Craig Patrick
Encyclopedia
Craig Patrick is a former American hockey
player, coach and general manager, the son of Lynn Patrick
and the grandson of Lester Patrick
(his brother Glenn Patrick
also played in the NHL). From 1989–2006, he served 17 years as the general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins
.
, he was sent at age fourteen to Quebec
to play junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
for the Lachine Maroons and later the Montreal Junior Canadians.
He attended the University of Denver
where he helped guide the Pioneers hockey team to the NCAA
championship in 1968 and 1969. He played on the US National Team for 1969–70 and 1970–71 seasons, including the 1970 and 1971 Ice Hockey World Championship tournaments while serving in the US Army.
with the California Golden Seals
, the St. Louis Blues, the Kansas City Scouts
, and the Washington Capitals
. He also played briefly for the Minnesota Fighting Saints
of the World Hockey Association
in 1976–77 before jumping back to the NHL when the Saints folded. He amassed 72 goals, 91 assists, and 163 points in 401 NHL games during his playing career. He also was a member of Team USA at the inaugural 1976 Canada Cup
tournament and also played for the U.S. at the 1979 Ice Hockey World Championship tournament in Moscow, shortly before retiring from professional hockey.
for the 1980 US Olympic
Gold Medal winning hockey team, the Miracle on Ice
.
Patrick was also the general manager for the 2002 US Olympic
team, also coached by Brooks, which won the silver medal – the first US hockey medal since the 1980 team. This tournament was further notable as it was largely the same roster that underperformed in the 1998 Olympics, yet aging players like Mike Richter
and Phil Housley
performed well beyond expectations and were named to the 2002 tournament all-star team.
During both Olympic tournaments, the Team USA defeated the Soviets/Russians.
and in 1981 became the youngest general manager in Ranger's history. He also served as head coach of the Rangers for parts of two seasons (1980–81 and 1984–85).
He was named general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins
on December 5, 1989. During his tenure, the Penguins won two Stanley Cup
championships and one President's Trophy. Patrick also served as head coach of the Penguins twice, during the 1989–90 and 1996–97 seasons.
His early years as GM of the Penguins are remembered as some of the most productive in the history of the franchise. In 1990, he spent his first round draft pick on Czechoslovakian forward Jaromir Jagr
. He traded the Penguins' second round pick that year to Calgary
for Joe Mullen
, a player the Flames had considered to be over the hill. Perhaps his most legendary trade occurred March 4, 1991, when he sent John Cullen
, Jeff Parker and Zarley Zalapski
to the Hartford Whalers
in exchange for Ron Francis
, Ulf Samuelsson
and Grant Jennings
. The move was viewed as a huge gamble. Cullen was the fifth leading scorer in the NHL at the time. However, the players Patrick acquired in the trade played big roles in the Penguins' Stanley Cup championship victories in 1991 and 1992.
However his later years were plagued by the Penguins' financial woes as well as a series of poor trades.
Perhaps his most infamous trades came in March 1996 when he sent future NHL scoring ace Markus Naslund
to the Vancouver Canucks
in exchange for Alek Stojanov
, a role player with just two career NHL goals, and a 2003 Sports Illustrated
article described this as the "worst trade in NHL history". The subsequent trade of Sergei Zubov
, a high scoring defenceman and perennial contender for the Norris Trophy, also hurt the team.
Another disaster came in July 2001 when Patrick sent Jagr and role player Frantisek Kucera
to the Washington Capitals
for three minor league prospects (Kris Beech
, Michal Sivek
, Ross Lupaschuk
) and nearly US$ 5 million cash. The deal was forced by the Penguins financial woes (indeed this saved the club much money as Jagr would fail to live up to expectations with the Capitals), as well as Jagr's growing dissatisfaction with the Penguins. The trade was nonetheless widely criticized in the Pittsburgh media, as the three prospects acquired in the deal never made any significant contribution to the Penguins' organization. Another reason for this criticism was because the New York Rangers were willing to make a deal which would have given Pittsburgh two established players and higher quality prospects. But many believed Patrick resented the Rangers for firing him earlier in his GM career, which made him ask for a greater and to an extent unfair return. One published report had Patrick demanding Petr Nedvěd
, Radek Dvořák
and Mike York
, as well as two prospects for Jágr, which Rangers GM Glen Sather
quickly shot down as Patrick's demands were unreasonable.
From the 2001–02 season onwards, Penguins missed the playoffs in the next four seasons of Patrick's term as General Manager.
