The beehives came yesterday, Smith says over the phone. Part of the word on him was he had slow feet, Smith says. Most historical data provided by Dan Diamond and Associates. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. She said her husband also has a close relationship with Pulford and she doesn't see the family situation being a hindrance to him being the Hawks' general manager. The wearing of the green (and purple) and get used to seeing Jonathan Quick, NHL suspends Sharks Dany Heatley for two games. On October 11, 2007, Pulford was named an officer with the Wirtz Corporation, parent company of the Blackhawks, and is no longer part of the day-to-day management of the Blackhawks. Bob Pulford had 643 points over his career. The Kings will honor Pulford in an on-ice ceremony Saturday at Staples Center before their game against the Ducks. ( 16 Jul,2001 ) ( 16 Jul,2007 ) ( 16 Jul,2002 ) ( 13 Jul,2008 ) Ken Gibb ( 13 Jul,2010 ) Data Provided By Pulford and his wife, Roslyn, served as foster parents to Wandamae Lombardi. But while theres a clear bitterness to the words, its nowhere to be found in his tone. The teams will meet in a Saturday matinee in Detroit and in a Sunday-afternoon rematch in the Stadium. : 881138911RR0001 | Design: Brent Bailey, Etobicoke Sports Hall Of Fame Facebook Feed. Then we`ll get Sutter and (defenseman) Keith Brown back. Two nights before the 2002 draft, Smiths hand-picked director of amateur scouting, Bill Lesuk, said he wanted to draft a scrawny Michigan State freshman named Duncan Keith in the second round. He won 4 Stanley Cups with the Leafs from 1962-67 and set career highs with 28 goals and 56 points in 1966. The next afternoon, after a morning of drills, the first camp scrimmage began in earnest. That right away puts him in a different category, because the good players know what theyre going to do with the puck before they get the puck, Smith says. I had a couple Chicago Blackhawks employees call me up and congratulate me. It. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. He's a labor lawyer, so he knows the [collective bargaining agreement]. When push comes to shove, we know we can win it.''. There is also no pressure monetarily because the Sharks are still paying Lombardi for two more years. Copyright 1999-2019 Los Angeles Kings, LLC and the National Hockey League. ''He`s great,'' said Hawk defenseman Jack O`Callahan. Or has the inexorable march of time simply blurred memories of fans and front offices alike? Previous expatriate in Poland now living in England. Those Blackhawks arent these Blackhawks. Pulford played junior hockey for the Toronto Marlboros for three seasons from 1953 to 1956, winning two Memorial Cups under coach Turk Broda. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Rich Hammond If you're a young man like Rory, you can't play with worries," Player said. Didnt feel wistful. Noted for his meticulous attention to detail, he has said that if he hadnt had a hockey career, I probably would have been a lawyer. Then two seasons later, Pulford was once more called on to take over as General Manager. But the way Smith sees it, history is written by the winners. Bob Pulford Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com Bob Pulford Forward Born Mar 31 1936 -- Newton Robinson, ONT [87 yrs. "There are people who can draw a line between business and family," she said. ''He`s going to make some of the other guys work harder for their jobs. Born: March 31,1936 inNewtonRobinson,Ontario ca, Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player1991 (FullList), As Coach: 12Yrs, 363330136,862Pts. He's the best man for any general manager job.". LOS ANGELES There is no question, in the mind of at least one person, who the best candidate is to become the next general manager of the Blackhawks. Facebook gives people the power to. He won the Jack Adams Award for best coach in the NHL in 1975. There were a few holdovers from his time in Chicago. Well, I think hell grow, but he has every aspect for the game needed for where this league is headed, Lesuk said. But they always tried to come to a consensus at the draft table, where everyones in agreement that, yes, we should take this guy. Elizabeth Pulford is a writer of fiction, poetry and non-fiction for children, teenagers and adults. He later served as head coach of the Kings before spending 30 years with the Chicago Blackhawks as a coach and general manager. So that got added to the fact that I wouldnt do what he told me to do. American. Day . "Without Bob, I don't think I would have been mentored the way I was.". She said all the players took her husband out for a farewell that lasted into the morning. Early life [ edit] Today, he plays a key role as Alternate Governor for the team and sitting on the advisory committee to league ownership. If I ever write about a book about this, he says with a chuckle, itll be a burner.. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. The team developed rapidly under his direction, and in the 1974-1975 season, posted a 42-17-21 record for 105 points. "He's a worker, 24/7. Bob Pulford has won 4 Stanley Cups as a player. When youre picking in the top two or three, you can usually zero in on one guy. (Bruce Bennett / Getty Images), Despite Duncan Keiths size, Mike Smith thought he could thrive in the NHL. He is preceded in death by his parents Miles and Kay, Nephew Bob Pulford of Colorado. He ranks in the Maple Leafs Top Ten in goals, assists, points, and games played. Pulford played an extensive role in developing the National Hockey Leagues early collective bargaining agreements. So ask him what happened, how it all went wrong, and he wont hesitate to share the unvarnished, often ugly, truth or at least, his version of it. A longtime team source says Pulford. Flt. An owner would call and theyd say, Dont hire this guy, hes a jerk, hes incompetent. I know the people there speak highly of me; John McDonough has told me that. / Los Angeles Kings. There were people I had hired who left good jobs to come there. Well, OK, not all the Blackhawks saw the bigger picture. Transaction information may be incomplete. Call it a change of leadership, or a lack of leadership. So he gets the puck, he spins and one-times it across to the far blue line on the stick of a winger. