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15083_cover (Page 1) - NHL.com

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JACK FERREIRASPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THEGENERAL MANAGERJack Ferreira, who has spent 33 years in professional hockey — including nineyears as a <strong>NHL</strong> General Manager — is in his first season with the Kings. With LosAngeles, Ferreira serves as Special Assistant to the General Manager, where heworks closely with the entire Kings Hockey Operations department, includingPresident/General Manager Dean Lombardi and Assistant General Manager RonHextall.Ferreira, 62 (6/9/44), came to the Kings from the Atlanta Thrashers, where he wasresponsible for scouting throughout North America and Europe as the Director ofPlayer Personnel for the club. He also assisted General Manager Don Waddell in all player-related decisions.A native of Providence, R.I., Ferreira was an original member of the Anaheim Ducks management team prior tohis stint with the Thrashers. With the then-Mighty Ducks, he served for two seasons as Vice President of HockeyOperations (1998-2000) and five seasons as Vice President and General Manager (1993-1998). During histenure, the Ducks team that he helped build from the ground-up equaled an <strong>NHL</strong> record for victories as a firstyearclub (33) in 1993-94. Ferreira was also primarily responsible for several prominent moves in Anaheim’searly history, including the drafting of Paul Kariya in 1993 and the acquisition of Teemu Selanne in 1996.Before joining the Ducks, Ferreira helped the Montreal Canadiens capture the 1993 Stanley Cup Championshipas their Director of Pro Scouting. He also helped launch the San Jose Sharks franchise as Vice President andGeneral Manager of the club from 1990-1992. Ferreira’s first opportunity to head up an <strong>NHL</strong> franchise was whenhe served as Vice President and General Manager of the Minnesota North Stars from 1988-1990. With both SanJose and Minnesota, Ferreira worked with Lombardi.Ferreira has also served as Director of Player Development for the New York Rangers (1986-88), as a U.S. andCollege Scout for the Calgary Flames (1980-86), and he worked for the <strong>NHL</strong>’s Central Scouting Service as a NewEngland Area Scout (1977-80).His professional career began in 1972 with the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association, wherehe held various roles including Head Scout, Assistant Coach and Assistant General Manager through 1977.A former All-America goaltender at Boston University, Ferreira was an Assistant Coach on the collegiate levelwith Brown University from 1970-1972 and with Princeton University in 1969.In addition, Ferreira was the Assistant General Manager for Team USA when they captured the Gold Medal at the1996 World Cup of Hockey and also at the 1998 Olympics in Japan.Jack and his wife Kathy reside in Riverside. They have two daughters, Jennifer and Julie, and two sons, Ericand Kent.JEFF SOLOMONDIRECTOR OF HOCKEY OPERATIONSAND LEGAL AFFAIRSJeff Solomon is in his first season with the Kings as the club’s Director of HockeyOperations and Legal Affairs. Solomon is responsible for the negotiation of playercontracts, development of strategic salary cap plans and management of allmatters related to the <strong>NHL</strong> Collective Bargaining Agreement.Prior to joining the Kings, Solomon, 48 (4/4/58), served as a <strong>NHL</strong>PA CertifiedAgent for 20 years. During that time, Solomon represented hundreds of <strong>NHL</strong> hockeyplayers, including former Kings Tony Granato and Nelson Emerson and current<strong>NHL</strong> stars like Bryan McCabe and Steve Sullivan.Solomon has extensive experience working with the <strong>NHL</strong> Entry Level System, restricted and unrestricted freeagency and all aspects of the <strong>NHL</strong> Collective Bargaining Agreement and its arbitration system.Prior to representing professional hockey players, Solomon practiced law in California where he specialized intax and estate planning. His post-graduate experience includes work as an international tax specialist andfinancial consultant.Solomon earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Rutgers University