He wasn’t the winningest general manager in Penguins history. Nor did his teams capture a Stanley Cup. Or even a division title. Yet Jack Riley was a pivotal figure through the Pens’ difficult early years. Thanks, in large part, to his perseverance and dedication, a foundation for future champions was formed.
Riley, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 97, remained an active supporter of the team he helped build long after he was replaced at the Pens’ helm. Beloved, too.
“He’s done so much for us,” said friend and fellow former Pens GM Eddie Johnston in 2014. “There’s no better gentleman than Jack. They don’t come any better. Jack’s a jewel.”
As a kid growing up in Toronto during the Great Depression, Riley played youth hockey with cut-down sticks donated by Maple Leafs owner Conn Smythe. A clever playmaker but a fair skater at best, the 5’9” 178-pound right wing never made it to the NHL. Instead, sandwiched around a tour of duty with the Canadian Army in World War II, he plied his trade mostly in the Eastern Hockey League and American Hockey League.
Following his playing career, Riley entered the coaching ranks and eventually became general manager of the AHL’s Rochester Americans. Jack then served as AHL president for two seasons before he was hired by Pennsylvania Senator and principal owner Jack McGregor to serve as the Pens’ first GM in 1966.
Building a team from scratch was tough. When the Penguins entered the league, the six established teams held the rights to nearly all of Canada’s top junior players through existing sponsorship agreements. The first Entry Draft (called the Amateur Draft back then) still was two years away.
Like his expansion GM brethren, Riley had to assemble a team from the hodge-podge collection of has-beens and wannabes left unprotected in the Expansion Draft by the Original Six.
Still, the Pens’ inaugural team featured two Hall-of-Famers—scoring ace Andy Bathgate and hard-rock defenseman Leo Boivin—and a cast of solid pros, including Ab McDonald, Keith McCreary, and Ken Schinkel. In fact, Riley received a compliment from legendary Montreal GM Sam Pollock, who said the Pens and Oakland did the best job of drafting.
Stability, financial or otherwise, was virtually nonexistent. During his tenure, Riley worked for no fewer than three groups of owners. Four if you count the NHL, which assumed control of the troubled franchise from Donald Parsons in December of 1970. Each had a different vision.
“They weren’t bad guys,” Riley recalled. “They just didn’t have much hockey know-how or enough money.”
Using every means at his disposal, Riley worked hard to cobble together a decent club. Mining the minor leagues for undervalued talent, he unearthed a gem in goalie Les Binkley—a 33-year-old rookie. He traded for future mainstays Jean Pronovost, Duane Rupp, and Bryan Watson and added the likes of Glen Sather and Dean Prentice through the Intra-League (Waiver) Draft. When Riley finally got an opportunity to draft a talented youngster, he plucked scoring sensation Michel Briere from the ranks of the Quebec League.
His tenure was interrupted after the team’s rousing playoff run in 1970, when the Pens came within two wins of reaching the Stanley Cup Finals. Red Kelly was named coach and general manager; Riley was promoted to club president.
Jack reassumed the GM duties on January 29, 1972. By the following season the energetic Irishman had assembled a talented nucleus, including rising young stars Syl Apps, Dave Burrows, and Greg Polis. However, he was unable to lead the club over the hump to contender status. In January of 1974 he was replaced by long-time assistant, Jack Button.
Riley remained with the Penguins as a scout through the 1974-75 season. After leaving the organization, he stayed active in hockey. From 1975 through January of 1977 he served as commissioner of the Southern Hockey League. In 1979 he began a four-year stint as commissioner of the International Hockey League.
At the end of his term, Riley worked as a consultant for the IHL and the East Coast Hockey League. He also served as a goal judge at the Civic Arena, but retired in 1993-94 so he could enjoy the games.
In December of 2009 he received a special token of appreciation for his years of service: the Penguins awarded him a Stanley Cup ring.
“I was kind of surprised when I saw the ring, even though I knew I was getting it,” Riley said. “Tom McMillan gave it to me in a jewelry box. I tried it on, and it was perfect. I thanked Ray Shero personally. I told him to thank Mario [Lemieux] and Ron [Burkle]. I thought it was really nice of them to think of me.”
Hey Guys,
” ALL is WELL”
Twice in this past week I have heard the discussion from Major Canadian sports TV media about Austin Matthews, Conor McDavid and Jack Eichel and who potentially will have the greatest impact on Hockey growth in America.
