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{{short description|Canadian ice hockey manager}} |
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'''Sam McMaster''' was the General Manager of the [[Los Angeles Kings]] ([[NHL]]) from 1994 to 1997. His tenure with the team was widely considered a flop, as the Kings regressed to the bottom of the league's standings during his three years as GM. He is known in trivia sections for being the man who traded [[Wayne Gretzky]] to the [[St. Louis Blues (hockey)|St. Louis Blues]] for three prospects, two of whom left the NHL in three years. McMaster was fired in 1997 and replaced by Kings great [[Dave Taylor]]. |
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{{Infobox person |
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| name = Sam McMaster |
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| image = |
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| image_size = 230px |
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| caption = |
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1936|4|15}} |
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| birth_place = [[Vancouver]], British Columbia, Canada |
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| occupation = Former general manager of the [[Los Angeles Kings]] |
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}} |
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'''Sam McMaster''' (born May 3, 1944) is a former NHL General Manager of the [[Los Angeles Kings]] ([[NHL]]), whom he managed from 1994 to 1997. |
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McMaster served as the general manager for both the [[Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds]] and the [[Sudbury Wolves]] of the [[Ontario Hockey League]], prior to working with the Kings. McMaster's tenure with the Kings is best remembered for trading [[Wayne Gretzky]] to the [[St. Louis Blues]] in 1996. |
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{{US-icehockey-bio-stub}} |
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==Early career== |
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McMaster began his hockey career as the general manager for the [[Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds]] of the [[Ontario Hockey League]] in [[1984-85 OHL season|1984]]. After one season, McMaster left the team to become the director of hockey operations for the [[Washington Capitals]], a position he held for three seasons. |
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McMaster returned to the OHL in 1988, when he was appointed the general manager for the [[Sudbury Wolves]]. McMaster assembled a Wolves team that was a perennial playoff contender, but often failed to make a substantial run. |
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==Los Angeles Kings== |
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McMaster was hired by the [[Los Angeles Kings]] in May 1994, replacing [[Nick Beverley]] as the team's general manager, inheriting a team which was one year removed from its first [[1993 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals appearance]]. McMaster watched the team go into a free fall during the strike-shortened [[1994-95 NHL season|1994-95 season]], which prompted him to fire popular head coach [[Barry Melrose]] and assistant coach [[Cap Raeder]] with seven games left in the season as the team bottomed out to finish with a 16-23-9 record.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kings Turning to McMaster : Hockey: He will succeed Beverley as general manager. Vachon will return to a larger role under the new setup. |date=1994-05-24 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119184948/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-05-24-sp-61543-story.html |archive-date=2021-01-19 |url-status=live |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-05-24-sp-61543-story.html}}</ref><ref>[https://greensboro.com/l-a-kings-fire-head-coach-assistant/article_fe0ace09-fddf-5269-a6b4-468a6a17164d.html L.A. KINGS FIRE HEAD COACH, ASSISTANT]</ref> |
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The following season, McMaster hired former Kings defenseman [[Larry Robinson]] as head coach. Despite the optimism, the Kings regressed to the bottom of the league's standings. The team was placed in bankruptcy protection during the off-season following the arrest of the team owner [[Bruce McNall]], which forced McMaster to shed salary by trading away the team's veteran players, while faced with having to deal with a disgruntled [[Wayne Gretzky]], who was unhappy with the direction of the team.<ref>[https://www.deseret.com/1995/7/27/19184605/kings-crown-robinson-as-their-head-coach KINGS CROWN ROBINSON AS THEIR HEAD COACH]</ref><ref>[https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/mgz3eq/five-stages-of-the-trade-that-sent-wayne-gretzky-to-st-louis Five Stages of the Trade That Sent Wayne Gretzky to St. Louis]</ref> |
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Faced with growing frustration from [[Wayne Gretzky]], on 27 February 1996, McMaster traded Gretzky to the [[St. Louis Blues]] for three prospects, [[Craig Johnson (ice hockey, born 1972)|Craig Johnson]], [[Patrice Tardif]] and [[Roman Vopat]], along with a 5th round pick in [[1996 NHL Entry Draft|1996]] (Peter Hogan) and a 1st round pick in [[1997 NHL Entry Draft|1997]] ([[Matt Zultek]]). The trade wound up being disastrous for both teams. Gretzky played only 31 games for the Blues, while the players McMaster acquired did not amount to anything substantial for the Kings. While Johnson was able to earn a full-time roster spot with the team, both Tardif and Vopat left the league within three years, while Hogan and Zultek failed to make it to the NHL altogether.<ref>[https://www.nhl.com/news/this-date-in-nhl-history-february-27/c-287029856 Feb. 27: Gretzky traded to Blues by Kings]</ref><ref>[https://lastwordonsports.com/2014/03/03/the-other-gretzky-trade-that-deal-that-worked-for-neither-team/ The Other Gretzky Trade: That Deal That Worked For Neither Team]</ref> |
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Following the Gretzky trade, McMaster traded away the remaining core players from the [[1993 Stanley Cup Finals|1993 Stanley Cup finalist team]], save for [[Rob Blake]] in an attempt to rebuild the roster. As a result of his efforts, McMaster earned a two year extension from the Kings on 20 May 1996.<ref>[https://apnews.com/afd7dc34185ee45fac74ddd70873a54b Kings Extend Sam McMaster’s Contract Two Years]</ref> |
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Despite not being able to maximize his returns on trades, McMaster was able to acquire future Kings mainstays [[Mattias Norstrom]] and [[Ian Laperrière]]. Another noteworthy trade McMaster made was acquiring [[Stephane Fiset]] from the [[Colorado Avalanche]] in exchange for [[Eric Lacroix]], who was the son of Avalanche general manager [[Pierre Lacroix (ice hockey, born 1948)|Pierre Lacroix]]. |
