Mike Smith (ice hockey b. 1945)
Encyclopedia
Michael A. Smith is an American
hockey
executive
who was best known for his stints as general manager
of the Winnipeg Jets and Chicago Blackhawks
teams in the National Hockey League
(NHL). He was also associate general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs
.
degree in social sciences
at Clarkson University
, where he also played hockey. He then transferred to Syracuse University
where he earned a doctorate
in sociology
. After his graduation, he pursued his first job in hockey after being appointed the head coaching job at Christian Brothers Academy
in Syracuse before his hiring in the Winnipeg Jets front office.
, giving the GM job to Smith on an interim basis before making him the permanent manager in December. Smith was manager of the Jets for over five years and was unable to turn around the fortunes of the team. Smith changed the character of the team from a fast team to one that was considered to lack the character to make the playoffs. Smith was the manager who traded away future Hall-of-famer Dale Hawerchuk
after Hawerchuk demanded a trade. During his tenure, attendance dropped in Winnipeg to franchise lows. His firing was expected as early as 1991. Smith made over 70 trades as GM and had numerous contract squabbles with players. Smith was fired by the Jets in January 1994 with the team in last place in its division.
Smith worked as a scout for the Chicago Blackhawks
and assisted the USA Hockey
program until August 1997, when Smith was appointed the associate general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs
. In an unusual arrangement in the Maple Leafs' front office, general manager duties were shared with team president Ken Dryden
and Anders Hedberg
as personnel director. A couple of Smith's noteworthy moves during his time with the Leafs were the hiring of Pat Quinn
as head coach and the signing of Curtis Joseph
prior to the start of the 1998–99 season. Despite the 28 point turnaround, Smith's contract wasn't renewed. Smith was offered a promotion by Dryden, but Smith demanded a role without Dryden involved in day-to-day operations and wanted to be an alternate governor for the Leafs. In June 1999, Dryden fired Smith over the phone while Smith was taking his wife to cancer treatments in Boston.
Smith was not out of work for long. In December 1999, the Chicago Blackhawks
fired their coach and general manager. The Blackhawks hired Smith as 'director of hockey operations' while Bob Pulford
was general manager and coach. Smith's job was to rebuild the organization, and he also performed the tasks of a general manager, including trades, free agents and drafting. On September 22, 2000, Smith was given the title he was exercising in practice: general manager of the Blackhawks. He would be the Blackhawks' GM for three years. He was fired by the Hawks in October 2003. He had been criticized publicly by Hawks ownership after a strip club incident involving Theo Fleury. Ownership was unhappy with Smith's drafting of Europeans, his handling of the Fleury controversy, team chemistry and how it should be run. Ownership made comments favouring head coach Brian Sutter and Smith was fired after a slow start to the 2003–04 season.
, Igor Korolev
, Sergei Bautin
and Nikolai Khabibulin
. Smith also was responsible for drafting Jets mainstay Keith Tkachuk
. His tenure in Chicago was considered a disaster as he failed to address many of the team's holes and drafted first round flops such as Mikhail Yakubov
, Pavel Vorobiev
, Adam Munro
and Anton Babchuk
. Another move that many hockey pundits viewed as laughable was his hiring of Alpo Suhonen
as the team's head coach as Suhonen was deemed too soft as a coach, along with his refusal to discipline players and change up lines during long losing streaks. Suhonen ended up quitting before season's end. Smith was also criticized by the Chicago media for his acquisitions of ex Toronto Maple Leafs
such as Korolev, Garry Valk
, Todd Gill
and Alexander Karpovtsev
, moves which essential dubbed the team "the Chicago Maple Leafs".
, having served as the coach and general manager for the team's 1981, 1994 and 1995 appearances at the IIHF World Hockey Championship. In addition, he serves on the advisory board to USA Hockey.
in the fall of 2000. The couple had one son, Jason. Smith has authored ten books related to coaching in hockey at the grassroots level and is an avid collector of Native American
artwork.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
executive
Senior management
Senior management, executive management, or management team is generally a team of individuals at the highest level of organizational management who have the day-to-day responsibilities of managing a company or corporation, they hold specific executive powers conferred onto them with and by...
who was best known for his stints 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:...
of the Winnipeg Jets and Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago 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...
teams 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...