After the 2004–05 lockout, in the 2005 off-season, Patrick drafted teen phenomenon Sidney Crosby
with the first overall pick. Patrick also acquired veterans Ziggy Palffy, Sergei Gonchar
, John LeClair
and Mark Recchi
. While 18-year-old Crosby became the youngest player in NHL history to score 100 points, the older free agents had little to show for the millions that Patrick spent on them (though Gonchar would remain a key player in 2008–09). The Penguins finished last in the Atlantic Division for the fourth consecutive time. After 17 years as Penguins General Manager, Patrick was relieved of his duties on April 20, 2006, when his expiring contract was not renewed by team president Ken Sawyer. Succeeding GM Ray Shero
praised Patrick's selection of Marc-André Fleury
, Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin
, but also said that work had to be done to build up the depth and third/fourth lines for the long-term, rather than a quick-fix.
Patrick was initially bitter about his firing and stayed away from hockey-related activities for a while afterwards. The Penguins returned to the postseason in 2007, with Crosby being named regular season MVP and winning the scoring title, though they lost in five games to eventual finalists, the Ottawa Senators
.
In 2008, Patrick accepted an invitation from owner Mario Lemieux
to watch the game in the owners box where the Penguins defeated the Philadelphia Flyers
to take the Eastern Conference Championship. Patrick's later draft picks, Marc-André Fleury, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby were credited with the team's advance to the Stanley Cup Finals that year, where they lost to the Detroit Red Wings
in six games. In 2009, these players had instrumental roles in Pittsburgh's Stanley Cup win.
. Sparkling first round picks early in his tenure such as Jagr, Martin Straka
and Naslund were balanced by later first round busts such as Chris Wells
, Robert Dome
, Craig Hillier
, Milan Kraft
and Stefan Bergkvist
. Productive drafts in the early 2000s produced young talent such as Marc-André Fleury
, Evgeni Malkin
and Sidney Crosby
, but could not reverse the growing opinion in the public or among team management that Patrick had lost his touch.
Lester
(Craig's grandfather) with Montreal Wanderers 1907 (player), Victoria Cougars 1925 (president/manager-coach), New York Rangers 1928 (playing manager-coach), 1933 (manager-coach), 1940 (manager)
Frank (Craig's great uncle) – Vancouver Millionaires 1915 (playing president/manager-coach),
Lynn
(Craig's father) – New York Rangers 1940 (player)
Murray (Craig's uncle) – New York Rangers 1940 (player)
Craig Patrick – Pittsburgh Penguins 1991, 1992 (general manager)
Glenn
(Craig's brother) – never won the Stanley Cup.
Curtiss
(Craig's nephew) – minor league hockey player in the AHL
and ECHL
.
(in the Builder Category). Patrick spent two years as athletic director at the University of Denver (his alma mater) in 1988–1989. He was enshrined into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
in 1996. He was awarded the Lester Patrick Trophy
, named for his grandfather, in the 1999–2000 season for his outstanding service to hockey in the United States.
In a 2004 Disney film about the team called Miracle
, he is played by Noah Emmerich
.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player, coach and general manager, the son of Lynn Patrick
Lynn Patrick
Joseph Lynn Patrick was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and executive. As a player, Patrick played for the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League. Lynn was an important member of one Stanley Cup title the Rangers won in 1940. After his playing career, he went on to be the general...
and the grandson of Lester Patrick
Lester Patrick
Curtis Lester "The Silver Fox" Patrick born in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada, was a professional ice hockey player and coach associated with the Victoria Aristocrats/Cougars of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association , and the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League...
(his brother Glenn Patrick
Glenn Patrick
Glenn Curtiss Patrick is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 38 games in the National Hockey League and 23 games in the World Hockey Association between 1973 and 1977. He played with the St. Louis Blues, California Seals, Cleveland Barons, and Edmonton Oilers...
also played in the NHL). From 1989–2006, he served 17 years as the general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
.
Amateur career
After spending most of his childhood in Wellesley, MassachusettsWellesley, Massachusetts
Wellesley is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of Greater Boston. The population was 27,982 at the time of the 2010 census.It is best known as the home of Wellesley College and Babson College...
, he was sent at age fourteen to Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
to play junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
for the Lachine Maroons and later the Montreal Junior Canadians.
He attended the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
where he helped guide the Pioneers hockey team to the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
championship in 1968 and 1969. He played on the US National Team for 1969–70 and 1970–71 seasons, including the 1970 and 1971 Ice Hockey World Championship tournaments while serving in the US Army.
