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NHL General Manager Lineage

By Derek Zona Updated
TORONTO ON - NOVEMBER 08: Bill Torrey walks the red carpet prior to the Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 8 2010 in Toronto Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
TORONTO ON - NOVEMBER 08: Bill Torrey walks the red carpet prior to the Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 8 2010 in Toronto Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Getty Images

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.

  Gm_lineage_medium

  • 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.