outstanding player in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) after he scored 177 points, one of the highest totals in league history. Gilmour returned to the OHL following his playing career as he joined the Kingston Frontenacs as head coach in 2008 and was promoted to general manager in 2011. Gilmour was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 and his uniform number 93 is retired by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Did You Know?
- Gilmour was born in Kingston, Ontario, and his father Don was a correctional officer at Kingston Penitentiary.
- He was originally a defenceman before shifting to forward permanently with the Cornwall Royals.
- Gilmour's 177-point season in 1982–83 is the third highest in OHL history, behind Bobby Smith (192) and Wayne Gretzky (182).
- He had a 55-game point streak from October 19, 1982, to February 27, 1983, which remains an OHL record.
- Gilmour tied with Bernie Federko for the league lead in playoff scoring in 1986, despite the Blues not reaching the Stanley Cup Final.
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