Former Penguins general manager Tony Esposito passed away yesterday at the age of 78 following a brief bout with pancreatic cancer.
His term at the Pens’ helm was brief…only 20 months…and somewhat turbulent. Nor does Esposito necessarily get the credit he deserves, perhaps due to the fact that he bumped aside (some might say stepped on) the popular Eddie Johnston on his way to claiming the Pens’ job.
A former All-Star goalie and at the time future Hall-of-Famer, Esposito had made a favorable impression on the DeBartolo family, who owned the Pens back in the ‘80s. As the team sputtered during the 1987-88 season, they increasingly turned to Esposito for advice. When Johnston lined up a trade for Edmonton goalie Andy Moog, a deal that might’ve propelled the Pens to a playoff spot, the DeBartolo’s were rumored to have nixed the deal based on Esposito’s input.
A short time later, Esposito was hired as the club’s director of hockey operations. In one of his first moves, he named himself general manager, bumping Johnston down a notch to the post of assistant GM.
Almost immediately, the hiring drew some flak. Although Esposito had served as an official with the NHL Players Association following his retirement as an active player, Boston GM Harry Sinden pointed out that “Tony O” had no previous experience running a hockey team on any level. Esposito…who didn’t lack for confidence…played down Sinden’s criticism, insisting that the Pens would have a “first-class organization.”
At least for one season, Esposito was true to his word. He made several key moves, drafting future Hall-of-Fame forward Mark Recchi in the fourth round and signing feisty minor-league scoring champion John Cullen. On November 12, 1988, he pulled off his signature trade, acquired goaltender and Stanley Cup linchpin Tom Barrasso along with a third-round pick from Buffalo for defenseman Doug Bodger and left wing Darrin Shannon.
The ’88-89 Pens responded with the second-best record in club history to date, a second-place finish in the Patrick Division and their first playoff appearance since ’81-82.
Esposito continued to work hard to upgrade the team. On June 17, 1989, he pulled off a blockbuster six-player swap with Winnipeg, acquiring 30-goal-man Andrew McBain, heavyweight defenseman Jim Kyte and checking forward Randy Gilhen in exchange for forwards Randy Cunneyworth, Dave McLlwain and goalie Rick Tabaracci.
On paper, the trade looked like a steal. But McBain, a power-play specialist, fizzed in the ‘Burgh as did Kyte, a former NHL heavyweight champ who seemed reluctant to drop the gloves after being kayoed by Detroit’s Joey Kocur. It didn’t help matters that Esposito’s coach, Gene Ubriaco, whom the DeBartolos had “encouraged” him to hire, was increasingly at odds with the players.
Too, Esposito tried to low-ball franchise savior Mario Lemieux during contract negotiations, which led to the DeBartolos stepping in to finalize the deal. A development which no doubt greased the skids and led to the dual dismissals of Esposito and Ubriaco on December 5.
Still, some of Tony’s moves helped lay the foundation for the Stanley Cup champions that followed. And Esposito landed on his feet in 1991, joining big brother Phil as a founding member and executive for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Bylsma Hired by Seattle
In an under-the-radar move, former Penguins coach Dan Bylsma was hired by Seattle as an assistant coach with the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League.
Bylsma led the Pens to the 2009 Stanley Cup and a sparkling record of 252-117-32 during his five-plus seasons behind the black-and-gold bench. He remains the fastest coach to 250 wins in NHL history.
He spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach with Detroit. Prior to that Dan was head coach of the Buffalo Sabres for two seasons (2015 through 2017).
