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Anonymous
Anonymous asked in SportsHockey · 2 months ago

Is it possible to own an NHL team without having ice hockey experience or being a coach as long as if you are a super fan of a certain team?

9 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    2 weeks ago

    Harold Ballard owned the Leafs and he seemed to hate hockey.

  • You don't need to have any experience with the game or be a fan. You just have to have a lot of money. Good owners hire GMs with experience running sports teams, and the GMs hire coaches and sign contracts, presumably with some leeway from the owner. Ideally, the GM and coach are on the same page or at least in the same chapter. A good GM will make sure the coach's style fits with his players and will get other players who fit into a coach's system.

    In hockey, you want the NHL team and the AHL (American Hockey League, the next level down) to have similar systems, as before COVID, players would be moved up and down depending on the NHL team's need. If you had an injured forward on the NHL team, you could bring up a forward from the AHL team to play a few games. Or if you have a player coming back from injury, you would have him play a few games at the AHL level on what's called a "conditioning stint."Keep in mind that pro sports is a business. At the owner level, you aren't deeply involved at the day-to-day level. And many owners own teams in more than one sport. Ted Leonsis owns the Capitals, the Wizards (NBA), and the Mystics (WNBA). I really hope he can buy in to the NWHL and get a team here. I'd so watch it.

    Source(s): I've watched hockey for years, both NHL and AHL.
  • 1 month ago

    Why not?  We've got a cheapskate Hillbilly Prince of a baseball owner here in Pittsburgh who doesn't know $h!t about putting a winning team on the field, why should any other sport be different?

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  • 1 month ago

    All it takes to own a team is enough money and approval of other owners, most of whom had no sports experience and a lot of money.

    As long as the owner stays out of trying to make decisions related to the playing of the game, including acquiring and getting rid of players, it usually isn't a problem.

  • 2 months ago

    You don't even have to be a superfan; you only need to be very rich and see it as a good business move.

  • I would say Pittsburgh Penguins Owner The Great Mario Lemieux is the exception, not the rule. Most NHL Owners do not have Ice Hockey Owners. I would also think that most Head Coaches are Fans of Ice Hockey, grew up playing Ice Hockey, but did necessarily grow up as a Fan of The Team he is now coaching.

  • 2 months ago

    Possible? How many owners have that experience? None i imagine. Hockey players aren't billionaires generally.

    Maybe you mean G.Ms.

  • Owner: You need significant money (cash on hand) that is subject to league scrutiny (the league was embarrassed by the John Spano debacle not to mention Jim Balsillie) and a background check.  In the end, you would have to be approved as a franchise owner by vote of the existing owners (the Board of Governors).  They can choose to not have you as an owner/business partner.  

    Coach: There is nothing in the NHL bylaws or constitution about minimum requirements for head coaches, but no team is going to choose to hire someone without head coaching experience, so your odds of getting hired are zero.

  • Rick B
    Lv 7
    2 months ago

    Anyone with enough money can own a team.  They do not have to have any hockey experience.  They do not even have to be a fan.

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