Career as a professional player
Patrick's pro career was comparatively modest but he did play eight seasons in NHLNational Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
with the California Golden Seals
California Golden Seals
The California Golden Seals were a team in the National Hockey League from 1967–76. Initially named California Seals, the team was renamed Oakland Seals part-way through the 1967–68 season, and then to California Golden Seals in 1970. The Seals were one of six teams added to the league as part of...
, the St. Louis Blues, the Kansas City Scouts
Kansas City Scouts
The Kansas City Scouts was a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League from 1974–76. In 1976, the franchise relocated to Denver, Colorado and became the Colorado Rockies...
, and the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
. He also played briefly for the Minnesota Fighting Saints
Minnesota Fighting Saints
The Minnesota Fighting Saints was the name of two professional ice hockey teams based in Saint Paul, Minnesota that played in the World Hockey Association. The first team was one of the WHA's original twelve franchises, playing from 1972–76. The second team was relocated from Cleveland, Ohio, and...
of the World Hockey Association
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
in 1976–77 before jumping back to the NHL when the Saints folded. He amassed 72 goals, 91 assists, and 163 points in 401 NHL games during his playing career. He also was a member of Team USA at the inaugural 1976 Canada Cup
1976 Canada Cup
The 1976 Canada Cup was an international ice hockey tournament held September 2–15, 1976, in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg and Quebec, Canada as well as in Philadelphia, United States. It was the first of five Canada Cup tournaments held between 1976 and 1991...
tournament and also played for the U.S. at the 1979 Ice Hockey World Championship tournament in Moscow, shortly before retiring from professional hockey.
The Miracle on Ice
Patrick served as Assistant General Manager and Assistant Coach under Herb BrooksHerb Brooks
Herbert Paul Brooks, Jr. was an American ice hockey player and coach. He notably coached the United States' men's hockey team to a 4-3 upset of the heavily favored Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York on February 22, 1980...
for the 1980 US Olympic
1980 Winter Olympics
The 1980 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIII Olympic Winter Games, was a multi-sport event which was celebrated from 13 February through 24 February 1980 in Lake Placid, New York, United States of America. This was the second time the Upstate New York village hosted the Games, after 1932...
Gold Medal winning hockey team, the Miracle on Ice
Miracle on Ice
The "Miracle on Ice" is the name in American popular culture for a medal-round men's ice hockey game during the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York, on Friday, February 22...
.
Patrick was also the general manager for the 2002 US Olympic
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
team, also coached by Brooks, which won the silver medal – the first US hockey medal since the 1980 team. This tournament was further notable as it was largely the same roster that underperformed in the 1998 Olympics, yet aging players like Mike Richter
Mike Richter
Michael Thomas Richter is a former ice hockey goaltender. One of the most successful American-born goaltenders in history, he is best known for having led the New York Rangers to the Stanley Cup title in 1994 and for repeatedly representing the United States in international play. Due to his...
and Phil Housley
Phil Housley
Phillip Francis Housley is a former American ice hockey player who played for the Buffalo Sabres, Winnipeg Jets, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, and Toronto Maple Leafs...
performed well beyond expectations and were named to the 2002 tournament all-star team.
During both Olympic tournaments, the Team USA defeated the Soviets/Russians.
NHL management and beyond
In 1980, he became director of operations for the New York RangersNew York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
and in 1981 became the youngest general manager in Ranger's history. He also served as head coach of the Rangers for parts of two seasons (1980–81 and 1984–85).
He was named general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
on December 5, 1989. During his tenure, the Penguins won two Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
championships and one President's Trophy. Patrick also served as head coach of the Penguins twice, during the 1989–90 and 1996–97 seasons.
His early years as GM of the Penguins are remembered as some of the most productive in the history of the franchise. In 1990, he spent his first round draft pick on Czechoslovakian forward Jaromir Jagr
Jaromir Jagr
Jaromír Jágr is a Czech professional ice hockey right winger who plays for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League . Jágr formerly played with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, and New York Rangers, serving as captain of the Penguins and the Rangers...
. He traded the Penguins' second round pick that year to Calgary
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
for Joe Mullen
Joe Mullen
Joseph Patrick Mullen is a retired American professional ice hockey player who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League with the St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Boston Bruins from 1980–1997. He won three Stanley Cups in 1989 with Calgary, and in 1991 and 1992 with...
, a player the Flames had considered to be over the hill. Perhaps his most legendary trade occurred March 4, 1991, when he sent John Cullen
John Cullen
John Cullen is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Hartford Whalers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning. He was a standout player for Boston University and is the school's all-time leading scorer...