in 1980 and a JurisDoctorate from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1983. He is licensed to practice law in California.Jeff and his wife Kathy reside in Carlsbad, California, with their daughter Alexandra and son Andrew.MIKE O’CONNELLDIRECTOR OF PRO DEVELOPMENTMike O’Connell, who spent the past six seasons as Vice President and General Manager of the Boston Bruins, isin his first season with the Kings. He was named the Kings’ Director of Pro Development on June 19, 2006.Joining the Kings with more than 20 years of <strong>NHL</strong> experience as both a player, Assistant Coach, Head Coach (heserved as the Interim Head Coach of the Bruins for nine games in the 2002-03 season) and front office executive,O’Connell in Boston was instrumental in assembling a club that won two Northeast Division titles and<strong>com</strong>piled a 179-130-78 (39 ties) regular season record before he left the organization in March of 2006.Before establishing himself in the front office, O’Connell enjoyed a standout 13-year <strong>NHL</strong> career as a defensemanwith the Bruins, Detroit Red Wings and his hometown Chicago Blackhawks. He recorded three 50-plus pointseasons (from 1982-85) when he played for Boston and he was an <strong>NHL</strong> All-Star in 1984. He still holds the Bruinsrecord for longest goal streak by a defenseman with seven games, and he re-joined the Bruins organization as an Assistant Coach in 1991 beforethe club advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals that season.A native of Chicago, O’Connell, 50 (11/25/55), who also served as the Head Coach of Boston’s AHL affiliate in Providence for two seasons from1992-94, re-joined the parent club in 1994 as Assistant General Manager, a post he held for six seasons before being named to his most recentposition on November 1, 2000. As General Manager, O’Connell was responsible for acquiring a number of talented and successful players, includingBill Guerin, Sergei Gonchar, Glen Murray (from Los Angeles), Jozef Stumpel (from Los Angeles), Marco Sturm, Wayne Primeau and Brad Stuartvia trade, and Patrice Bergeron and Hannu Toivonen via the <strong>NHL</strong> Draft.Mike and his wife Rosemary reside in Cohasset, Massachusetts. They have a daughter, Kristen, and two sons, Matthew and Gregory.DAVE TAYLORDIRECTOR OF AMATEUR DEVELOPMENTNo player in Kings history ever wore the uniform with more distinction, pride and class than Dave Taylor. For17 seasons, Taylor gave his all, both on and off the ice, receiving numerous awards and All-Star status for hisoutstanding play.Since retiring as a player, Taylor has worked for the Kings in the front office. This is his first season as theclub’s Director of Amateur Development – after spending the previous nine seasons as General Manager – andhis 31st year with the organization overall.Taylor began with the Kings when the club originally selected him in the 15th round (210th overall) of the 1975<strong>NHL</strong> Entry Draft. He made his <strong>NHL</strong> debut in 1977 and a few years later he became a member of the renowned“Triple Crown Line” with Marcel Dionne and Charlie Simmer.Taylor, a five-time <strong>NHL</strong> All-Star who served as the Kings captain for four seasons (1985-89), played in a Kings-record 1,111 games and recorded1,069 points (431-638=1,069) and 1,589 penalty minutes. His 431 goals rank third on the franchise’s all-time list and first among rightwings. He also ranks third on the team’s all-time list with his 638 assists and his 1,069 points, and his 123 power play goals also rank thirdwhile his 1,589 penalty minutes rank second.A native of Levack, Ontario, and a product of Clarkson University, Taylor also played in 92 career playoff games, and recorded 59 points (26-33=59) and 149 penalty minutes, while his career highlight was reaching the Stanley Cup Finals in 1993. Individually, he was honored with theMasterton and King Clancy Trophy in 1991, and he was an All-<strong>NHL</strong> Second Team selection in 1980-81. In addition, he was honored with the followingteam awards: Most Valuable Player, Most Popular Player, Most Inspirational Player (six times), Unsung Hero (two times) and CommunityService (four times).On April 3, 1995, Taylor’s