Mike O'Connell
Encyclopedia
Michael Thomas O'Connell (born November 25, 1955) is the Director of Pro Development for the Los Angeles Kings
. O'Connell was also a former professional ice hockey
player and general manager
. He played 860 NHL
regular season games between 1977 and 1990 and later served as the general manager of the Boston Bruins
from 2000 until 2006. He is the son of former NFL
quarterback
Tommy O'Connell
and brother of former World Hockey Association
player Tim O'Connell
.
, Massachusetts
and grew up playing hockey and gridiron football
at Archbishop Williams High School
in Braintree
. He moved to the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League Kingston Canadians
as a teenager, following the recommendation of Bruins GM Harry Sinden
and was promptly named best OMJHL defenceman in 1974–75.
in the 1975 NHL Entry Draft. His professional career for the Hawks began in the minors with the CHL
Dallas Black Hawks
in 1976–77. He became the first Chicago native to play for the Chicago Black Hawks in 1978, but most of his career was spent in his adopted home state of Massachusetts
with the Bruins, who obtained him in a trade for Al Secord
in 1980. An excellent skater, O'Connell was a solid all-around player, being both reliable in the defensive zone and consistently effective on offense, with a hard, accurate shot from the point. His best years were spent in Boston, helping to make up a defensive squad that included Brad Park
and Ray Bourque
. He played in the 1984
NHL All-Star Game while with the Bruins, also representing the United States at the 1981 Canada Cup
and 1985 Ice Hockey World Championship tournaments. O'Connell finished his NHL career as a penalty killer and defensive specialist with the Detroit Red Wings
in 1989, who had obtained him in a trade for Reed Larson
in 1986.
. He was then named Boston assistant general manager in 1994, and also became vice president of hockey operations in 1998, and alternate governor in 2000. The Bruins named O'Connell vice president and general manager on November 1, 2000, and signed a five-year contract extension on June 21, 2002. He was however fired from the job on March 25, 2006 following a controversial number of player trades that did not work out well for the Bruins. Notably, O'Connell decided to trade high-scoring center Joe Thornton
.
In 2003–2004 season, under his direction, the Bruins finished 1st in the Northeast Division, 2nd in the Eastern Conference, and 4th overall in the NHL with 104 points. The NHL locked out the players for the 2004–05 season and the Bruins lost five players previously acquired by O'Connell (Michael Nylander
, Brian Rolston
, Sean O'Donnell
, Mike Knuble
and Sergei Gonchar
) to free agency. O'Connell blamed Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs for the decision to not re- sign the free agents, but in the end it was his complete failure as a GM that created the downfall....and he smells bad too.
In 2005, he traded away top center Joe Thornton
to the San Jose Sharks
. The Bruins received players Brad Stuart
, Marco Sturm
and Wayne Primeau
; Thornton went on with the San Jose Sharks to win the Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player and the Art Ross Trophy
as scoring champion.
Many important players on the Bruins roster were drafted during O'Connell's tenure as G.M., including Patrice Bergeron
, Mark Stuart, and David Krejci
. O'Connell is currently Director of Pro Player development with the Los Angeles Kings
.
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. O'Connell was also a former professional ice hockey
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 and 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:...
. He played 860 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...
regular season games between 1977 and 1990 and later served as the general manager of the Boston Bruins
Boston 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...
from 2000 until 2006. He is the son of former NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Tommy O'Connell
Tommy O'Connell
Tommy O'Connell is a retired American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback who played in five NFL and two American Football League seasons from 1953–1957 and 1960-1961 for 3 different teams...
and brother of former 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...
player Tim O'Connell
Tim O'Connell
Tim O'Connell is a former professional ice hockey forward. He was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League in the eighth round, 124th overall, of the 1973 NHL Entry Draft; however, he never played in that league...
.
Youth and junior hockey
O'Connell was raised in CohassetCohasset, Massachusetts
Cohasset is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, though it is not contiguous with the main body of the county. The population was 7,542 at the 2010 census.- History :...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and grew up playing hockey and gridiron football
Gridiron football
Gridiron football , sometimes known as North American football, is an umbrella term for related codes of football primarily played in the United States and Canada. The predominant forms of gridiron football are American football and Canadian football...
at Archbishop Williams High School
Archbishop Williams High School
Archbishop Williams High School is a co-educational Catholic school in Braintree, Massachusetts, USA. It was founded in 1949 by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth...
in Braintree
Braintree, Massachusetts
The Town of Braintree is a suburban city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Although officially known as a town, Braintree adopted a municipal charter, effective 2008, with a mayor-council form of government and is considered a city under Massachusetts law. The population was 35,744...