, Jeff Parker and Zarley Zalapski
Zarley Zalapski
Zarley Bennett Zalapski is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman.-Playing career:Zalapski's career started with the Fort Saskatchewan Traders of the AJHL. In his first season with the Traders, Zalapski tallied 70 points in 67 games, including 17 goals. Zalapski spent the next two years...
to the Hartford Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
in exchange for Ron Francis
Ron Francis
Ronald Michael Francis, Jr. is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 23 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs...
, Ulf Samuelsson
Ulf Samuelsson
Ulf Samuelsson is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player and currently the head coach of Modo Hockey of the Elitserien . He played for the Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, and Philadelphia Flyers.- Biography :He specialized in heavy body checks...
and Grant Jennings
Grant Jennings
Grant Curtis Jennings is a former National Hockey League defenceman....
. The move was viewed as a huge gamble. Cullen was the fifth leading scorer in the NHL at the time. However, the players Patrick acquired in the trade played big roles in the Penguins' Stanley Cup championship victories in 1991 and 1992.
Later years as GM
The Penguins also reached the Conference finals in 1996 and 2001.However his later years were plagued by the Penguins' financial woes as well as a series of poor trades.
Perhaps his most infamous trades came in March 1996 when he sent future NHL scoring ace Markus Naslund
Markus Näslund
Sten Markus Näslund is a Swedish ice hockey general manager for Modo Hockey and a retired professional winger. He played in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers, as well as in the Elitserien with Modo Hockey...
to the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
in exchange for Alek Stojanov
Alek Stojanov
Alexander Stojanov is a retired professional ice hockey player who spent three seasons in the National Hockey League. He is best known for his trade from Vancouver to Pittsburgh in exchange for Markus Näslund, in what is recognized as one of the most lopsided trades in the history of the NHL...
, a role player with just two career NHL goals, and a 2003 Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
article described this as the "worst trade in NHL history". The subsequent trade of Sergei Zubov
Sergei Zubov
Sergei Alexandrovich Zubov is a former Russian professional ice hockey defenceman who played for the Dallas Stars, New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League as well as SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League...
, a high scoring defenceman and perennial contender for the Norris Trophy, also hurt the team.
Another disaster came in July 2001 when Patrick sent Jagr and role player Frantisek Kucera
Frantisek Kucera
František Kučera is a retired Czech professional ice hockey defenseman who played in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Blackhawks, Hartford Whalers, Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals.-Playing career:Originally...
to the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
for three minor league prospects (Kris Beech
Kris Beech
Kristopher Beech is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre, currently playing for Rauman Lukko in the Finnish elite league SM-Liiga.-Playing career:...
, Michal Sivek
Michal Sivek
Michal Sivek is a former professional ice hockey player who last played for Sparta Praha. He was one of three players acquired from the Washington Capitals for Jaromír Jágr.-Retirement:...
, Ross Lupaschuk
Ross Lupaschuk
Ross Lupaschuk is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Cologne Sharks.-Juniors:Lupaschuk played his junior-level hockey in the Western Hockey League for five seasons with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Prince Albert Raiders and Red Deer Rebels...
) and nearly US$ 5 million cash. The deal was forced by the Penguins financial woes (indeed this saved the club much money as Jagr would fail to live up to expectations with the Capitals), as well as Jagr's growing dissatisfaction with the Penguins. The trade was nonetheless widely criticized in the Pittsburgh media, as the three prospects acquired in the deal never made any significant contribution to the Penguins' organization. Another reason for this criticism was because the New York Rangers were willing to make a deal which would have given Pittsburgh two established players and higher quality prospects. But many believed Patrick resented the Rangers for firing him earlier in his GM career, which made him ask for a greater and to an extent unfair return. One published report had Patrick demanding Petr Nedvěd
Petr Nedved
Petr Nedvěd is a Czech Canadian professional ice hockey player who spent 15 seasons in the National Hockey League. He currently plays centre for HC Bílí Tygři Liberec of the Czech Extraliga.- Biography :...
, Radek Dvořák
Radek Dvorak
Radek Dvořák is a Czech professional ice hockey currently a member of the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
and Mike York
Mike York
Michael York is an American professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for the Iserlohn Roosters of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga .-Playing career:...
