Playing career

Jillson was drafted 14th overall in the first round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks.

Jillson played for Rhode Island high school power Mount Saint Charles Academy, before moving on to the University of Michigan. He signed with the Sharks at the conclusion of his junior season, but did not leave Michigan until he graduated from college with a business degree. He played in the American Hockey League for the Cleveland Barons before being called up to play for the Sharks.

The Sharks traded Jillson to the Boston Bruins during the 2002-03 season, along with Jeff Hackett, for defenseman Kyle McLaren. He spent most of his season playing for the Providence Bruins. At the trade deadline of the 2003-04 season, he was involved in a three-way trade among the Bruins, Sharks, and Sabres. Jillson was sent back to the Sharks for Brad Boyes, then to the Sabres for Curtis Brown and Andy Delmore. He spent most of his time in the Sabres organization with their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. He played sparingly for the Sabres, but was inserted into their lineup during the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs to fill one of the holes on their blueline created by injuries to Dmitri Kalinin, Teppo Numminen, and Henrik Tallinder.

After spending a season in Germany's Deutsche Eishockey Liga, Jillson signed with the Colorado Avalanche as a free-agent in 2007, but spent the entire season in the AHL with the Lake Erie Monsters and never played for the Avalanche. In 2008, Jillson signed with HC MVD of the Kontinental Hockey League, was later released, and signed with Lukko of the Finnish SM-liiga.

On October 1, 2009, Jillson signed a one-year contract with HC Pardubice of the Czech Extraliga. After an unproductive second season with Pardubice, Jillson chose to remain in the Czech Republic, dropping down a league to the 1. národní hokejová liga to sign a two-year contract with KLH Chomutov on June 27, 2011. Jillson scored 12 points in 52 games to contribute to Chomutov's promotion to the Czech Extraliga, despite the success he left his contract and was released as a free agent on May 1, 2012.

In 140 regular-season NHL games (as of the end of the 2005-06 season), Jillson recorded 9 goals and 32 assists, totalling 41 points.

Personal

Jillson's younger brother, Nicholas, was killed in a house fire on February 6, 2010. In 2009, Jillson was the victim of a fraud case and was swindled out of $84,000 from the promises of motorcycle parts and a Mercedes. In July 2012, the conman was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment and as a result is now pursued in a civil case by Jillson.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1998-99	U. of Michigan	CCHA		38	5	19	24	71		—	—	—	—	—
1999-00	U. of Michigan	CCHA		38	8	26	34	115		—	—	—	—	—
2000-01	U. of Michigan	CCHA		43	10	20	30	74		—	—	—	—	—
2001-02	San Jose Sharks	NHL		48	5	13	18	29		4	0	0	0	0
2001-02	Cleveland Barons	AHL		27	2	13	15	45		—	—	—	—	—
2002-03	San Jose Sharks	NHL		26	0	6	6	9		—	—	—	—	—
2002-03	Cleveland Barons	AHL		19	3	5	8	12		—	—	—	—	—
2002-03	Providence Bruins	AHL		30	4	11	15	26		4	0	2	2	8
2003-04	Boston Bruins	NHL		50	4	10	14	35		—	—	—	—	—
2003-04	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		14	0	3	3	19		—	—	—	—	—
2004-05	Rochester Americans	AHL		78	12	17	29	46		9	1	1	2	12
2005-06	Rochester Americans	AHL		73	10	20	30	94		—	—	—	—	—
2005-06	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		2	0	0	0	4		4	0	0	0	0
2006-07	Berlin Polar Bears	DEL		30	2	9	11	48		1	0	0	0	2
2007-08	Lake Erie Monsters	AHL		70	3	19	22	46		—	—	—	—	—
2008-09	HC MVD	KHL		12	1	2	3	14		—	—	—	—	—
2008-09	Lukko	SM-l		29	2	7	9	20		—	—	—	—	—
2009-10	HC Pardubice	CZE		42	4	8	12	14		13	0	1	1	10
2010-11	HC Pardubice	CZE		47	0	3	3	20		9	1	0	1	6
2011-12	KLH Chomutov	CZE.1		52	4	8	12	24		15	0	2	2	6
NHL totals				140	9	32	41	96		8	0	0	0	0

International

Medal record
Representing United States
Ice hockey
World Championships
	2004 Prague

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1999	United States	WJC	8th		6	0	0	0	6
2000	United States	WJC	4th		7	0	0	0	4
2004	United States	WC	03 !		9	1	1	2	6
Junior totals					13	0	0	0	10
Senior totals					9	1	1	2	6

Awards and honors

Award	Year
All-CCHA Rookie Team	1998-99
All-CCHA First Team	1999-00
CCHA Best Offensive Defenseman	1999-00
AHCA West First-Team All-American	1999-00
All-CCHA First Team	2000-01
All-CCHA All-Academic Team	2000-01
AHCA West Second-Team All-American	2000-01
Czech Extraliga Masters on the League	2009-10

[ Source: Wikipedia ]