Ron Wilson is a former professional ice hockey player and coach who had a successful career in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was born on May 28, 1955, in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and began his hockey career as a player in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in the 1970s.
Wilson played for several teams in the OHL, including the Windsor Spitfires, the Toronto Marlboros, and the Ottawa 67's. He was known for his offensive skills and was a top scorer for many of the teams he played for.
In 1975, Wilson was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft. He played for the Maple Leafs for four seasons before being traded to the Minnesota North Stars in 1978. He also played for the Colorado Rockies and the Los Angeles Kings before retiring as a player in 1988.
After retiring as a player, Wilson began his coaching career. He started as an assistant coach for the North Stars and then became the head coach of the San Diego Gulls in the International Hockey League (IHL). He also coached the United States national team in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.
In 1997, Wilson was hired as the head coach of the Anaheim Ducks. He led the team to the playoffs in his first season but was fired after a disappointing second season. He then coached the Washington Capitals for four seasons, leading them to the playoffs three times.
In 2008, Wilson was hired as the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team he had played for earlier in his career. He coached the team for four seasons but was unable to lead them to the playoffs. He was fired in 2012.
Throughout his coaching career, Wilson was known for his offensive style of play and his ability to develop young players. He was also known for his outspoken personality and his willingness to speak his mind.
In addition to his coaching career, Wilson has also been involved in broadcasting. He has worked as a commentator for several networks, including ESPN and NBC.
Overall, Ron Wilson had a successful career in both playing and coaching ice hockey. He was known for his offensive skills as a player and his ability to develop young players as a coach. While he was not always successful in leading his teams to the playoffs, he was respected for his knowledge of the game and his willingness to speak his mind.
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