Being from New Brunswick,and being in Halifax on a regular basis thru out my business career I heard the very same discussion when Sidney Crosby was drafted.It seems so long ago now, but I am reminded by my older and wiser Hockey friends that the NHL was in serious trouble, especially with their advertisers and people in Canada were turning to the NBA and Major League Baseball before Crosby came along. As we all know, Sid and Ovi became the face of the game, much like Larry Bird and Magic did in the NBA earlier and the rest is history. Today they still are kings of the game.
I find it very interesting the discussion is turning to the future of the game especially in the context of the new Franchise in Las Vegas next year. By all accounts and barring an injury, Mc David will put up big numbers and he will be a force in this league for along time. He is a generational talent for sure. The flip side of that discussion is that Jack Eichel and Austin Matthews are also generational talents and they too will put up big numbers in the NHL during their careers. That was not the case when Crosby joined the league. To refresh your memory,Gretzky,Lemieux and Jagr held the Art Ross Trophy 21 years of 22 years, then St.Louis,Foresberg, Joe Thorton and then Sid won it.
Now you have a real chance that the new future face of the NHL in the coming decade will be Matthews or Eichel or maybe another US born player who is still not eligible to be drafted. For me this is great for OUR game because we need a strong and expanded presence in America for the NHL to flourish. ( To my Canadian friends ,yes I agree we need another team in Quebec City, small market, and for sure another one in Southern Ontario, but the real growth in the NHL will come in the America ).
Auston Matthews scored 4 goals in his NHL debut and that was a first in the history of the NHL for a rookie. NBC sports 2 days later moved the game of the week to Toronto versus Boston because of anticipated fan interest in America. That did not happen by chance ! All is well…….
Cheers
Hey Guys,
Won another one tonight. 3 – 2. Not the prettiest game to watch
but the boys got the job done. A come back victory in the third and
the Pen’s without Crosby and Letang and various others. Way to go !
Early in the season we will take every point we can get. Plus the SJS
are an elite team….. certainly no push overs.
Congratulations to Matt Murray and his new 3 year, $ 3.75 million per
year contract extension. MAF still has three years to go at $ 5.75 million per year. Does anybody really believe come next May we will have
$ 9.5 million tied up in Goalie salaries annually ?
I got a bridge in Brooklyn I will sell you cheap…
Cheers
Hey Jim,
What a Jekyll and Hyde performance; 2-periods of going throught the motions and then Hornqvist gets a goal disallowed and he channels that anger into an explosion of positive intensity that becomes infectious. That hit he put on Dillon that set up Wilson’s goal will probably be felt till the end of the season.
Speaking of Wilson’s goal, glad to see him find the range, he was working really hard.
In the end it was a great gut check victory, playing with only 4-D. We have to take our hats off to Cole, Daley, Dumoulin, and Schultz. I can’t remember which anouncer on root said it but sometimes a team really needs this kind of diversity of injuries to get their heads screwed on right and focus on team commitment.
Honestly Jim, it would be hard to fathom the Pens tying up nearly $10 million in Goalies considering the salaries of Malkin, Crosby, Letang, and Kessell. That doesn’t leave much room for a supporting cast. However, it could be a gambit to try and slip through the expansion draft with both goalies. Consider this; TB is in a similar position as we are, with Bishop and Vaslevskiy. If TB tries to keep Bishop, Vaslevskiy becomes a much more attractive target for TB since his salary lst I saw was less than $1mil and it would be unlikely that they would draft 2-young goalies, prefering to get a veteran presence would be more likely; if the let Bishop go (he may be a FA though) which is the more likely with all the money the have tied up elsewhere, Bishop would be a great pickup for immediately establishing Vegas, but with the team being in Vegas they will all likelyhood want a more high scoring team too, to entertain the tourists, they are much less likely to now try and grab Murray and take on that ~$10million Cap hit.
Regardless, it all helps to keep the Pens in a pretty good place for the nonce, particularly since it appears that the injury bug is looking to bite the club early on.
Hey Coach,
To take your point of view one step further if I may, Brian Dumoulin and his improved play as one of the Pen’s top 4 D men is going to create a major problem come next May 2017. When the trade was announced for Jordan S. and the Pen’s received a first round pick, Brandon Sutter and everyone thought the throw in player was Dumo, the head of scouting for Carolina stated that ” Dumoulin has tremendous upside, and he is the type of NHL defense man that will win you a Cup ” !!. What he meant was a large body who can play at both ends of the rink. Of course he was right as well ! So my point is his $ 800 K a year salary, next year could easily have a 3 or maybe 4 in front of it. Looked what the paid for Lovejoy ? Can we afford this ?
