John Weisbrod
Encyclopedia
John Weisbrod is a retired American professional ice hockey center and currently serves as the Calgary Flames
Assistant General Manager/Player Personnel. In addition to his work in the NHL, Weisbrod also served as General Manager
and Chief Operating Officer
of the Orlando Magic
, of the National Basketball Association from 2004-2005.
round 4, #73 overall in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft
. Because of injury, Weisbrod took the year off hockey in 1991–1992, only to play 16 games with the Kansas City Blades
of the IHL before being forced to retire, also due to injury.
hockey club, and had great success and an IHL job with the Orlando Solar Bears of the IHL. He once again was very successful, winning the last championship the IHL had in 2001 (it disbanded the year after).
following a disappointing 21–61 season in 2003–2004.
As GM, Weisbrod has gained the reputation of a no-nonsense guy. He was instrumental in the firing of Doc Rivers
, and appointed Johnny Davis head coach of the Magic. However, with 18 games left in the 2004–2005 season, Weisbrod also fired Davis and named assistant coach Chris Jent
the interim head coach.
. In a 7-player deal which sent McGrady, Juwan Howard
, Tyronn Lue
, and another player to the Houston Rockets
, the Magic received erratic point guard Steve Francis
, Cuttino Mobley
, and Kelvin Cato
. Weisbrod received written death threats from fans on different occasions following this transaction. That megatrade was only the beginning of the dismantling of the 2003–2004 team; Weisbrod only retained three of the players for the 2004–2005 season.
Weisbrod also acquired swingman Hedo Turkoglu, center Tony Battie
(traded from Cleveland
for Drew Gooden
, defensive player Doug Christie
(traded from the Sacramento Kings
for Mobley), and drafted Dwight Howard
with the number one pick in the 2004 NBA Draft
. In addition, Weisbrod also acquired Jameer Nelson
in that draft, trading a future first round pick to the Denver Nuggets
in return for Nelson, who was the 20th pick.
On May 23, 2005, Weisbrod resigned from his position of General Manager and Chief Operating Officer of the Orlando Magic
, citing an opportunity to return to an executive position in the National Hockey League
.
of the NHL
announced that Weisbrod had joined the team as a scout for the New England
region.
on September 14, 2006 as a pro scout based out of Tampa
, Florida
. After two seasons scouting the professional leagues, Weisbrod became the Bruins' Director of Collegiate Scouting.
after winning a Stanley Cup
ring with the Bruins.
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...
Assistant General Manager/Player Personnel. In addition to his work in the NHL, Weisbrod also served as General Manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
and Chief Operating Officer
Chief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
of the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
, of the National Basketball Association from 2004-2005.
Early Life and Playing Career
Born in Syosset, NY, Weisbrod attended and played Center on the Harvard ice hockey team from 1987 to 1991. He started ice hockey with the Oyster Bay Gulls and was part of a team that won NY State Championships in 1978, 1980 and 1982 and the Pee Wee National Championships in 1980. Weisbrod was drafted by the Minnesota North StarsMinnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
round 4, #73 overall in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft
1987 NHL Entry Draft
The 1987 NHL Entry Draft was held at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The National Hockey League teams selected 252 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1986–87 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the list of those players selected.-Selections...
. Because of injury, Weisbrod took the year off hockey in 1991–1992, only to play 16 games with the Kansas City Blades
Kansas City Blades
The Kansas City Blades was a professional ice hockey team in the International Hockey League from 1990–2001 until the demise of the league after the 2000–01 season. The Blades was based in Kansas City, Missouri at Kemper Arena....
of the IHL before being forced to retire, also due to injury.
Early Front-Office Work
Having a degree in English from Harvard and his intricate experience to fall back on, Weisbrod became the Head Scout of the New Jersey DevilsNew Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
hockey club, and had great success and an IHL job with the Orlando Solar Bears of the IHL. He once again was very successful, winning the last championship the IHL had in 2001 (it disbanded the year after).
Orlando Magic
When the IHL disbanded, the Solar Bears owner promoted him into the Magic organization in an administrative position. However, he was soon promoted to General Manager of the Magic after the team fired John GabrielJohn Gabriel
Note: For the actor of the same name, see John Gabriel . For the webcomic character, see Penny Arcade.John Gabriel is an executive in the National Basketball Association. In 2008, he became the director of scouting for the New York Knicks...
following a disappointing 21–61 season in 2003–2004.