, as well as two prospects for Jágr, which Rangers GM Glen Sather
Glen Sather
Glen Cameron "Slats" Sather is the President and general manager of the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League . He has also served as the head coach of the Rangers, as well as General Manager and coach of the Edmonton Oilers of the World Hockey Association and later NHL...
quickly shot down as Patrick's demands were unreasonable.
From the 2001–02 season onwards, Penguins missed the playoffs in the next four seasons of Patrick's term as General Manager.
After the 2004–05 lockout, in the 2005 off-season, Patrick drafted teen phenomenon Sidney Crosby
Sidney Crosby
Sidney Patrick Crosby ONS is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . Crosby was drafted first overall by the Penguins out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League...
with the first overall pick. Patrick also acquired veterans Ziggy Palffy, Sergei Gonchar
Sergei Gonchar
Sergei Viktorovich Gonchar is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League...
, John LeClair
John LeClair
John Clark LeClair is an American former professional ice hockey left winger who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins...
and Mark Recchi
Mark Recchi
Mark Louis Recchi is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 22 years in the National Hockey League , most notably for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens...
. While 18-year-old Crosby became the youngest player in NHL history to score 100 points, the older free agents had little to show for the millions that Patrick spent on them (though Gonchar would remain a key player in 2008–09). The Penguins finished last in the Atlantic Division for the fourth consecutive time. After 17 years as Penguins General Manager, Patrick was relieved of his duties on April 20, 2006, when his expiring contract was not renewed by team president Ken Sawyer. Succeeding GM Ray Shero
Ray Shero
Rejean "Ray" Shero is the current general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was hired on May 25, 2006, replacing Craig Patrick. He is the son of former Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers coach Fred Shero....
praised Patrick's selection of Marc-André Fleury
Marc-Andre Fleury
Marc-André Fleury is a French Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League...
, Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin
Evgeni Malkin
Evgeni "Geno" Vladimirovich Malkin is a Russian professional ice hockey center and alternate captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League ....
, but also said that work had to be done to build up the depth and third/fourth lines for the long-term, rather than a quick-fix.
Patrick was initially bitter about his firing and stayed away from hockey-related activities for a while afterwards. The Penguins returned to the postseason in 2007, with Crosby being named regular season MVP and winning the scoring title, though they lost in five games to eventual finalists, the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
In 2008, Patrick accepted an invitation from owner Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux, OC, CQ is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is acknowledged to be one of the best players of all time. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2006...
to watch the game in the owners box where the Penguins defeated the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
to take the Eastern Conference Championship. Patrick's later draft picks, Marc-André Fleury, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby were credited with the team's advance to the Stanley Cup Finals that year, where they lost to the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
in six games. In 2009, these players had instrumental roles in Pittsburgh's Stanley Cup win.
Draft history
His tenure as GM also saw a hit and miss record in the NHL Entry DraftNHL Entry Draft
The NHL Entry Draft is an annual meeting in which every franchise of the National Hockey League systematically select the rights to available amateur ice hockey players who meet draft eligibility requirements...
. Sparkling first round picks early in his tenure such as Jagr, Martin Straka
Martin Straka
Martin Straka is a Czech ice hockey centre who plays for HC Plzeň 1929 of the Czech Extraliga. He is also the club's general manager and co-owner.-Playing career:...
and Naslund were balanced by later first round busts such as Chris Wells
Chris Wells (ice hockey)
Chris Wells is a Canadian retired professional hockey player who played in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Florida Panthers.-Playing career:...
, Robert Dome
Robert Döme
Róbert Döme is a Slovak professional ice hockey right winger currently playing in Slovakia for the Slovak Extra League's HC Slovan Bratislava....
, Craig Hillier
Craig Hillier
Craig Hillier is a former professional ice hockey goaltender. He was drafted in the first round, 23rd overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.-Career:...
, Milan Kraft
Milan Kraft
Milan Kraft is a Czech professional ice hockey centre. He was drafted in the first round, 23rd overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft....
and Stefan Bergkvist
Stefan Bergkvist
Stefan Bergkvist is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman. He was drafted in the first round, twenty-sixth overall, of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins and played seven games in the NHL with them.-External links:...
. Productive drafts in the early 2000s produced young talent such as Marc-André Fleury
Marc-Andre Fleury
Marc-André Fleury is a French Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League...
, Evgeni Malkin
Evgeni Malkin
Evgeni "Geno" Vladimirovich Malkin is a Russian professional ice hockey center and alternate captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League ....
and Sidney Crosby
Sidney Crosby
Sidney Patrick Crosby ONS is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . Crosby was drafted first overall by the Penguins out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League...