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. There was a huge problem with Brian Sutter and the players, both ways. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Sunday, April 30, 4:59AM. Before that, he was the sports editor of the Post-Tribune of Northwest Indiana. Mark your calendars! No use dwelling on what happened some 17 years ago, no use raging against people who are no longer relevant, no longer working in hockey, and in some cases, no longer alive. He also led the Kings to their first playoff series wins since 1969 when they defeated the Atlanta Flames in the first round of both the 1976 and 1977 NHL playoffs. I lean over to Nick Beverly, our assistant GM, and I say, Jesus, this is a player. And thats the story of Dustin Byfuglien.. Etobicoke, Ontario M8V3L1, Phone: 416.254.4429 Bob Pulford, Canadian ice hockey player-coach. There are no sure things in the later rounds of the NHL draft. But as he watched his guys Keith, Seabrook and Byfuglien lift the Cup in 2010, then again in 2013 and 2015 alongside his other guy, Crawford, Smith didnt feel angry. | View as text Coaching [notes] Midseason replacement Awards Related Information League Information Month. Lombardi emphasized that her husband had not been contacted about the position, which opened Friday when Mike Smith was fired. Bruce Boyd - Builder Its a fair question in a city with a gaping, decade-wide hole in its hockey memory. So how did I feel in 2010? Following his playing days as a King, Bob became the head coach for Los Angeles from 1972-1977, then spent time in the Chicago Blackhawks . Strong NHL career with Leafs and Kings evolved into management and coaching success that led to a HHOF induction Lombardi said her husband decided to come home early so he wouldn't be seen Saturday night at the Staples Center--where the Hawks faced the Los Angeles Kings--and put any undue pressure on Pulford. Then, when you try to go at him, he dishes the puck off. ''You`ve really got to watch him. Take him., Well, hes only 5-10, 165 pounds, Lesuk said. And even when he was running NHL teams, he was into Native American art and old books, not just goals and assists. She was struck by the response of the Sharks' staff and players. Pulford and his family lived on King St. in Weston, Ontario from 1940 to 1950, and he attended Memorial School prior to the family move to rural Ontario. He has been a coach and executive for the Chicago Blackhawks for the past thirty years. Now, the Blackhawks werent very good back then. It was a constant parade in my office of agents and players complaining about how he treated them. I always felt if we had gotten by them, it really would have established hockey here.. East Coast educated. Canadian ice hockey player-coach - Bob Pulford was born in Newton Robinson (human settlement in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada) on March 31st, 1936 and is 87 years old today. Would the Blackhawks have gotten bad enough to draft Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane? When youre picking 14th, you have to have a group of players youre willing to select. He has been a coach and executive for the Chicago Blackhawks for the past thirty years. Mike Smith is talking about xenophobia in the Blackhawks front office, about Bob Pulfords relentless two-year quest to get him fired, about the organization actively sabotaging his chances at landing future jobs, about how his name has been all but erased from the history books when it comes to the modern Blackhawks resurgence. Buy his book. I dont get mentioned much because the Blackhawks make sure not to mention me, he says. Theyre all so big, he said as players practiced at the El Segundo facility for Thursdays game against the St. Louis Blues at Staples Center. Pulford scored 281 goals and 643 points over 16 seasons with the Maple Leafs and Kings. Pulford played 14 seasons for the Maple Leafs winning 4 Stanley Cups and . ''He has the size (6 feet 4 inches, 200 pounds), the hockey sense and he`s great with the puck. In a statement released with the news, Pulford said the decision came down to Smiths tumultuous relationship with head coach Brian Sutter. Terrill Samuel - Athlete The only thing that stopped him was the 2004-05 lockout, as the trade market was frozen for an entire year. Bob Pulford is a 87 years old Canadian ice hockey player-coach from Newton Robinson. