Now for the GM’s
GM firings are few and far between so I’m just going to list the last 6 and who replaced them. While there are a couple of more recent GM replacements (Lamoriello/Dubas, Yzerman/Brisebois), I’m focusing on GM’s who were fired by their teams.
- Peter Chiarelli- Replaced by Keith Gretzky on an interim basis. Jan 23, 2019
- Chuck Fletcher- Not renewed and replaced by Paul Fenton. May 21, 2018
- Ron Hextall– Replaced by Chuck Fletcher. Dec 3, 2018
- Garth Snow– Replaced by Lou Lamoriello. May 22, 2018
- Ron Francis– Replaced by Don Waddell. May 8, 2018
- Dean Lombardi- Replaced by Rob Blake. April 10, 2017
These are the ones I found, although I may have missed a guy or two. The problem here is pretty clear. Old. Boys. Club. Fletcher, Chiarelli, and Lombardi all went to college to eventually become player agents. All were “drafted” into the NHL circle the right way, earning based on merit. Although none of them spent longer than a year (Hextall will get another job this summer.) without a job in the NHL.
Chiarelli went from assistant general manager in Ottawa to GM in Boston, to GM in Edmonton with a total of 9 days of unemployment. his total time hired with all three of those teams lasted from 1999-2019. Fletcher has spent 25 years in NHL management offices working for Florida, Anaheim, Minnesota, and now Philadelphia, a career that started in 1993.
Dean Lombardi’s career began with Minnesota North Stars in 1988 as an assistant general manager. His career has seen him be a part of Minnesota, San Jose, Philadelphia, L.A, and now Philadelphia again. He has lasted over 40 years in the NHL, being fired twice during that time.
The other three Hextall, Francis, and Snow did not earn their roles based on merit. As far as I can tell none of them went and got a college degree to make their way into hockey management.
Instead, they were given jobs shortly after they retired from playing and quickly rose to General manager positions. This practice is far too common in the NHL today, and one Oilers fans are familiar with.