, but could not reverse the growing opinion in the public or among team management that Patrick had lost his touch.
Patrick family history
Five members of the Patrick family have won the Stanley Cup.Lester
Lester Patrick
Curtis Lester "The Silver Fox" Patrick born in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada, was a professional ice hockey player and coach associated with the Victoria Aristocrats/Cougars of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association , and the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League...
(Craig's grandfather) with Montreal Wanderers 1907 (player), Victoria Cougars 1925 (president/manager-coach), New York Rangers 1928 (playing manager-coach), 1933 (manager-coach), 1940 (manager)
Frank (Craig's great uncle) – Vancouver Millionaires 1915 (playing president/manager-coach),
Lynn
Lynn Patrick
Joseph Lynn Patrick was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and executive. As a player, Patrick played for the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League. Lynn was an important member of one Stanley Cup title the Rangers won in 1940. After his playing career, he went on to be the general...
(Craig's father) – New York Rangers 1940 (player)
Murray (Craig's uncle) – New York Rangers 1940 (player)
Craig Patrick – Pittsburgh Penguins 1991, 1992 (general manager)
Glenn
Glenn Patrick
Glenn Curtiss Patrick is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 38 games in the National Hockey League and 23 games in the World Hockey Association between 1973 and 1977. He played with the St. Louis Blues, California Seals, Cleveland Barons, and Edmonton Oilers...
(Craig's brother) – never won the Stanley Cup.
Curtiss
Curtiss Patrick
Curtiss Patrick is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman.-Career:Curtiss has appeared in 172 games in the ECHL for the Wheeling Nailers and 11 games in the AHL, ten for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and one for the Springfield Falcons, posting 8 goals, 19 assists, and 516...
(Craig's nephew) – minor league hockey player in the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
and ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
.
Other
Patrick was named "The Sporting News" Executive-of-the-Year in 1998 and 1999. He is the third generation of his family to have his name inscribed on the Stanley Cup and the third generation to be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of FameHockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
(in the Builder Category). Patrick spent two years as athletic director at the University of Denver (his alma mater) in 1988–1989. He was enshrined into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
United States Hockey Hall of Fame
The United States Hockey Hall of Fame was established in 1973 with the goal of preserving the rich history of the game in the United States while recognizing the extraordinary contributions of select players, coaches, administrators, officials and teams....
in 1996. He was awarded the Lester Patrick Trophy
Lester Patrick Trophy
The Lester Patrick Trophy has been presented by the National Hockey League and USA Hockey since 1966 to honor a recipient's contribution to ice hockey in the United States. It is considered a non-NHL trophy because it may be awarded to players, coaches, officials, and other personnel outside the NHL...
, named for his grandfather, in the 1999–2000 season for his outstanding service to hockey in the United States.
Coaching record
| Team | |Regular season | |Post season | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | Pts | Finish | Result | ||
| NYR New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the... |
1980–81 | 60 | 26 | 23 | 11 | (74) | 4th in Patrick Patrick Division The Patrick Division of the National Hockey League was formed in 1974 as part of the Clarence Campbell Conference. The division moved to the Prince of Wales Conference in 1981. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. It was named in honor of Lester Patrick... |
Lost in Conf. Finals |
| NYR | 1984–85 | 35 | 11 | 22 | 2 | (64) | 4th in Patrick | Lost in first round |
| PIT Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original... |
1989–90 | 54 | 22 | 26 | 6 | (72) | 5th in Patrick | Missed playoffs |
| PIT | 1996–97 | 20 | 7 | 10 | 3 | (84) | 2nd in Northeast | Lost in first round |
See also
- List of members of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
- Notable families in the NHL
In popular culture
In a 1981 TV movie about the 1980 U.S. hockey team called Miracle on Ice, Patrick is portrayed by Robert Pierce.In a 2004 Disney film about the team called Miracle
Miracle (film)
Miracle is a 2004 American biographical sports film about the United States men's hockey team, led by head coach Herb Brooks, that won the gold medal in the 1980 Winter Olympics. The USA team's victory over the heavily favored Soviet team in the medal round was dubbed the Miracle on Ice...
, he is played by Noah Emmerich
Noah Emmerich
Noah Nicholas Emmerich is an American film actor who first broke out in the film Beautiful Girls. He was later seen in movies like The Truman Show, Cop Land, Frequency, Love & Sex, Windtalkers, Miracle, Super 8 and Little Children.-Early life:Emmerich was born in New York City to a Jewish family,...
.