(NHL). He was also associate general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
Beginnings in hockey
Smith earned a bachelor of scienceBachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in social sciences
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
at Clarkson University
Clarkson University
-The Clarkson School:The Clarkson School, a special division of Clarkson University, was founded in 1978 as a unique educational opportunity. The School offers students an early entrance opportunity into college, replacing the typical senior year of high school with a year of college...
, where he also played hockey. He then transferred to Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
where he earned a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
. After his graduation, he pursued his first job in hockey after being appointed the head coaching job at Christian Brothers Academy
Christian Brothers Academy
Christian Brothers Academy is the name of schools run by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, including:* Christian Brothers Academy - Lincroft, New Jersey* Christian Brothers Academy...
in Syracuse before his hiring in the Winnipeg Jets front office.
NHL years
In 1979, Smith had his first job with the Winnipeg Jets, when he was hired as coach of the Tulsa farm team. He would spend fourteen years in the Jets organization. He became director of scouting, then assistant general manager after Michael Doran, the then assistant general manager, was injured in an automobile accident in November 1984. In September 1988, the Jets fired John FergusonJohn Ferguson
John Ferguson may refer to:Politics*John Ferguson , merchant and Canadian senator from New Brunswick*John Ferguson , physician and Canadian MP and senator from Ontario...
, giving the GM job to Smith on an interim basis before making him the permanent manager in December. Smith was manager of the Jets for over five years and was unable to turn around the fortunes of the team. Smith changed the character of the team from a fast team to one that was considered to lack the character to make the playoffs. Smith was the manager who traded away future Hall-of-famer Dale Hawerchuk
Dale Hawerchuk
Dale Hawerchuk is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League for 16 seasons. He won the NHL's Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's Rookie of the Year in 1982 and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in his second year of eligibility in 2001...
after Hawerchuk demanded a trade. During his tenure, attendance dropped in Winnipeg to franchise lows. His firing was expected as early as 1991. Smith made over 70 trades as GM and had numerous contract squabbles with players. Smith was fired by the Jets in January 1994 with the team in last place in its division.
Smith worked as a scout for the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago 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...
and assisted the USA Hockey
USA Hockey
USA Hockey is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has...
program until August 1997, when Smith was appointed the associate general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. In an unusual arrangement in the Maple Leafs' front office, general manager duties were shared with team president Ken Dryden
Ken Dryden
Kenneth Wayne Dryden, PC, is a Canadian politician, lawyer, businessman, author, and former NHL goaltender. Dryden is married with two children and four grandchildren and is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame...
and Anders Hedberg
Anders Hedberg
Anders Hedberg is a retired former professional ice hockey player who was one of the first European-born players to make an impact in North America...
as personnel director. A couple of Smith's noteworthy moves during his time with the Leafs were the hiring of Pat Quinn
Pat Quinn (ice hockey)
John Brian Patrick Quinn , is a former head coach in the National Hockey League , most recently with the Edmonton Oilers. Known by the nickname "The Big Irishman",...
as head coach and the signing of Curtis Joseph
Curtis Joseph
Curtis Shayne Joseph is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He last played for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League....
prior to the start of the 1998–99 season. Despite the 28 point turnaround, Smith's contract wasn't renewed. Smith was offered a promotion by Dryden, but Smith demanded a role without Dryden involved in day-to-day operations and wanted to be an alternate governor for the Leafs. In June 1999, Dryden fired Smith over the phone while Smith was taking his wife to cancer treatments in Boston.
Smith was not out of work for long. In December 1999, the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago 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...
fired their coach and general manager. The Blackhawks hired Smith as 'director of hockey operations' while Bob Pulford
Bob Pulford
Robert Jesse Pulford is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings in the National Hockey League...
was general manager and coach. Smith's job was to rebuild the organization, and he also performed the tasks of a general manager, including trades, free agents and drafting. On September 22, 2000, Smith was given the title he was exercising in practice: general manager of the Blackhawks. He would be the Blackhawks' GM for three years. He was fired by the Hawks in October 2003. He had been criticized publicly by Hawks ownership after a strip club incident involving Theo Fleury. Ownership was unhappy with Smith's drafting of Europeans, his handling of the Fleury controversy, team chemistry and how it should be run. Ownership made comments favouring head coach Brian Sutter and Smith was fired after a slow start to the 2003–04 season.