. He moved to the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League Kingston Canadians
Kingston Canadians
The Kingston Canadians were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League from 1973 to 1988. The team played home games at the Kingston Memorial Centre in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.-History:...
as a teenager, following the recommendation of Bruins GM Harry Sinden
Harry Sinden
Harry James Sinden was the long-time general manager, coach, and president for the Boston Bruins NHL hockey team, and was the coach of Team Canada during the 1972 Summit Series...
and was promptly named best OMJHL defenceman in 1974–75.
NHL career
Mike O'Connell was chosen in the second round, as the 43rd pick overall by the Chicago Black HawksChicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
in the 1975 NHL Entry Draft. His professional career for the Hawks began in the minors with the CHL
Canadian Hockey League
The Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canadian-based major junior ice hockey leagues for players 16 to 20 years of age. The CHL was founded in 1975 as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, and is composed of its three member leagues, the Western Hockey...
Dallas Black Hawks
Dallas Black Hawks
The Dallas Black Hawks were a minor-league professional ice hockey team in Dallas, Texas. They were a member of the Central Hockey League and played home games at State Fair Coliseum....
in 1976–77. He became the first Chicago native to play for the Chicago Black Hawks in 1978, but most of his career was spent in his adopted home state of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
with the Bruins, who obtained him in a trade for Al Secord
Al Secord
Alan William Secord is a retired professional ice hockey left wing who played in the National Hockey League for twelve seasons from 1978–79 until 1989–90.-Playing career:...
in 1980. An excellent skater, O'Connell was a solid all-around player, being both reliable in the defensive zone and consistently effective on offense, with a hard, accurate shot from the point. His best years were spent in Boston, helping to make up a defensive squad that included Brad Park
Brad Park
Douglas Bradford Park is a retired ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings...
and Ray Bourque
Ray Bourque
Raymond Jean "Ray" Bourque is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player. He currently holds records for most goals, assists and points by a defenceman in the National Hockey League . Bourque has become near-synonymous with the Boston Bruins franchise, for which he played 21 seasons and...
. He played in the 1984
36th National Hockey League All-Star Game
The 36th NHL All-Star Game was held in Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey, home to the New Jersey Devils, on January 31, 1984.- Wales Conference All-Stars :| valign=top width=50% align=left |- Campbell Conference All-Stars :...
NHL All-Star Game while with the Bruins, also representing the United States at the 1981 Canada Cup
1981 Canada Cup
The 1981 Canada Cup was the second best-on-best ice hockey world championship and involved the world's top six hockey nations. Tournament games were held in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal and Ottawa. The Soviet Union defeated Canada in a single game final to win its first title, while Soviet...
and 1985 Ice Hockey World Championship tournaments. O'Connell finished his NHL career as a penalty killer and defensive specialist with 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 1989, who had obtained him in a trade for Reed Larson
Reed Larson
Reed David Larson is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman and former captain of the Detroit Red Wings who played 904 regular season games in the National Hockey League between 1976 and 1990...
in 1986.
Mismanagement career
Following retirement as a player, O'Connell served as head coach of the San Diego Gulls of the International Hockey League in 1990–91. Despite a losing record, Harry Sinden hired his protege to coach the Bruins' top farm team the Providence BruinsProvidence Bruins
The Providence Bruins are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and are the primary development team for the NHL's Boston Bruins. They play in Providence, Rhode Island at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.-History:...
. He was then named Boston assistant general manager in 1994, and also became vice president of hockey operations in 1998, and alternate governor in 2000. The Bruins named O'Connell vice president and general manager on November 1, 2000, and signed a five-year contract extension on June 21, 2002. He was however fired from the job on March 25, 2006 following a controversial number of player trades that did not work out well for the Bruins. Notably, O'Connell decided to trade high-scoring center Joe Thornton
Joe Thornton
Joseph Eric Thornton is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and captain of the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League . He was selected first overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft and went on to play seven seasons with the club, five as its Captain. During the...
.
In 2003–2004 season, under his direction, the Bruins finished 1st in the Northeast Division, 2nd in the Eastern Conference, and 4th overall in the NHL with 104 points. The NHL locked out the players for the 2004–05 season and the Bruins lost five players previously acquired by O'Connell (Michael Nylander
Michael Nylander
Michael Nylander is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre who is currently a free agent.- Playing career :Nylander was drafted by the Hartford Whalers in the third round in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft...
, Brian Rolston
Brian Rolston
Brian Lee Rolston is a professional ice hockey player and an alternate captain for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League. He has won a Stanley Cup Championship with the New Jersey Devils in 1995, and the World Cup of Hockey in 1996 playing for Team USA...
, Sean O'Donnell
Sean O'Donnell
Sean "O.D." O'Donnell is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League...
