Wednesday, 04 December 2024

Craig Patrick

Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Contributors 2024
Embed from Getty Images
Sport(s): Hockey Executive
Statistics: 2 Stanley Cups (1991 & 1992)
Member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame

*66-81-22 NHL Record
**1 Olympic Gold Medal (1980)

*As a coach
**As an assistant coach
Craig Patrick played nine years in pro hockey, but his true rise to fame began in 1980 as Herb Brooks’ assistant coach on the “Miracle on Ice” team that won the Olympics.

Patrick, who was also the assistant general manager of the U.S. team, parlayed that glory to a job with the New York Rangers as their director of operations. A year later, Patrick stepped in as their general manager, where he was the youngest GM in the NHL.

Patrick did a good job in New York, but a much better one in Pittsburgh, where the Penguins hired him as their general manager. Patrick made excellent draft picks and bold moves, namely trading away John Cullen for character pieces and defensive stability, but his gambles paid off, and the Penguins won the 1991 and 1992 Stanley Cup.

Not all of Patrick’s transactions were gens (he traded future star Markus Naslund for peanuts), but in the 17 seasons he was running the Penguins, Patrick was considered among the top executives in hockey.

Patrick would also be the general manager of the U.S. team that won Silver at the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics, where his old mentor, Herb Brooks, was his head coach.

We are proud to nominate Craig Patrick for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.

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