Sharks: Doug Wilson temporarily steps down

San Jose Sharks General Manager Doug Wilson will be stepping down temporarily on medical grounds.

The California organization made the announcement Friday, without specifying the exact nature of the 64-year-old’s medical condition.

His deputy, Joe Will, will assume the role of general manager on a temporary basis, pending Wilson’s return, and will handle day-to-day duties.

Wilson, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame earlier in November, has held the position since 2003. He also ended his playing career with the Sharks after 14 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks.

And for this 16-season cycle as a player, he was immortalized in Toronto. The former defender had scored 827 points in 1,024 games, in addition to winning the Norris Cup once, during the 1981-82 season, but was unable to lift the Stanley Cup.

Heading into their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night, the Sharks were 10-8-1, good for 21 points in 19 games, earning them fifth in the Pacific Division.

The California team was also hit by an outbreak of COVID-19 cases in early November, when it saw eight skaters whose names appear on a list of players unavailable due to the virus.

After a duel against the Toronto team, the Sharks will begin a journey in which they will play five matches in eight days. They will stop first in Chicago, to face the Black Hawks, before stopping in New Jersey (Devils), New York (Islanders & Rangers), and then Columbus (Bluejackets).