No. 18 jersey was retired, joining Rogie Vachon (No. 30) and Dionne (No. 16) as the only Kings to have their sweaterretired (Wayne Gretzky has since had his No. 99 retired), and Taylor was later inducted as one of the six original members of the Kings Hall ofFame.At the conclusion of his last season as a player, the 1993-94 campaign, Taylor joined the Kings as a front office executive. He first worked asthe club’s Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Development for three seasons before being promoted to Vice President/GeneralManager on April 22, 1997.In his role as the club’s General Manager, Taylor helped shape a Kings roster – a roster that collected more than 90 points each season from1999-02, the first time that feat had been ac<strong>com</strong>plished in the history of the franchise – and by securing playoff berths in four of Taylor’s firstfive seasons. In 2000-01, Taylor was named by The Hockey News as the <strong>NHL</strong> Executive of the Year. Taylor in 2005-06 served as President, HockeyOperations/General Manager.Dave, 50 (12/4/55), and his wife Beth live in Tarzana and they have two daughters, Jamie and Katie. Beth has played a prominent role in Kingscharity efforts throughout the years, particularly with “Tip-A-King,” and in numerous events related to the Kings Care Foundation.ROGIE VACHONROYAL AMBASSADOROne of the <strong>NHL</strong>’s top goaltenders during his illustrious 16-year career, Vachon has also served in a number offront office roles throughout his long tenure with the Kings. He currently works for the club as a RoyalAmbassador.With 355 career wins, Vachon ranks 14th on the <strong>NHL</strong>’s all-time victory list among goalies. He played forMontreal, Detroit and Boston in addition to being a fan favorite as a Kings goalie. With the Canadiens, Vachonplayed for three Stanley Cup winners and shared the Vezina Trophy with the legendary Gump Worsley in 1967-68 as the league’s top goaltending tandem.It was in Los Angeles where Vachon ultimately proved he belonged among the premier goalies in the game, servingin net for seven seasons (1971-78) with the Kings. His finest season came in 1974-75 when he posted a27-14-13 record and a 2.24 goals against average while being named Player of the Year by The Hockey News as the Kings set a franchise-recordwith 105 points. Overall, he is the Kings’ all-time goaltending leader in games played (389), wins (171) and shutouts (32). He also was namedan All-<strong>NHL</strong> Second-Team selection twice, represented the Kings at three All-Star Games, won numerous team awards including being named theclub’s Most Valuable Player three times, and was one of six original members of the Kings Hall of Fame.Internationally, Vachon excelled as well. In the 1976 Canada Cup, Vachon allowed only 10 goals in the seven-game series (1.44 GAA) for TeamCanada, including one shutout and an overtime victory in the finals versus Czechoslovakia. The native of Palmarolle, Quebec, earned MVP honorsfor his efforts.After retiring as a player, Vachon joined the Kings in 1982 as an Assistant Coach (in charge of goaltenders). He would ultimately serve as theclub’s Interim Head Coach three different times, but his longest tenured front office position came when he was named General Manager onJanuary 30, 1984, a post Vachon held until June 25, 1992. Among the highlights during his tenure were the Kings’ high-profile acquisition ofWayne Gretzky in 1988 and the team’s first division title as they won the Smythe Division with 102 points, including a club-record 46 victories,in 1990-91.Vachon, 61 (9/8/45), who has also held the titles of Team President, Chief Hockey Operations Officer, Assistant to the Owner and Vice Presidentof Special Projects with the Kings, received one of the great honors in team sports when the Kings retired his No. 30 jersey on February 14,1985. He was the first Kings player to be so honored, with Marcel Dionne, Dave Taylor and Gretzky having since joined Vachon on the wall atSTAPLES Center.Rogie (whose given name is Rogatien) and his wife, Nicole, reside in Venice. They have three children: son Nicholas and daughters Jade andMary Joy.HOCKEY OPERATIONS1617

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