, Mike Knuble
Mike Knuble
Michael Rudolph Knuble is a Canadian American professional ice hockey right winger and an alternate captain for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
and 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...
) to free agency. O'Connell blamed Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs for the decision to not re- sign the free agents, but in the end it was his complete failure as a GM that created the downfall....and he smells bad too.
In 2005, he traded away top center Joe Thornton
Joe Thornton
Joseph Eric Thornton is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and captain of the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League . He was selected first overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft and went on to play seven seasons with the club, five as its Captain. During the...
to the San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. The Bruins received players Brad Stuart
Brad Stuart
Bradley Stuart is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :...
, Marco Sturm
Marco Sturm
Marco Johann Sturm is a German professional ice hockey winger with the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League . Sturm began his career with EV Landshut of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, playing with the team from 1995 to 1997. Selected 21st overall in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose...
and Wayne Primeau
Wayne Primeau
Wayne Michael Primeau is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently a free agent. He is the younger brother of Keith Primeau...
; Thornton went on with the San Jose Sharks to win the Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player and the Art Ross Trophy
Art Ross Trophy
The Art Ross Trophy is awarded to the National Hockey League player who leads the league in scoring points at the end of the regular season. It was presented to the NHL by former player, general manager, and head coach Art Ross. The trophy has been awarded 61 times to 25 players since its inception...
as scoring champion.
Many important players on the Bruins roster were drafted during O'Connell's tenure as G.M., including Patrice Bergeron
Patrice Bergeron
Patrice Bergeron is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and alternate captain currently playing for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League...
, Mark Stuart, and David Krejci
David Krejcí
David Krejčí is a Czech professional ice hockey center currently playing for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
. O'Connell is currently Director of Pro Player development with the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
Coaching record
| Team | |Regular season | Boston Bruins Boston 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... |
2002–03 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | (87) | 3rd in Northeast Northeast Division (NHL) The NHL's Northeast Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Eastern Conference in a league realignment, the predecessor of which was the Adams Division... |
Lost in first round |
|---|
Awards and achievements
- OMJHL First All-Star Team (1975)
- CHLCanadian Hockey LeagueThe Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canadian-based major junior ice hockey leagues for players 16 to 20 years of age. The CHL was founded in 1975 as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, and is composed of its three member leagues, the Western Hockey...
First All-Star Team (1977) - Most Valuable Defenseman - CHL (1977)
- Played in NHL All-Star Game (1984)
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1973–74 | Kingston Canadiens | OHA Ontario Hockey Association The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the... |
70 | 16 | 43 | 59 | 81 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1974–75 | Kingston Canadiens | OMJHL | 50 | 18 | 55 | 73 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1975–76 | Dallas Black Hawks Dallas Black Hawks The Dallas Black Hawks were a minor-league professional ice hockey team in Dallas, Texas. They were a member of the Central Hockey League and played home games at State Fair Coliseum.... |
CHL | 70 | 6 | 37 | 43 | 50 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 8 | ||
| 1976–77 | Dallas Black Hawks | CHL | 63 | 15 | 53 | 68 | 30 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 1977–78 | Dallas Black Hawks | CHL | 62 | 6 | 45 | 51 | 75 | 13 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 8 | ||
| 1977–78 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1978–79 1978–79 AHL season The 1978–79 AHL season was the 43rd season of the American Hockey League. The league inaugurates the Ken McKenzie Award, for the most outstanding marketing executive, showing its commitment to marketing and public relations.... |
New Brunswick Hawks New Brunswick Hawks The New Brunswick Hawks were a professional ice hockey team based in Moncton, New Brunswick. Home games were played at the Moncton Coliseum. They were a member of the American Hockey League between 1978 and 1982. The Hawks operated as a minor league affiliate of the Chicago Black Hawks and 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... |
35 | 5 | 20 | 25 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1978–79 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 48 | 4 | 22 | 26 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 1979–80 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 78 | 8 | 22 | 30 | 52 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1980–81 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 34 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1980–81 | Boston Bruins Boston 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... |
NHL | 48 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 42 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 1981–82 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 80 | 5 | 35 | 40 | 75 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 20 | ||
| 1982–83 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 80 | 14 | 39 | 53 | 42 | 17 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 12 | ||
| 1983–84 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 75 | 18 | 42 | 60 | 42 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1984–85 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 78 | 15 | 50 | 55 | 64 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 1985–86 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 63 | 8 | 21 | 29 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1985–86 | 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... |
NHL | 13 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1986–87 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 77 | 5 | 26 | 31 | 70 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 14 | ||
| 1987–88 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 48 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 38 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | ||
| 1988–89 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 66 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 41 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 1989–90 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 66 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 860 | 105 | 335 | 440 | 605 | 82 | 8 | 24 | 32 | 64 | ||||