Then what about Nick Boino ? His current $ 1.9 million a year salary, based of his performance to date in a Pen’s uniform will most definitely double or even be more next year. His ability to play anywhere from a fourth line to a second line center position plus the wing if need be makes him very valuable. Plus playing with Phil K. you know he will get his share of points this year.
To me these factors make this season especially interesting and eventually some major personnel changes will have to be made.
They simply will not have the money to pay the players !!
Your thoughts ??
Jim
Hey Jim,
I have thought about all the salaries and potential FAs. I even mentioned this past spring in different places my thougts that the Pens should really try to get Bonino resigned before he could start putting up bigger numbers and raising his value ven more. I didn’t think about Dumoulin at the time but he too is really starting to emerge.
There may be some room under the Cap by then to try and get one of them signed, I think Kunitz is UFA and although he is playing hard I am not so sure the Pens will try and resign him at least not at the salary he is making now.
Another question mark for next year will be what about Cullen? There could be 2-C positions opened (Bonino). WIll Sundqvist and Guentzel be those Cs? (That could be a real question mark considering neither is getting any real NHL experience)
I know what I would do, but I can’t be sure what the Pens will do. Even though I posed a scenario whereby the Pens keep both MAF and Murray; I wouldn’t. I would still look to dish MAF at the trade deadline or at some point when his stock is at its highest, particularly if Jarry is developing and Condin shows he can hold the fort in an emergency.
I still believe in MAF and let’s face it, despite his flaws, he has been a big reason why the Pens have 7 of 10 points. Furthermore, Calgary has got to look like the dumbest team in the history of the league; Elliot hasn’t won a game in 3 tries and has a GAA over 4 and a SV% under 0.900, in their faulty assessment, Calgary didn’t think MAF was worth more than a 2 rnd pick. However, I still trade him. I trade him for 2 reasons; first – he really should be able to bring back a very large return at the trade dead line; second – he is still a quality starter and deserves to be starting somewhere.
What I would look for in return for MAF would be picks and/or prospects and use the freed up salary to resign Bonino and Dumoulin. Furthermore, if Kunitz and Cullen keep playing the way they are I may want to sign each to a 1yr contract next year again. Of course I would have to temper my thoughts on those 2 with the development of kids like Sundqvist, Sheary, Wilson, and Guentzel.
Well said my friend.You have to play the kids sometime this year at the NHL level to see what really happens in a game environment.
I agree 100%.
Cheers
Hey Guys…
Lost a close one last night.
But 2 wins and a single point for
last night. 5 out of a possible 6 points.
Looking good.
Hope u are okay Rick. Have not heard from u
in a while.
Cheers
Jim
Hey Jim,
I know we lost a tough one least night. But hten again no one has yet to win even close to 82 games.
A couple of thoughts;
I wrote somewhere else about last game that the Pens got out Penguined! Even though they have collected 5 of a possible 6 points thus far, they haven’t really played the style of hockey that won them the Cup over these first 3 games. They seem to have been relying on star power rather than rolling 4 lines. I did a quick check on the NHL web site and Kuhnhackl has averaged about 3 less minutes of TOI a game and even Sestito who doesn’t get that much TOI to begin with has played less per game this season. So I argued that is doesn’t surprise me any that the Pens are surrendering leads late in games. or that opposing teams are getting a lot of shots.
If a team keeps rolling only 3 lines, those 3 lines will eventually tire out and look slow and the Avs were able to fly past the Pens as if they were standing still. The Pens personnel and schemes may not have changed from last season, however, I am fearful that their over-all team strategy of it takes a full team has. I fear that they may have either forgotten what brought about their success or that they are fearing to lose so bad that they are no longer playing for fun and to win, hoping that the conservative reliance on Malkin, Kessell, and Letang can carry the day.
I am also a little afraid that the often spectacular heavy traffic play of MAF over the first 3 games may seduce some into thinking that he is the man to lead the Pens in the foreseeable future. Don’t get me wrong, I still believe MAF is a very good goalie, a number 1 goalie and that he has a couple pof good seasons left in him. However, even after all these years he still tends to panic a little and make the first move when facing a shooter with time, opening up a whole for the shooter and surrendering an important goal, or going to too quick and compounding it by hunching over making himself smaller in net and giving up the top shelf.
Just curious as to your thoughts on these.
Also wanted to say how wrong I was when they first brought up Sheary, allowing my prejudice against small players. I hope that he can stay healthy for a long time. I love his tencity and propensity to get his stick in the passing lanes to keep the puck alive.
