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Doug Wilson’s official induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame will have to wait at least until next year.
Lanny McDonald, chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame, announced Monday that this year’s induction weekend and celebration has been postponed “until further notice” due to the ongoing effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The induction ceremony was initially supposed to take place Nov. 16 in Toronto.
Wilson, one of the most prolific offensive defensemen of his generation and the Sharks’ general manager for the last 17 years, was part of a 2020 Hall of Fame class that included players Jarome Iginla, Marian Hossa, Kevin Lowe and Kim St-Pierre and Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland.
Rescheduling the 2020 induction ceremony will be discussed Oct. 29 when the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors are next scheduled to meet.
“While it’s possible the class of 2020 could be inducted on alternative dates during the modified 2020-21 NHL season, the most likely scenario is to postpone to November 2021, either by waiving the 2021 elections or in combination with the 2021 induction class involving adjusted category limits,” McDonald said in a statement. “Since the magic of the induction from the Honoured Members’ perspective is experiencing several days of close interaction with family, friends, former teammates and fans, the Board ruled out any means of holding the 2020 inductions virtually.”
Wilson, 63, played 16 NHL seasons, including his first 14 seasons from 1977 to 1991 with the Chicago Blackhawks. He played his last two seasons with the Sharks, and finished his career with 827 points in 1,024 games.
HANDEMARK STAYS: Fredrik Handemark, who signed a one-year contract with San Jose in May, will be staying with the Malmo Redhawks of the Swedish Hockey League until the Sharks begin their training camp for the 2020-2021 season, presumably in November.
Handemark, who turns 27 later this month, was on the ice with Malmo on Monday morning for the team’s first practice this season. He has been with the Redhawks since 2015, and has captained the team the last three years.
Handemark told hockeynews.se that the move comes with the Sharks’ blessing. The NHL’s tentative plan is to begin training camp for next season on Nov. 17 and start the 2020-2021 regular season Dec. 1.
Handemark, listed at 6-foot-4 and 209 pounds, is expected to compete for a depth forward position with the Sharks this season, possibly as the team’s fourth line center. With Malmo last season, he had 38 points in 52 games.
JUMBO IN SWITZERLAND: As he has done in previous offseasons, Joe Thornton has recently been practicing with HC Davos in Switzerland. Thornton, an unrestricted free agent, can sign with Davos as long as the contract contains an out clause that allows him to return to North America once NHL camps begin.
Thornton, 41, played for Davos during the 2004-05 and the 2012-13 seasons when the NHL had its last work stoppages.
Davos sports director Raeto Raffainer told watson.ch recently that if Thornton wants to play for the team, which has already started exhibition games, the decision will be up to him.
“Joe is an icon of world hockey. It would never occur to us to ask him or even ask if he would like to play another season with us,” Raffainer said. “It’s a matter of respect. But if Joe ends up wanting to play for us, we’ll sit down at the table and find a solution. But whether he wants that is entirely up to him.”
Look who’s skating in Davos pic.twitter.com/cyB2sSs9CD
— Dustin Nielson (@nielsonTSN1260) August 9, 2020
