In honour of Brendan Shanahan, who finished 19th in scoring in the 1990s, I wanted to see how NHL stars from the decade fared in their transition to the boardroom. All but one of the top seven scorers from the 1990s has had some front office experience, so let’s dive in:
Jaromir Jagr: the top scorer of the 90s is still playing for Rytiri Kladno, the team he owns in his native Czechia. I guess he is technically disqualified, but also still has an office position?
Joe Sakic: two years after retiring, Sakic joined Colorado as advisor. He was the general manager from 2014 - 2022, before becoming the president of hockey operations, a position he holds as of writing. The Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2022 and have had excellent regular seasons of late, but those have been coupled with early playoff exits in 2023 and 2024.
Adam Oates: Oates had some turns as an assistant coach in the 2000s and 2010s with both Tampa Bay and New Jersey. He was the head coach in Washington from 2012 to 2014, winning a division title in 2013, only to be upset in the first round. Oates’ head coaching record stands at 65-48-17.
Wayne Gretzky: he had success in the 2002 Olympics as Canada’s general manager, winning the country’s first gold medal in 50 years. From 2005 to 2009 he was head coach in Phoenix, where the team missed the playoffs each season. Gretzky’s coaching record standards at 143-161-24.
Steve Yzerman: started his front office career as vice president of hockey operations with the Red Wings from 2006 to 2010, winning a fourth Stanley Cup in 2008 and making the Finals in 2009. From 2011 to 2018 Yzerman was the general manager from Tampa Bay, with the Lightning making the 2015 Cup Finals. He also laid the foundation for the teams that won back-to-back Cups in 2020 and 2021. Yzerman returned to Detroit in 2019 to become GM, a position he still holds. Much like Gretzky, he also guided Team Canada at the Olympics, winning gold medals in 2010 and 2014.
Mark Recchi: since 2012 has been advisor or assistant coach in Dallas, Pittsburgh, New Jersey and most recently Columbus for the 2023-24. Recchi was part of back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017 with Pittsburgh.
Brett Hull: was part of the Dallas front office from 2006 to 2011, including two years as co-general manager with Les Jackson. From 2013 to 2018 Hull was executive vice-president of hockey operations with Blues.
556 - Pat LaFontaine
In September 1997 Lafontaine was traded to the New York Rangers for a second round draft pick (Andrew Peters) and future considerations.
Pat LaFontaine: played one season with Rangers (1997-98), scoring 23 goals and 62 points. He missed the entire 1998-99 season due to post concussion syndrome and retired in October 1999.
Andrew Peters: the enforcer played five seasons for the Sabres, scoring four goals and seven points while racking up 557 penalty minutes in 200 games.
Let’s call this trade a wash. There is no doubt of LaFontaine’s skills, but a series of concussions left little chance of him returning to past glory. The Sabres got a serviceable fourth liner in return for a star who may never have played after the trade.
YouTube clip: Lafontaine scoring in his return to Buffalo in November 1997.
557 - Dave Thomlinson
A left winger, Thomlinson was drafted 43rd overall by Toronto in 1985. Following the draft he played two seasons of junior hockey in WHL, signing as a free agent with St. Louis in 1987. Thomlinson turned pro with Peoria in the IHL, playing there for four seasons from 1987 to 1991. During this span he appeared in 22 games with the Blues, scoring one goal and three points. A noted scorer in the IHL, Thomlinson’s most productive season came in 1990-91, scoring 53 goals and 107 points.
He signed as a free agent with Boston for the 1991-92 season, playing in 12 games and recording one assist. After one season as Bruin he joined the New York Rangers, spending the entire 1992-93 season in the AHL. Thomlinson moved next to Los Angeles, playing eight games over two seasons with the Kings. He played three final pro seasons in the IHL, retiring after 1997-98.
In five NHL seasons, Thomlinson played in 42 games, scoring one goal and four points. He is currently a lawyer with the firm of Miller Thomson LLP in Waterloo, Ontario.
YouTube clip: taking a quick pummeling from Marty McSorley during McSorley’s brief time with Pittsburgh.
558 - Doug Gilmour
In February 1997 Toronto traded fan favourite Doug Gilmour, along with Dave Ellett and a third round draft pick to New Jersey for Alyn McCauley, Jason Smith and Steve Sullivan.
Doug Gilmour - played a season and a half with Devils, amounting to 83 games, 20 goals and 75 assists. In the 1997-98 season the Devils finished first in the Eastern Conference, but were upset in the first round by Ottawa. Gilmour signed with Chicago the following off-season.
Dave Ellett - played 20 games with the Devils to finish the season, then signed with Boston as free agent.
Andre Lakos - an Austrian defenceman drafted out of OHL, Lakos played a few seasons in the AHL. He had a lengthy career in Europe, whcih included winning three Austrian league titles.
Alyn McCauley- played six seasons with the Leafs, appearing in 488 games, scoring 69 goals and 166 points. The forward had significant talent, as evident by his 15 points in 20 playoff games during the 2002 playoffs, tied for second on the Leafs. Unfortunately he was also injury prone, and in March 2003 was traded to San Jose with Brad Boyes and a first round pick for Owen Nolan.
Steve Sullivan - played four seasons with Leafs, suiting up in 154 games, scoring 35 goals and 85 points. In October 1999 he was selected off waivers by Chicago. Sullivan developed into a solid 60-70 point scorer with the Hawks and Nashville.
Jason Smith - in three seasons with the Leafs, Smith played in 162 games, scoring 34 points. The defensive d-man was traded to Edmonton in March 1999 for two draft picks (Kris Vernasky and Jonathan Zion).
