Is nepotism a thing in the NHL?

[kingsholygrail]

Of course. You got connections? Congrats, that's nepotism.

 

[Choralone]

Of course. You got connections? Congrats, that's nepotism.

Well, nepotism means family relationships specifically. Otherwise, you're talking cronyism.

 

[innitfam]

Colin and Gregory Campbell.

 

[RandV]

Another minor one of little significance in 2008 the Canucks with their last pick selected G Morgan Clark who was goalie coach Ian Clark's son who really didn't deserve to be drafted. I can't quote remember but it may have even been a contract renewal demand.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

Bob Green was the Director of Player Personnel for the Oilers a few years ago. His main job was scouting potential free agents in the CHL, NCAA and Europe.

The Oilers signed his step son(Mitch Holmberg) as a free agent out of the WHL.

They also doubled down and gave Holmberg a scouting job after he couldn't even play at the ECHL level haha.

When I think of the Oilers, nepotism players, I tend to think of Dillon Simpson, David Musil, Robert Nilsson, and Keegan Lowe.

Thankfully they all busted, and we never had to go through that shit again.

 

[OilerTyler]

In 2013 the Oilers signed Will Acton, son of Oilers assistant coach Keith Acton. Will Acton was a 26 year old AHL bottom six forward with zero NHL games played.

The team then announced a permanent number for Acton before training camp even started, showing that he already had a spot on the team. He was on the opening day roster and ended up playing 33 disappointing games for the Oilers.

 

[BonMorrison]

I am a staunch believer that the best executives and coaches are people we likely have never and will never see because the NHL just likes their rotating chairs of the same old ass people who are ex-players or related somehow.

 

[93LEAFS]

It absolutely is in Front Offices. Look at how rapidly Doug Wilson promoted his kid to a prominent scouting position.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Well, nepotism means family relationships specifically. Otherwise, you're talking cronyism.

 

[Choralone]

I'm also a pedant. The best kind of ant.

 

[CartographerNo611]

Ray Bourques kids.

 

[brentashton]

Colin and Gregory Campbell.

I was looking through the posts to make sure this had been noted. Well done. This is the poster boys for nepotism.

 

[Took a pill in Sbisa]

Report: Former Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli to work as consultant for Blues - Sportsnet.ca

/Thread

 

[snipes]

Hockey has more nepotism in it than any of the Big 4 North American sports.

The fact that it’s a largely upper middle class throughout the hockey world also lends itself to nepotism and a “good old boys” type culture.

 

[Alwalys]

Ironically, DW Jr might be the best thing to have happened to SJ scouting. There were some entrenched plugs that nepotism broke through.

 

[Saucechucker99]

One hundred percent yes.

 

[Jeune Poulet]

Nepotism and favoritism at the NHL level exist, but are much less common than fans suggest.

But it is a lot more prevalent during development years. A kid with connected parents who are financially comfortable can definitely benefit from it and get more opportunities and attention and be better prepared.

 

[Khrox]

I know the Flames have a bad habit of drafting the younger, less successful, brothers of many NHL Players (Keith Seabrook was technically drafted by Washington, but his first pro games were in Calgary, then there was Staffan Kronwall, Markus Granlund. We also drafted Sean and Brett Sutter).

 

[jetsforever]

Anthony Brodeur was drafted by the Devils in the 7th round.

Martin got to announce it though, more of a cool homage than a nepotistic pick

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

There are so many examples of this from without even thinking about it. Just two from my team:

1. Austin Lemieux constantly got invited to the Penguins rookie camps despite being a NAHL caliber player. He certainly wasn't bad, but he was getting invites at age 23 solely because he was Mario's son.
2. The Penguins hired Ron Hextall as their GM because Lemieux and Hextall became buddies on Team Canada back in the 1990s. I believe they wanted to hire Bergevin as well, who's another buddy of Lemieux's.

Never too late , we will give him to you anyday of the week

 

[Armourboy]

David Poile's son is part of our management group.

Yep Brian Poile is an assistant GM and Director of Hockey Operations.

 

[Guttersniped]

Didn't Benning hire his son as a scout in Vancouver?

I think as much as nepotism, it's more of "the Old Boys Club", where relationships are required to advance and those outside of the club have a very difficult time establishing those relationships.

I honestly think everybody hires their son as a scout. (and a few as AGM.) Chris Shero is still listed as a scout with the NJ Devils, I’m curious how long he hangs in there.

Under Lamoriello, there was scout Jeremy Conte, son of Dir of Scouting David Conte, scout Geoff Stevens, Scott’s brother, and the Prodigal Son himself, Chris Lamoriello, who started off as an obscure scout for the NJ Devils of humble origins before rising to Sr VP of Hockey Operations/AHL GM in NJ and then AGM of the NYI/AHL GM of Bridgeport.

 

[Cornwallace]

 

[MichaelFarrell]

Nepotism is a thing everywhere

 

[Dust]

Why? It's all over the NFL and NBA too.

Because MLB draft has (or had, I think they recently changed it) 40 rounds. You can toss out a 37th round pick without feeling too bad.