Doug Gilmour has been working with the Kingston Frontenacs in the OHL for nearly a decade, but the Hockey Hall of Famer is open to the idea of joining the front office of an NHL team.
“I’d really have to think about it,” Gilmour told Prime Time Sports on Sportsnet 590 The Fan Tuesday afternoon. “If it was a great situation to look at—I wouldn’t say no—but at this point in time I’m still enjoying what I’m doing. I’m not going to do it forever though.”
Gilmour retired from professional hockey in 2003 following a 20-year NHL career and five years later he took over as coach of the Frontenacs in 2008 before transitioning into the role of general manager in 2011. He is now the team’s president of hockey operations.
During his time as bench boss he coached the likes of NHLers Erik Gudbranson, Ryan Spooner and Philipp Grubauer, and as GM he drafted players like Sam Bennett and Lawson Crouse. The Frontenacs have made the playoffs in five consecutive seasons under Gilmour’s watch.
If Gilmour did land a job with one of the 31 NHL teams, he’d join a growing list of people that made the transition from OHL GM to an NHL front office. A few recent examples include Mark Hunter (London Knights) and Kyle Dubas (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds), both of whom are currently with the Toronto Maple Leafs, plus Mike Futa (Oshawa Generals) of the Los Angeles Kings.
“It’s got to be the right situation for me at this point in time in my life,” he said. “I want to work hard still doing what I’m doing right now. I don’t want to say yes, but I don’t want to say no. I can’t rule it out.”
If an NHL team does become interested in Gilmour’s services, they’d better act relatively quickly.
“Ten years from now I’ll be retired,” he explained. “I’ll want to see my grandkids. I’ve got one grandchild now. I’d want to hang with them and travel a little bit and play a little golf.”
[relatedlinks]