As GM, Weisbrod has gained the reputation of a no-nonsense guy. He was instrumental in the firing of Doc Rivers
Doc Rivers
Glenn Anton "Doc" Rivers is a former professional basketball player and the current head coach of the NBA's Boston Celtics. Rivers was known for his defense while playing in the NBA...
, and appointed Johnny Davis head coach of the Magic. However, with 18 games left in the 2004–2005 season, Weisbrod also fired Davis and named assistant coach Chris Jent
Chris Jent
Chris Jent is a retired American professional basketball player and former coach in the NBA. He is currently an assistant coach at his alma mater, Ohio State.Jent was born in Orange, California and grew up in Sparta, New Jersey...
the interim head coach.
Notable Trades and Downfall
Weisbrod was also responsible for the blockbuster trade of disgruntled superstar Tracy McGradyTracy McGrady
Tracy Lamar McGrady, Jr., is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Detroit Pistons.Entering the league after graduating from high school, McGrady eventually became a seven-time All-Star. He led the league in scoring in 2003 and 2004. He has also played for the Toronto...
. In a 7-player deal which sent McGrady, Juwan Howard
Juwan Howard
Juwan Antonio Howard is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . The Heat were his eighth different NBA team. He was drafted fifth overall in the 1994 NBA Draft by the Washington Bullets...
, Tyronn Lue
Tyronn Lue
Tyronn Jamar Lue is a former American professional basketball player who last played for the Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association...
, and another player to the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
, the Magic received erratic point guard Steve Francis
Steve Francis
Steven D'Shawn Francis is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association. He had also played for the Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, and New York Knicks...
, Cuttino Mobley
Cuttino Mobley
Cuttino Rashawn Mobley is a former American professional basketball shooting guard who played from 1998 to 2008 in the National Basketball Association .-Biography:...
, and Kelvin Cato
Kelvin Cato
- College career :Cato was an obscure player averaging six points and six rebounds at the University of South Alabama in 1992-93. At that time, he struck up a relationship with then University of New Orleans coach Tim Floyd, who recognized Cato's potential. In 1994, Floyd took over as head coach...
. Weisbrod received written death threats from fans on different occasions following this transaction. That megatrade was only the beginning of the dismantling of the 2003–2004 team; Weisbrod only retained three of the players for the 2004–2005 season.
Weisbrod also acquired swingman Hedo Turkoglu, center Tony Battie
Tony Battie
Demetrius Antonio Battie is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Philadelphia 76ers.-High school and college career:...
(traded from Cleveland
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
for Drew Gooden
Drew Gooden
Andrew Melvin "Drew" Gooden is an American professional basketball player in the NBA who plays for the Milwaukee Bucks. Gooden is a 6'10", 250 lbs...
, defensive player Doug Christie
Doug Christie (basketball)
Douglas Dale Christie is a retired American basketball player.-Early life:Christie is the son of John Malone and Norma Christie...
(traded from the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
for Mobley), and drafted Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard
Dwight David Howard is an American basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association . Howard, who usually plays center but can also play power forward, had an outstanding high school career at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy...
with the number one pick in the 2004 NBA Draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
. In addition, Weisbrod also acquired Jameer Nelson
Jameer Nelson
Jameer Nelson is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the NBA. He played college basketball at Saint Joseph's University and was drafted in the first round of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets but was traded to the Orlando Magic, where he has played for his...
in that draft, trading a future first round pick to the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
in return for Nelson, who was the 20th pick.
On May 23, 2005, Weisbrod resigned from his position of General Manager and Chief Operating Officer of the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
, citing an opportunity to return to an executive position in the National Hockey League
National 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...
.
Dallas Stars
On July 14, 2005, the Dallas StarsDallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
of the NHL
National 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...
announced that Weisbrod had joined the team as a scout for the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
region.
Boston Bruins
After a season with the Stars, Weisbrod joined the scouting staff of the Boston BruinsBoston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
on September 14, 2006 as a pro scout based out of Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. After two seasons scouting the professional leagues, Weisbrod became the Bruins' Director of Collegiate Scouting.
Calgary Flames
On June 27, 2011, Weisbrod was named the Assistant General Manager of Player Personnel of the Calgary FlamesCalgary 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...
after winning a 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...
ring with the Bruins.