- Dean Lombardi
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Dean Lombardi Born Dean Lombardi
March 5, 1958
Holyoke, MA, USAOccupation General Manager & President of the Los Angeles Kings Dean Lombardi (born March 5, 1958 in Holyoke, Massachusetts) is President and General Manager of the NHL's Los Angeles Kings. He previously served as GM of the San Jose Sharks, a position he held for seven seasons (1996–2003).
Early life
Lombardi grew up in Ludlow, Massachusetts. During the 1974-75 season, as a junior at Ludlow High School, he was an All-Western Massachusetts forward. The next season (1975–76), as a senior, Lombardi was a member of the Wallace Cup champion Springfield Olympics of the New England Junior Hockey League, where he played for Gary Dineen. Lombardi then played two more seasons for Dineen, and was selected to the All-America Junior hockey team. During his college freshman year he played college hockey at the Division 2 Elmira College, then transferred to the University of New Haven, where he was selected the scholar/athlete his senior year, and served as captain his junior and senior years. Lombardi graduated third in his class.
Lombardi later attented law school at Tulane University, graduating with honors and specializing in labor law. He initially became a player's agent under the famed agent Art Kaminsky, then crossed over into management as assistant general manager to Jack Ferreira with the Minnesota North Stars from 1988–1990, then moved with Ferreira to the expansion San Jose Sharks. Lombardi was appinted general manager of the Sharks in 1996. He is the son-in-law of the Hockey Hall of Fame winger Bob Pulford, also a longtime NHL general manager.
As GM
Upon taking over the San Jose Sharks, he was widely criticized for signing veterans. This move, however, proved to be beneficial while stockpiling the team's farm system with homegrown talent. During his tenure as Sharks GM, he drafted Patrick Marleau, Brad Stuart, Scott Hannan, Marco Sturm and Marcel Goc in the first round along with Jonathan Cheechoo, Mark Smith, Ryane Clowe and Christian Ehrhoff in the later rounds.
He also traded for established veterans, including Owen Nolan, Teemu Selänne, Adam Graves, Vincent Damphousse, Mike Ricci, Kyle McLaren, Mike Vernon, Todd Harvey, Bryan Marchment and Scott Thornton, while developing their prospects slowly. All would become vital in the Sharks success during his tenure. The team would increase their point totals for six straight seasons during his guidance, becoming only the second GM in NHL history to accomplish the feat. Only Hockey Hall of Fame GM Bill Torrey accomplished the same feat overseeing the dynasty of the New York Islanders in the early 1980s.
Lombardi was relieved of his duties, along with head coach Darryl Sutter, late in the 2002–03 NHL season, a season in which many felt the Sharks would go deep in the playoffs, but struggled with a slow start and never recovered. This could be mainly attributed to the lengthy contract hold-out of star goalie Evgeni Nabokov.
Shortly after his firing he was hired by the Philadelphia Flyers as a Western Conference scout, a position he held until April 2006 when he was appointed president and general manager of the Los Angeles Kings.
Preceded by
Chuck GrilloGeneral Manager of the San Jose Sharks
1996-2003Succeeded by
Doug WilsonPreceded by
Dave TaylorGeneral Manager of the Los Angeles Kings
2006–presentIncumbent References
- "Dean Lombardi biography". Los Angeles Kings Hockey Club. http://kings.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=41315. Retrieved 2010-03-11.</ref>
- "Lombardi unveiled as Kings' GM". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2006-04-21. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2006/04/21/lombardi060421.html. Retrieved 2010-03-11.
Los Angeles Kings Franchise Lore 1967 NHL expansion • 1967 NHL Expansion Draft • Bailey • Freeway Face-Off • Frozen Fury • Miracle on Manchester • 2011 NHL PremierePersonnel Owners: Philip Anschutz, Edward Roski, Jr. • General manager: Dean Lombardi • Head coach: Terry Murray • Team captain: Dustin Brown • Current rosterArenas Affiliates Coaches General managers Retired numbers Media TV: Broadcasters • FSN West • Radio: KTLK (1150 AM)Atlantic Division Northeast Division Southeast Division - Lou Lamoriello (New Jersey Devils)
- Chris Dey (New York Islanders)
- Glen Sather (New York Rangers)
- Peter Luukko (Philadelphia Flyers)
- David Morehouse (Pittsburgh Penguins)
- Jim Rutherford (Carolina Hurricanes)
- Michael Yormark (Florida Panthers)
- Vacant (Tampa Bay Lightning)
- Dick Patrick (Washington Capitals)
- Vacant (Winnipeg Jets)
Central Division Northwest Division Pacific Division - John McDonough (Chicago Blackhawks)
- Mike Priest (Columbus Blue Jackets)
- Christopher Ilitch (Detroit Red Wings)
- David Poile (Nashville Predators)
- John Davidson (St. Louis Blues)
- Ken King (Calgary Flames)
- Pierre Lacroix (Colorado Avalanche)
- Kevin Lowe (Edmonton Oilers)
- Vacant (Minnesota Wild)
- Mike Gillis (Vancouver Canucks)
- Vacant (Anaheim Ducks)
- Jeff Cogen (Dallas Stars)
- Dean Lombardi (Los Angeles Kings)
- Douglas Moss (Phoenix Coyotes)
- Vacant (San Jose Sharks)
Current general managers of the National Hockey League Categories:- 1958 births
- American ice hockey players
- American people of Italian descent
- Living people
- Los Angeles Kings
- Minnesota North Stars
- National Hockey League executives
- National Hockey League general managers
- People from Holyoke, Massachusetts
- Philadelphia Flyers
- San Jose Sharks
- Tulane University alumni
- University of New Haven alumni
- Ice hockey people from Massachusetts
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