Thank-you Kevin for giving me the opportunity to do this interview it is appreciated!! I thoroughly enjoyed it and I hope you did as well.
How it Happened...
A few weeks ago, I ran into Kevin Lowe, President of Hockey Operations for the Edmonton Oilers. We happened to be attending an event at the same time, and to my good fortune Kevin was gracious enough to talk with me for a few minutes.
During our conversation, I had asked him if he would be willing to allow me to interview him for this Blog. He accepted, and Friday afternoon we did the interview over the phone.
Subject Matter...
This interview was not intended to get a news story, scoop player transactions, or critique his job in management thus far. I was more interested in what it's like to be a six time Stanley Cup Champion, get some perspective on what it's like to manage a team...etc.
I will be paraphrasing all of this as I was not able to record the conversation and my note taking ability is not the greatest.
I have been a Fan of Kevin's for quite some time and I have always wanted to Pick his brain on a few things, so here goes...
The Interview...
realoilfan: When you were drafted, did occur to you that most of your career would be with the Edmonton Oilers?
Kevin Lowe: when you're a young kid growing up and playing hockey, it's hard to imagine you'll be in the league, let alone with mainly one team. It's hard to imagine that you'll actually make it. As I got older and started playing in different leagues, it started to become more of a reality, that the NHL was the next step after junior.
When I got into the league, it's hard to think of yourself as an NHL'er. My Mum once told me that I would be a true NHL'er once I had won a couple of cups.
reaolifan: Do you remember your first goal? When you look back on it after all that you have been through, is it still as special now as it was then?
Kevin Lowe: It was against Chicago and we were down 2-0 in the game. After I scored the goal, Gretz (Wayne Gretzky) skated over to congratulate me and whispered..."do you realize that was the first point the Oilers ever got?" It never occurred to me until he said that. But, you know I don't think of the goal as my first or the Oilers first...I remember being the goal that got Wayne Gretzky his first point! And to be tied to that moment, is something special.
realoilfan: I wanted to ask you about hoisting the cup for the first time. I actually asked that same question to Glenn Hall (Hall of Fame Goalie for The Chicago Black Hawks, Red Wings, and St. Louis), as I had met him at a party I was attending a couple of years back, and he told me that hoisting the cup was another day at the office. And what was special, was being in the league it self. How was it for you?
Kevin Lowe: I know Glenn well and I can see how he would say something like that. For me, everything I did was to win a cup. People don't realize it's not just on the ice that you sacrifice to win. It's the small things too...whenever you're out with friends and you go home early to ensure you're rested for a game, or not have that piece of pizza, etc...all the small sacrifices that you do everyday are for the sole purpose....of wining the cup. Being in the league was and is special, but the play-offs are even more so.
realoilfan: Is there one cup that is more special to you than the others?
Kevin Lowe: '84....for sure. When Lumley scored that goal to make it 5-2...that was when I knew for sure that that was it.
realoilfan: I met Glenn Anderson in Sylvan Lake a couple of month's ago. I asked him why he's not in the game anymore. I thought a guy like that should be in management or coaching. He told me that you have been trying to convince him to get back in the game. Do you see Glenn in this organization in some capacity?
Kevin Lowe: I talked to Glenn about the game. You can tell when a guy is missing being in it. It's partly how they start to talk about the game. Breaking down games more often and with greater detail, and you can see the passion back in them. Messier was the same way when he would come with us on a few of those trips back in '06. You could see the excitement growing again. Now he's done a few things with Hockey Canada. Glenn (Anderson) would be great on any team based on his success, not just with the cups, but with Team Canada too.
It's hard for ex-players to come into an organization and pay their dues. A lot of these guys have done very well for themselves and don't want to start at the bottom. I think Scouting is a great way for guys to get back in the game.
realoilfan: As a manager, when looking at players to acquire...is it all about the numbers? Like the player stats and salary, or does the character of a player also play a role in the decision making process?
Kevin Lowe: You always want to have good quality people in your organization. Character definitely enters into it. But, you ask yourself..."are you willing to sell your soul" (referring to salaries) trying to add that piece to make your team better.
realoilfan: Thank-you Kevin for taking the time to do this with me today! It was definitely a thrill for me. Would you consider doing it again?
Kevin Lowe: Absolutely. I could tell when we spoke before that you care about this team, and I was happy to do it. Next time, don't be afraid to ask me the tough questions. I am ready for those too.
Things that struck me...
When I asked Kevin about his first goal, he didn't look back on it as a personal achievement. He remembers it as part of helping his team-mate Wayne Gretzky get his first point. In my mind a great player is not concerned with personal glory, but with their ability to make the players around them better. and I truly heard the sincerity in Kevin's voice as he reflected on that memory.
The other comment that struck me was...about "selling your soul." Let's face it, we were discussing a business / hockey transaction. Kevin has obviously taken that to a different level personally when he thinks of as putting his soul on the line! The commitment that Kevin has for this team, is undeniable.
I assume...
People reading this will probably wonder why I didn't ask about specific issues surrounding Kevin's job as GM.
We all have heard the comments about the Horcoff deal, Ryan Smyth getting traded, Fernando Pisani, Steve Staios & others getting raises after the '06 play-offs, that fans believed to be too high. But, Kevin Lowe was the man who orchestrated the '06 Cup Run team. If it wasn't for him, we never would have had the horses to get where we did in the first place.
I have too much respect for Kevin to try and rake him over the proverbial coals regarding the above issues. He was the first ever Oiler drafted, The first ever Oiler Goal Scorer, six time Stanley Cup Champion, Head Coach, GM, and now President of Hockey Operations, not to mention a very nice man.
If Kevin Lowe is not inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame...it will be a travesty of epic proportions in my opinion!
GO Oilers GO!
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