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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