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in . On October 11, 2007, Pulford was named an officer with the Wirtz Corporation , parent company of the Blackhawks, and is no longer part of the day-to-day management of the Blackhawks. He scored 25 playoff goals and 26 assists in 89 games in an effort to bring home four NHL league titles. Picking up where he left off Sunday against the Boston Bruins, when he was chosen the No. Raised in the Midwest. (Christopher Hanewinckel / USA Today). Pulford was an important member of the Leaf teams that won four Stanley Cups in 19621964 and 1967. He was in the TV booth that year; he didnt even work for the team. Bob Pulford finished with 281 regular season goals and 362 assists for 643 points in 1,079 games. How the hell do you do that? Thats not me. Smith cant really say how he felt when he saw the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup in 2010. Nobody felt crimped, apparently but then Imlach wasn't the boss any longer: he'd been fired as Leafs coach and GM three days earlier, within two minutes of the team's having been . And you just realize that in pro sports, nothings very permanent., (Photo: Doug Pensinger / Getty Images/NHLI). He knows that. But Lesuk and Smith were pretty sure Seabrook would be there at No. Last check: 1 year ago. Sgt. Bob Pulford had 281 goals over his career. Geno Reda - Media category, Bud Fowler - Legends category, Joanne Noble - President & Chair of the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame, Rod Toner - Organization category, Terrill Samuel - Athlete category, Bruce Boyd - Builder category See more, Ford Performance Centre Do you have a blog? And youre going to be really criticized for taking him., Bill, were criticized no matter who we take, Smith said. Theyre a good team.. Continue with Recommended Cookies. In his first season as GM, the Blackhawks made the playoffs for the first time in five years, and Smith was named Executive of the Year by The Sporting News. Robert Jesse "Bob" Pulford (born March 31, 1936 in Newton Robinson, Ontario) is a retired Canadian professional centre who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings in the National Hockey League. He guided the Kings to their first playoff appearance in five years in 1974, and won the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year in the NHL in 1975. ESHOF Events Maybe thats why he seemed to stick out everywhere he went. ago] Height 5.11 -- Weight 188 [180 cm/85 kg] Embed Bob Pulford stats! He is 511 ft tall, which is equal to 1.8 meters. Geno Reda - Media Birthday: March 31, 1936. Toggle navigation Happy Happy Birthday. The current Kings are the first edition to record back-to-back 40-win seasons. Pulford and his wife, Roslyn, took Wandamae into their home after her parents died. The Penguins haven`t won since Jan. 19, when they rallied to upend the Hawks 5-4. Search instead in Creative? Less than a week later, at prospect camp, Smith was thumbing through all the shirtless photos of all the players taken during their fitness tests as a way of evaluating body types and potential growth. Whats wrong with that? Smith said. He is currently a senior advisor in the Philadelphia Flyers organization. I want to be defined by who I am, not just as a hockey guy, he says. He later served as head coach of the Kings before spending 30 years with the Chicago Blackhawks as a coach and general manager. The winger drew a pair of penalties and scored the Hawks` first goal off Pittsburgh goalie Roberto Romano on a power play. After all, Smiths a farmer now. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Bob Pulford is a 87 years old Canadian ice hockey player-coach from Newton Robinson. In 1990 the Blackhawks President, William Wirtz, appointed Bob Pulford Senior Vice President, giving him more input into the crucial areas of team business and marketing. "He's got to find himself a wife that'll help him, actually almost dedicate her life to him being a success," he told ESPN. Blackhawks General Manager Bob Pulford was eager to have him back:"His point production was right up there with the best defensemen. Depending on who you ask, Bob Senior . We outdrew the Lakers in those days, said Pulford, who will be 75 later this month and splits his time between Chicago and Florida. Bob Pulford stood next to the glass during the Kings morning skate Thursday at the Toyota Sports Center and marveled at what he was seeing. During the Leafs glory-days in the sixties, Pulford earned four Stanley Cup rings. He was born in Chicago, Feb. 11, 1947, to parents,. ''We won on sheer effort. We weren`t sharp. With sixty-three seconds left in the opening period, Terry dove to make his ninth save of the game and had Leaf Bob Pulford fall over his outstretched body. Pully, as he is often called, and his wife Roslyn have four children Wanda, Rob, Lindsay and Jennifer and eight grandchildren. There was another rookie front and center in the game, Hawk right wing Dan Frawley, the 204th pick overall in the 1980 draft. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. He was promoted to senior vice president in 1990, but took on the general manager's duties again from 1992 to 1997, from 1999 to 2000, and from 2003 to 2005. Pulford said he and his wife, Roslyn, usually visit Southern California once a season to catch up. About A hockey wife. It took him almost two years to get me fired. He's put together teams from scratch. 14. Would they have taken other players, anyway? ''I didn`t realize Lemieux is as good as he is,'' said Pulford. I mean, Winnipeg got rid of Teemu Selanne. Coincidentally, her husband was in the Los Angeles area this weekend scouting for the Philadelphia Flyers. In 2002, Smith drafted an undersized defenseman named Duncan Keith. Bob Pulford Position Shoots 5-11 , 188lb (180cm, 85kg) Born: March 31 , 1936 (Age: 86-346d) in Newton Robinson, Ontario ca Amateur Teams: Toronto Marlboros Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player 1991 ( Full List) As Coach: 12 Yrs, 363330136, 862 Pts. Sponsored name plates will be available to purchase at the event, with all proceeds supporting Special Olympic athletes and student scholarship programs Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Theres something you like about them, but not much, otherwise youd take them earlier.. Pulford and his wife, Roslyn, took Wandamae into their home after her parents died.