Last thought; collecting 5 of the first 6 possible points with competition like their rival Caps without Crosby, Rust, and Murray really is whetting my appetite for when they return.
Hi Coach
Good points as always.
I especially like ur observation of using 3 lines verses last year using 4. Eventually when Sid comes back they may revert to 4 line play.
MAF has always been a sore point with me..but as Phil said last spring he is a Gr 8 talent and Murray has not fully earned the mantle as number 1 goalie yet. Murray probably will…but not yet.
Have u talked to Rick Buker? Is he planning to come back to Pens Poop soon? He does a fantastic job at it. Never gets enough thanks for keeping this site up.
It may be just the 2 of us….haha
Talk soon.
Jim
Yes I have talked to Rick, He is swamped with new writing project. I expect as soon as he has flesh it out and it starts coming together he will be writing more.
Early in his career, MAF really frustrated me, particularly since he was a former No 1 overall pick. I became a fan when the team got him a goalie coach. So I am not really anti MAF. If I could be sure that the Pens wouldn’t lose Murray in the expansion draft I would be ready to settle in for a couple of seasons of Fleury/Murray to Murray/Fleury and the great goaltending that would bring.
I know many people feel that Murray needs to prove himself and I understand that. That line of reasoning has a lot of merit. However, in my mind, no matter how the Pens actually do play it, they will be tossing the dice and I further think that there more to gain with keeping Murray as well as more to lose if Vegas grabs him in the expansion draft.
In my mind, the only way Vegas may not take Murray is if TB leaves their kid exposed to the draft.
As for MAF, he is a proven quality, yes. He dazzles us with phenominal athletic, frantic, reaction saves on rebounds and heavy traffic of extended play in the defensive zone, but then in a slower situation (slower in that MAF has a moment to think rather than react) where the shooter is breaking in on him, where the shooter and goalie are locked in a duel, he tends to panic and make the first move, opening up the 5-hole as he did on the Caps first goal and on the shoot out goals of Oshie and Backstrom in game 1, or he again panics as he drops down too fast and making matters worse hunching forward making himself smaller on the play and expose the top shelf as he did on the second Caps goal and many others.
Unless the Pens are committing to reverting back to an amalgamation of a handful of star skaters (first 3 games) as opposed to the team mentality of rolling 4 lines that won them the Cup, Murray won’t be any worse than MAF, even if he has a bit of a set back this year but has shown to be more steady, earning himself a trip the World Cup even before his true rookie season.
However, if they are committed to returning to the strategy that brought about years of frustration of playing only 3 lines, wearing down their stars so that they have nothing left in their gas tanks come play-offs, then MAF would be the goalie I choose.
Hey Coach
MAF was exposed last night as well as the lack of team defense in the 4 to 0 loss against Montreal.
Price was not even playing? ?
Stupid penalties. ! At one point they took 3 penalties. Both teams were guilty.
Shea Weber looked good in the red, white, and blue.
Hope we keep in touch and others will join in until Rick gets back.
Cheers
Hey Jim,
That certainly wasn’t a tour de force for MAF or anyone on the team. For MAF the first couple of minutes of the game was certainly an adventure with his puck playing skills or lack thereof. The first botched play led to a goal, but he stumbled a couple of other times too.
However, there was plenty of blame to go around with the stupid penalties negating PPs and worsening PKs. Not to mention the slowness of the team from playing back to back games and 4 games in 5 nights while relying on pretty much 3 lines 5 D in those games.
Right back at you on that. You know your hockey and I look forward to reading what you are thinking and your take on what is going on, so I will keep checking back regularly.
Thanks Coach.
Maybe u can get Rick or Phil to set up a new post.
That way we do not have 50 threads attached?
What do u think?
I only post on this site as I enjoyed Rick,you, Pens 4 Ever, Phil, 55 on point, and all the others.
It was and is a much different group than some of the foolishness posted on other sites.We each bring a different and informed opinion to the discussion.
I really hope that continues.
Talk soon
Jim
Hey Rick
Hope you are doing okay. To bad about Sid and his concussion. At the World Cup he was unbelievable in his two way play and leadership, plus leading the team in points. Hopefully he will recover quickly and he can return to the player he was in the playoffs and the World Cup.
Cheers
Jim
Hi Rick,Phil,Coach,
Tonight Canada wins the World Cup of Hockey 2-1 against Team Europe.
Crosby gets another point tonight and he wins the MVP of the Tournament as the Best player in the World, as voted by all 8 Teams and the International press corps. So in 2016 Crosby has a Stanley Cup, a Conn Smythe Trophy, a World Cup and a MVP award. Not bad at all.
