The Vegas Golden Knights announced Thursday that Kelly McCrimmon has been promoted to general manager and George McPhee will focus solely on his role as president of hockey operations effective Sept. 1.
The news broke approximately one hour after Sportsnet’s John Shannon and others confirmed he was out of the running for the vacant position with the Edmonton Oilers.
“This is a very exciting announcement for our club and Vegas Golden Knights fans around the world,” Golden Knights chairman and CEO Bill Foley said in a press release. “George and Kelly are a fantastic team. From the mock draft exercises and preparation leading up to the Expansion Draft, building out our coaching staff, and continually improving our team through the draft, trades, signings and free agency, the work they have done over the last three years has been remarkable. Together they have constructed a championship-caliber team in a very short time. This personnel move ensures that our hockey operations group stays intact and positions our organization for long term success.”
McCrimmon spent nearly three decades in various roles with the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, including owner, GM and coach, before joining the Golden Knights in 2016 prior to that franchise’s inaugural season in 2017-18. McCrimmon played an integral role in building the most successful expansion roster in NHL history.
“Kelly has been a tremendous addition to our hockey operations group and the entire Vegas Golden Knights organization as a whole,” McPhee said. “His character, leadership, hockey acumen, and player evaluation at both the pro and amateur levels is exceptional. We are confident Kelly will thrive in this new role. We will continue to build a team and a franchise that our fans are proud to support.”
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