NHL General Manager Lineage

by Derek Zona on Aug 17, 2011 12:30 PM MDT in Miscellaneous

One of the fascinating aspects of the old boys' club in the NHL is the inter-connectedness of everyone involved. In an effort to figure out the relationships between everyone involved, I put together an NHL General Manager family tree. Only four of the current 30 General Managers aren't connected in some historical way to other General Managers. The biggest surprise? Baz Bastien's "genetic" heritage.

*Click to enlarge the chart below. Get the full-sized chart here.

Baz Bastien is the grand-daddy of the club. His direct lineage is rather significant, but the indirect relationships link him to almost half of the chart. I wonder how many Wings fans know Jim Devellano can trace his management roots back to the AHL's Pittsburgh Hornets?
The four men who came to the game without significant existing relationships within the club were Lou Lamoriello, Jim Rutherford, Garth Snow and Mike Gillis.
Phil Esposito's current influence is as large as Bastien's but given the relative age and success of his lineage, it should grow significantly in the next decade.
Glen Sather's influence cannot be understated either. He and Pulford have a significant number of current GMs within their sphere.

Tweet Comment 19 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

And we wonder why no one signs other teams’ RFAs…

by Simon Lamarche on Aug 17, 2011 12:45 PM MDT reply actions

I’d probably argue the Garth Snow one.

He had been in the Isle’s organization for 4 years before making the move upstairs. I’d say that’s long enough to make a significant relationship with the organization.

In theory, there is little difference between practice and theory, but in practice there is!

by dawgbone98 on Aug 17, 2011 12:51 PM MDT reply actions

Certainly

Supposedly Wang considered/dangled the GM job for Snow even before they went with Smith. They had a good relationship for a while.

Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.

by Dominik on Aug 17, 2011 2:17 PM MDT up reply actions

The move to the front office was at the behest of Wang, not another GM.

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Aug 17, 2011 2:47 PM MDT up reply actions

This has Milbury’s fingers all over it though.

In theory, there is little difference between practice and theory, but in practice there is!

by dawgbone98 on Aug 17, 2011 3:15 PM MDT up reply actions

Wouldn’t Tambellini now fall under Lowe, and thereby fall at least partly into Sather’s field of influence?

by Permaculture on Aug 17, 2011 1:00 PM MDT reply actions

Yeah, let’s get him out of the Quinn sphere of influence.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.

by PPP on Aug 17, 2011 2:18 PM MDT up reply actions

If a fool falls in the forest

And another is there to pick him up and give him another job, does he make a sound?

Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.

by Dominik on Aug 17, 2011 2:25 PM MDT up reply actions

…or any good hockey decisions?

by Joe Girth on Aug 17, 2011 10:13 PM MDT up reply actions

Same with Pierre Gauthier and Bob Gainey.

Puck Worlds: Chasing Pucks from here to Turku.

For Twitter Updates on Puck Worlds, follow @puckworlds. For updates plus additional witty banter from yours truly, follow @saskhab.

by Bruce Peter on Aug 18, 2011 10:03 AM MDT up reply actions

I was going to ask where Risebrough is...

but he was probably busy trading first round picks away for washed up has beens, and trading up in the first round to take third line grinders. Probably best he isn’t on here.

Editor:Hockey Wilderness Editor:In Lax We Trust Now with more Twitterness: ReynoldsSBN

Rule #17: You may not impersonate representatives of Hockey Wilderness and handout NHL themed wrist bands.

by BReynolds on Aug 17, 2011 1:31 PM MDT reply actions

Maloney and Regeir aren't really Sather's

Just a quibble with the upper right: Maloney’s front office career began on Long Island (where he played at the end of his career), as did Regier’s. Maloney didn’t work under Sather until after the Isles canned him.

Regier had actually been in the organization under Arbour/Torrey and was passed over when Milbury was given the GM job to succeed Maloney.

Again, a sincere thank you for conjuring up these memories…

Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.

by Dominik on Aug 17, 2011 2:23 PM MDT reply actions

Maloney and Regeir aren’t really Sather’s

You should note that Maloney is a top level entry, coded in Yellow. The sideways arrow is just an indication that he fell under Sather at one point.

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Aug 17, 2011 2:47 PM MDT up reply actions

Ooooh, I see

I learn something new every day!

Taking another look, Regier definitely belongs somewhere under Torrey.

Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.

by Dominik on Aug 17, 2011 3:33 PM MDT up reply actions

The Espo thing is a bit tenuous

Dudley played for Demers in the WHA if I recall – the Stingers.

But Demers came into the NHL via the merger as coach of the Nordiques.

Who was GM of the Blues when he was hired there – wasn’t still Francis was it?

by Mr DeBakey on Aug 17, 2011 3:17 PM MDT reply actions

I’d be tempted to have Burke and Lou connected. Lou coached him at Providence and Burke has been pretty open about how influential Lou was. Of course, that’s not really a connection as general managers, so maybe it doesn’t fit in with what you’re doing. Regardless, very cool chart!

The biggest fanana of the Havana Bananas.

by Scott Reynolds on Aug 17, 2011 3:25 PM MDT reply actions

They are closely connected, but it was Quinn who gave Burke the break.

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Aug 17, 2011 7:12 PM MDT up reply actions

One day

Christopher Lamoriello will give Lou a branch.

Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.

by Dominik on Aug 17, 2011 3:34 PM MDT reply actions

I had no idea Clarke was GM of the North Stars for two years. Huh.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.
Robertson's Rants - Exceedingly occasional, lengthy ramblings on hockey topics, hosted at Puck Podcast. And no, my name's not Doug.

by Doogie2K on Aug 19, 2011 1:40 PM MDT reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

Oilers Schedule

Last 5 Games

@ Vancouver Nucks Misconduct	Sat 04/07	L 0 - 3
Anaheim Anaheim Calling	Thu 04/05	OT - L 2 - 3
@ Los Angeles Jewels From The Crown	Mon 04/02	L 0 - 2
@ Anaheim Anaheim Calling	Sun 04/01	W 2 - 1
Los Angeles Jewels From The Crown	Fri 03/30	L 1 - 4