Sunday he will back with the Team in Pittsburgh.
Let’s Go Pen’s…….
Hey Jim,
Just think about how many people were saying Crosby was washed up at the beginning of the year last year. The reports of his demise appear to have been greatly exaggerated. What are you thinking about Jarry, Guetzel, and Rowney? They’re not really playing against full line-ups of NHL regulars yet so I am not going to holds you to anything, just curious about your initial thoughts.
Hey Coach,
Nice to hear from you. Hope u had a good summer and you got
a chance to see Rick B. and talk some hockey.
If you recall, I was one of those people who dumped on Sid and most of the other Pen’s and especially their management as well. I am glad to be proven wrong, so in that vain I am a little “gun-shy” to make any predictions for 2016-17. But here goes anyway….
Tristan Jarry. This kid has won everything possible in Canadian Junior Hockey. His upside was supposed to be much higher than Matt M. Even though he did not dominate, he got the job done.
When Shero traded up to be able to draft Jarry in the mid second round, the local media called it the steal of the draft. He was rated second best goalie in the draft by Central Scouting. So when you see Jarry stopping 54 shots and getting 2 shut outs in preseason
play, this kid is expected to do that based on his past ! If Matt M. is out until December / January, I think the Pen’s should play Jarry every third game at least to see how good he can be. If he goes on a winning run, let him play 4 or 5 games in a row. Who knows,you could end up in January with Murray and Jarry as your future? If he loses then you send him back to WBP for more schooling. What do you think Coach ?
With Guetzel, I would like to see him play a full season in WBS and get used to the bigger competition than the US College program he played in. He certainly has the offensive skills to be a real, real good top 9 forward in the NHL, if he can stand the physical play and the 100 games a season the Pen’s play. He is small.
With Rowney I really do not have an opinion. He is bigger at 6.2, 200 plus pounds and was the leading scorer last year in WBS with 56 points. But I do not know where his long term fit with the Pen’s would be. He is 28 years old ! An emergency call up. Probably yes. But for the long term I really do not have an opinion.
I am interested in your opinion Coach ?
I hope Rick or Phil gets a new post up soon. Thinking back last year, it was a great experience for me to share the incredible season the Pen’s had with all of you !! Looking forward to 2017.
We will talk soon.
Jim
Hey Rick
Hope u had a good summer.
I have been watching the World Cup of Hockey and must comment on the incredible play of # 87.
He leads the team in points and in 5 games his line have 23 points in total.
But it has been his play without the puck that is most impressive. The TV commentators have said this was his best. …by far…performance in a Canadian jersey. In his first Olympics he did score the winning goal in the Gold Medal game and in his second Olympics he scored a goal and an assist in the Gold Medal game…..but he really did not dominate. …In the World Cup at the age of 29…He was the best player of the Tournament so far and is THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD.
Just watch him play.
Cheers
JIM
Hey Rick,
Last night at the new arena in Quebec City, Matt Murray did it again. Team North America beat a veteran Team Europe 4 to 0 in an exhibition game. He made 23 stops for the win and was the games second star selection. Halak was in goal for team Europe and the team had super stars like A. Kopitar of the Kings on their roster.
I watched the third period and man is this young Team North America fast and talented.They controlled the entire third period and Team Europe could not match their tempo of the game…even on the smaller NHL ice surface.
The guys from CBC and Sports Net commented on the fine play of Murray and how it was an extension of his All star play in the 2016 playoffs.
This is a good sign for Pen’s fans.
Hockey’s here again Rick.
Hope you had a good summer.
Cheers..
Jim
Hey Rick, and the rest of the gang !
September 1 st has finally arrived. The unofficial start of Hockey Season.
Hope your summer went well for all of you.
I really do not know what will happen in the coming 12 month’s, but I can say for 100% certainty that from a pure entertainment perspective, the past year has been one for the ages if you are a Pen’s fan. Both on the ice, off the ice, the back room drama of Mario wanting to sell the Team, the mid season Coaching Changes,the Daley and Haglin trades,injuries to Geno, MAF, Letang and others, BEATING WASHINGTON, the play of the kids, HBK ,winning it all in 2016….and we can not ever forget, Bonino, Bonino, Booooninoooo !
Will talk soon , I am sure.
Cheers
Your picture is to small to tell are th the Rick Buker of carriage Park fame?
I don’t know about the fame part. But I am, indeed, the Rick Buker who used to live in Carriage Park many (many) moons ago … 🙂
You wouldn’t, by chance, be the legendary Mike Ryan from Woburn, Mass., would you?