Doug Weight
The playmaking captain who brought 1,000 career points to Long Island and led through injury.
Doug Weight is a beloved figure in New York Islanders history, renowned for his elite playmaking ability and his role as captain. He joined the Islanders as a free agent on July 2, 2008, signing a one-year contract. On January 2, 2009, he registered his 1,000th point with an assist on a goal by Richard Park. He succeeded former Oiler teammate Bill Guerin as captain on October 2, 2009. Despite scoring just 1 goal in 36 games during the 2009–10 season due to injuries, he signed a one-year extension on August 31, 2010. After a second consecutive year decimated by a lingering back injury, he announced his retirement on May 26, 2011.
- Role
- Center / Captain
- Status
- Retired Legend
- Signature Number
- 21
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Weight's time with the Islanders was marked by his leadership and playmaking. After signing a one-year contract on July 2, 2008, he quickly made an impact, recording his 1,000th point on January 2, 2009, with an assist on a goal by Richard Park. He succeeded Bill Guerin as captain on October 2, 2009. Despite a season decimated by injuries—scoring just 1 goal in 36 games in 2009–10—he was signed to a one-year extension on August 31, 2010. His final season, 2010–11, was again cut short by a lingering back injury, leading to his retirement on May 26, 2011. Immediately after retiring, Islanders general manager Garth Snow announced Weight would stay with the organization as an assistant coach and special assistant to the general manager.
In Their Own Story
On January 2, 2009, Doug Weight skated onto the ice at Nassau Coliseum, the crowd buzzing. He won a face-off, fed a pass to Richard Park, and watched as Park buried the puck. That assist was Weight's 1,000th career point, a milestone reached while wearing the Islanders' jersey. The moment was a bright spot in a season of transition for the franchise. Later, on October 2, 2009, he was named captain, succeeding Bill Guerin. But injuries took their toll: in the 2009–10 season, he managed just 1 goal in 36 games. Still, the Islanders signed him to a one-year extension on August 31, 2010. The 2010–11 season was his last, ended by a lingering back injury. On May 26, 2011, he announced his retirement, and Garth Snow immediately named him assistant coach and special assistant to the general manager.
Reader's Guide
Doug Weight played two seasons for the Islanders, from 2008 to 2011. He signed as a free agent on July 2, 2008, and quickly became a leader. On January 2, 2009, he recorded his 1,000th point with an assist on a goal by Richard Park. He was named captain on October 2, 2009, succeeding Bill Guerin. Injuries limited his production: in the 2009–10 season, he scored just 1 goal in 36 games, yet the team signed him to a one-year extension on August 31, 2010. His final season, 2010–11, was cut short by a lingering back injury. He retired on May 26, 2011, and immediately transitioned to an off-ice role as assistant coach and special assistant to the general manager under Garth Snow.
Did You Know?
- Doug Weight recorded his 1,000th career point on January 2, 2009, with an assist on a goal by Richard Park while playing for the Islanders.
- He succeeded Bill Guerin as captain of the Islanders on October 2, 2009.
- Despite scoring just 1 goal in 36 games during the 2009–10 season due to injuries, he was signed to a one-year extension on August 31, 2010.
- After retiring on May 26, 2011, he immediately became an assistant coach and special assistant to the general manager for the Islanders.
- Weight is ranked number seven out of all American players in points.
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