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Due to his performance at the draft table and questionable player acquisitions, McMaster earned the nickname "McMaster the Disaster" from fans and media alike. |
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McMaster was fired in 1997 after posting a 68-106-38 record over three seasons and was later replaced by former Kings player [[Dave Taylor (ice hockey)|Dave Taylor]]. |
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==After Los Angeles== |
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McMaster currently serves as a pro scout for the [[Columbus Blue Jackets]] and has been in that role since 1999.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bluejackets.nhl.com/club/page.htm?bcid=tea_off_bio.php~id=21 |title=Sam McMaster, amateur scout |publisher=Columbus Blue Jackets Hockey Club |accessdate=2010-04-28}}</ref> |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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{{start box}} |
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{{succession box | before = [[Nick Beverley]] | title = [[List of Los Angeles Kings general managers|General Manager of the Los Angeles Kings]] | years = 1994-97 | after = [[Dave Taylor (ice hockey)|Dave Taylor]]}} |
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{{end box}} |
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| ⚫ | |||
[[Category:1936 births]] |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
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[[Category:Columbus Blue Jackets scouts]] |
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[[Category:Los Angeles Kings executives]] |
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[[Category:National Hockey League executives]] |
[[Category:National Hockey League executives]] |
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[[Category:Ice hockey people from Vancouver]] |
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[[Category:Washington Capitals scouts]] |
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Latest revision as of 06:47, 20 February 2024
Sam McMaster | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 15, 1936 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Occupation | Former general manager of the Los Angeles Kings |
Sam McMaster (born May 3, 1944) is a former NHL General Manager of the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), whom he managed from 1994 to 1997.
McMaster served as the general manager for both the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League, prior to working with the Kings. McMaster's tenure with the Kings is best remembered for trading Wayne Gretzky to the St. Louis Blues in 1996.
Early career[edit]
McMaster began his hockey career as the general manager for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League in 1984. After one season, McMaster left the team to become the director of hockey operations for the Washington Capitals, a position he held for three seasons.
McMaster returned to the OHL in 1988, when he was appointed the general manager for the Sudbury Wolves. McMaster assembled a Wolves team that was a perennial playoff contender, but often failed to make a substantial run.
Los Angeles Kings[edit]
McMaster was hired by the Los Angeles Kings in May 1994, replacing Nick Beverley as the team's general manager, inheriting a team which was one year removed from its first Stanley Cup Finals appearance. McMaster watched the team go into a free fall during the strike-shortened 1994-95 season, which prompted him to fire popular head coach Barry Melrose and assistant coach Cap Raeder with seven games left in the season as the team bottomed out to finish with a 16-23-9 record.[1][2]
The following season, McMaster hired former Kings defenseman Larry Robinson as head coach. Despite the optimism, the Kings regressed to the bottom of the league's standings. The team was placed in bankruptcy protection during the off-season following the arrest of the team owner Bruce McNall, which forced McMaster to shed salary by trading away the team's veteran players, while faced with having to deal with a disgruntled Wayne Gretzky, who was unhappy with the direction of the team.[3][4]
Faced with growing frustration from Wayne Gretzky, on 27 February 1996, McMaster traded Gretzky to the St. Louis Blues for three prospects, Craig Johnson, Patrice Tardif and Roman Vopat, along with a 5th round pick in 1996 (Peter Hogan) and a 1st round pick in 1997 (Matt Zultek). The trade wound up being disastrous for both teams. Gretzky played only 31 games for the Blues, while the players McMaster acquired did not amount to anything substantial for the Kings. While Johnson was able to earn a full-time roster spot with the team, both Tardif and Vopat left the league within three years, while Hogan and Zultek failed to make it to the NHL altogether.[5][6]
Following the Gretzky trade, McMaster traded away the remaining core players from the 1993 Stanley Cup finalist team, save for Rob Blake in an attempt to rebuild the roster. As a result of his efforts, McMaster earned a two year extension from the Kings on 20 May 1996.[7]
Despite not being able to maximize his returns on trades, McMaster was able to acquire future Kings mainstays Mattias Norstrom and Ian Laperrière. Another noteworthy trade McMaster made was acquiring Stephane Fiset from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Eric Lacroix, who was the son of Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix.
Due to his performance at the draft table and questionable player acquisitions, McMaster earned the nickname "McMaster the Disaster" from fans and media alike.
McMaster was fired in 1997 after posting a 68-106-38 record over three seasons and was later replaced by former Kings player Dave Taylor.
After Los Angeles[edit]
McMaster currently serves as a pro scout for the Columbus Blue Jackets and has been in that role since 1999.[8]
References[edit]
- ^ "Kings Turning to McMaster : Hockey: He will succeed Beverley as general manager. Vachon will return to a larger role under the new setup". Los Angeles Times. 1994-05-24. Archived from the original on 2021-01-19.
- ^ L.A. KINGS FIRE HEAD COACH, ASSISTANT
- ^ KINGS CROWN ROBINSON AS THEIR HEAD COACH
- ^ Five Stages of the Trade That Sent Wayne Gretzky to St. Louis
- ^ Feb. 27: Gretzky traded to Blues by Kings
- ^ The Other Gretzky Trade: That Deal That Worked For Neither Team
- ^ Kings Extend Sam McMaster’s Contract Two Years
- ^ "Sam McMaster, amateur scout". Columbus Blue Jackets Hockey Club. Retrieved 2010-04-28.