Afternoon reading: Lombardi’s influences

These Kings were built, in large part, by general manager Dean Lombardi, but who put in place the philosophies by which Lombardi operates? The following two pieces, from NHL.com, do a great job of examining Lombardi’s major influences and his core beliefs in terms of building an organization…

Kings GM Lombardi feels indebted to pair of mentors

Q&A: Lombardi talks Quick, Sutter and Kings’ success

The first story centers about Lombardi’s relationship with Bobby Clarke and Lou Lamoriello, and notes that Bob Pulford has also been a major influence. Pulford’s fingerprints are everywhere. Pulford is a former Kings coach. He is also Lombardi’s father-in-law and was the coach and general manager in Chicago when Darryl Sutter played for the Blackhawks in the 1980s. Pulford’s strong personality has had a long-lasting impact, and Pulford is regularly in touch with Lombardi and Sutter.

SUTTER: “I named my daughter after Pully. I missed the morning practice, while she was being born. His name is Robert Jesse Pulford, so I phoned him and, long story, and he said, `It’s OK if you’re late, but name it after me.’ So I called her Jessie.”

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