Can I say no one wins? Gilmour had two decent seasons with the Devils, but it did not result in any playoff success, the reason he was acquired. McCauley was talented but injury prone, and when he was traded with other assets, the Leafs got a past-his-prime Nolan. Sullivan developed once he left for nothing, and Smith was traded away for nothing as well.
YouTube clip: Killer's first shift in his return to Toronto after the trade.
559 - Craig Billington
A goaltender, Billington was drafted 23rd overall by New Jersey in 1984. He remained with his junior team in Belleville of the OHL until the 1985-86 season, when he made his debut with the Devils, playing in 18 games. Earlier that season he represented Canada at the world juniors, winning a gold medal and best goaltender.
Billington’s first three pro seasons were played primarily with Utica in the AHL, where he posted two 20+ win seasons. During this time he appeared in 25 games for the Devils, posting a 5-14-2 record. In 1991-92 he became Chris Terreri’s full-time backup, earning a 13-7-1 record, .892 save percentage and 3.04 goals against. The 1992-93 season would be the best in his career, playing in 42 games (winning a career-high 21) and playing in the 1993 all-star game.
The emergence of Martin Brodeur made Billington expendable, and in June 1993 he was traded to Ottawa with Troy Mallette and a draft pick for Peter Sidorkiewicz and future considerations (Mike Peluso). In his one full season as a Senator, Billington played in a career-high 63 games, posting a 11-41-4 record, 4.59 goals against and .859 save percentage. Playing for a very bad second year Senators team, he led the league in both losses and goals against (254).
Early in the lockout shortened 1994-95 season Billington was mercifully traded to Boston for a draft pick. He played parts of two seasons with the Bruins before signing with Florida in September 1995. Billington never played in a game with the Panthers as he was claimed by Colorado later in September. In three seasons as Patrick Roy’s backup, Billington played in just over 20 games per year, on average, twice posting 11 win seasons.
In July 1999 he was traded to Washington, where he played the final four seasons of his career, appearing in 47 games, winning 11. He retired following the 2002-03 season. In 15 NHL seasons, Billington played in 332 games, earning a 110-149-31 record, 3.63 goals against and .877 save percentage. In retirement he has held several different positions with Colorado, including goalie coach, director of player development, vice-president of hockey operations and from 2013 to 2022, assistant general manager. He is currently the director of player evaluation.
YouTube clip: an interview with TSN regarding the experience of being a goaltender on an expansion team. The interview also features future Senators legend Ron Tugnutt, albeit during his time with Anaheim.
560 - Dean Evason
In October 1991 Evason was traded to San Jose for Dan Keczmer.
Dean Evason - played two seasons with the Sharks, appearing in 158 games scoring 23 goals and 57 points. He was traded in June 1993 to Dallas for a draft pick.
Dan Keczmer - played 36 games over three seasons with Hartford, scoring four goals and nine points. He was traded in November 1993 to Calgary for Jeff Reese.
I'll give this trade to the Sharks simply because Evason played more games for them.
YouTube clip: getting busted open by Craig MacTavish in a fight during a Sharks/Oilers game.
561 - Brendan Shanahan
A left winger, Shanahan was drafted second overall by New Jersey in the 1987 draft. He turned pro immediately, playing in 65 games during the 1987-88 season, scoring seven goals and 26 points. Over his next three seasons Shanahan developed into a solid power forward, scoring 22 or more goals and recording 100 or more penalty minutes each season.
In the summer of 1991 he signed with St. Louis as a free agent, but was also officially considered compensation for the Devils signing the Blues’ Scott Stevens. In his first season as a Blue Shanahan set career-highs in goals (33) and scored 69 points. The next two seasons were the best statistical seasons in his career, scoring 51 goals and 93 points in 1992-93, followed by 52 goals and 102 points in 1993-94. During the 1993-94 season he also recorded a career-high 211 penalty minutes, led the NHL in shots (397) and short-handed goals (7), and was named a first-team all-star.
Following the 1994-95 lockout season, he was traded one-for-one to Hartford for Chris Pronger. Shanahan was captain of the Whalers in his one season in Connecticut, scoring 44 goals and 78 points. Early in the 1996-97 season he was traded to Detroit with Brian Glynn for Paul Coffey, Keith Primeau and a first round pick. In his first season as a Red Wing, Shanahan scored 47 goals and 88 points, and lead the NHL with 20 power play goals. He added nine goals and 17 points in the playoffs as the Red Wings won the 1997 Stanley Cup. Shanahan would win a second straight Cup with the Wings in 1998, scoring five goals and nine points in the playoffs.
Over his next seven seasons with the Wings Shanahan scored 30+ goals six times, including two 40+ goal seasons, 60+ points five times and recording 100 or more penalty minutes every season but one. He also racked up the awards during this time, winning the King Clancy Trophy in 2003, and earned first-team all-star (2000) and second-team all-star (2002) nods. One can’t forget Shanahan’s third Stanley Cup in 2003, when he scored eight goals and 19 points in 23 games.
In the summer of 2006 he signed with the New York Rangers as a free agent. In two seasons with the Rangers he scored 20 or more goals each season. Shanahan capped his NHL career with one final season where it all started, New Jersey. In the 2008-09 season he played in 34 games, scoring six goals and 14 points after signing with the Devils in January.
In 21 NHL seasons, Shanahan played in 1524 games (19th all-time), scoring 656 goals (14th), 1354 points (28th) and recording 2489 penalty minutes (23rd). He sits seventh all-time in powerplay goals (237) and game-winning goals (109), and ninth in shots (5086). Shanahan played in eight all-star games, is a member of the Triple Gold Club and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014.
From 2009 to 2014 he worked for the NHL head office, first as the vice-president of hockey and business development, then the vice-president of player safety. Since 2014 he has been the president of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
YouTube clip: career highlight video from being named one of the top 100 NHLers of all-time.
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