Criticisms
Smith has been heavily criticized for his frequent drafting of Russian players. During his stint as the Jets general manager, he drafted players such as Alexei ZhamnovAlexei Zhamnov
Alexei Yuryevich Zhamnov is a Russian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League for the Winnipeg Jets, Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins...
, Igor Korolev
Igor Korolev
Igor Borisovich Korolev was a Russian/Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. Korolev played over 700 games in the National Hockey League from 1992 until 2004. Korolev returned to Russia, and played a further seven seasons in the Russian Super League and the Kontinental Hockey League ...
, Sergei Bautin
Sergei Bautin
Sergei Vladimirovich Bautin is a retired ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Winnipeg Jets, Detroit Red Wings and the San Jose Sharks....
and Nikolai Khabibulin
Nikolai Khabibulin
Nikolai Ivanovich Khabibulin is a Russian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League...
. Smith also was responsible for drafting Jets mainstay Keith Tkachuk
Keith Tkachuk
Keith Matthew Tkachuk is a retired American professional ice hockey player who played for four teams and three franchises in his 19-year career. He is one of only four American-born players to score 500 goals, and is the sixth American player to score 1,000 points.- Playing career :Tkachuk began...
. His tenure in Chicago was considered a disaster as he failed to address many of the team's holes and drafted first round flops such as Mikhail Yakubov
Mikhail Yakubov
Mikhail Yakubov is a Russian ice hockey center who currently plays for the Severstal Cherepovets of the Kontinental Hockey League.Yakubov was drafted 10th overall by Chicago in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft....
, Pavel Vorobiev
Pavel Vorobiev
Pavel Sergeevich Vorobiev is a professional ice hockey right winger who currently plays for MVD Balashikha of the Kontinental Hockey League.-Playing career:...
, Adam Munro
Adam Munro
Adam Munro is a professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for Szekesfehervar of the EBEL in Austria....
and Anton Babchuk
Anton Babchuk
Anton Anatoliiovych Babchuk is a Ukrainian-Russian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was a first round selection, 21st overall, of the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, and has played for the Blackhawks,...
. Another move that many hockey pundits viewed as laughable was his hiring of Alpo Suhonen
Alpo Suhonen
Alpo Suhonen was the first European-born NHL head coach in 50 years when he took over the Chicago Blackhawks on 22 May 2000.- Coaching career :...
as the team's head coach as Suhonen was deemed too soft as a coach, along with his refusal to discipline players and change up lines during long losing streaks. Suhonen ended up quitting before season's end. Smith was also criticized by the Chicago media for his acquisitions of ex Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
such as Korolev, Garry Valk
Garry Valk
Garry Valk is a retired Canadian ice hockey player. He was selected 108th overall in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft. Valk went on to have a distinguished NHL career spanning over a decade, debuting with the Vancouver Canucks in the 1990–91 season, scoring ten goals and eleven assists for twenty-one...
, Todd Gill
Todd Gill
Todd Gill is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the NHL between 1985 and 2003. He played the majority of his career for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and has also played for the San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings, Phoenix Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche, and Chicago...
and Alexander Karpovtsev
Alexander Karpovtsev
Alexander Karpovtsev was a Russian ice hockey player and later an assistant coach for Ak Bars Kazan and Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the Kontinental Hockey League...
, moves which essential dubbed the team "the Chicago Maple Leafs".
Work with Team USA
Smith has been heavily involved with USA HockeyUSA Hockey
USA Hockey is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has...
, having served as the coach and general manager for the team's 1981, 1994 and 1995 appearances at the IIHF World Hockey Championship. In addition, he serves on the advisory board to USA Hockey.
Personal life
Smith is widowed after his wife Judith succumbed to cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in the fall of 2000. The couple had one son, Jason. Smith has authored ten books related to coaching in hockey at the grassroots level and is an avid collector of Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
artwork.