The sign held by a pair of Vegas Golden Knights fans at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas during Game Five of the Stanley Cup Finals read 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e waited six years for this害羞草研究所�.
Needless to say, hockey fans in markets like Toronto, Vancouver and Buffalo let their feelings be known on social media about that statement as those three markets are looking at a Stanley Cup drought of over 150 years combined.
Waiting six years is a blip 害羞草研究所� not a lifetime.
Thus it害羞草研究所檚 understandable that with the Golden Knights winning the Stanley Cup in just their sixth year of existence that there is a large number of people who feel that Vegas and their fans haven害羞草研究所檛 really paid their dues.
It害羞草研究所檚 a solid argument.
When it comes to Vegas President of Hockey Operations George McPhee however, that argument is non-existent.
McPhee debuted in the National Hockey League as a player during the 1983 playoffs with the New York Rangers. His seven-year playing career would end with a short stint in the New Jersey Devils organization in 1989. From there it was off to Rutgers University to study law.
He would join the Vancouver Canucks organization under Pat Quinn in 1992 as Vice President of Hockey Operations. He left the Canucks for Washington in 1997 to start a 17-year run as the general manager of the Capitals. After being let go by Washington in 2014, he joined the New York Islanders in 2015 as a Vice President and Special Advisor to the General Manager. In 2016, Vegas owner Bill Foley hired McPhee to run his fledgling expansion team as the general manager before promoting him to President in 2019.
During that entire 40-year span, George McPhee had never won a Stanley Cup.
McPhee had come close.
He was with the Canucks in 1994 when they lost to the Rangers in seven games and was with the Capitals when they were swept by the Detroit Red Wings in 1998. In 2016, McPhee was the general manager of the Golden Knights in their inaugural season which saw them reach the finals only to lose to the Capitals in five games.
On Tuesday, McPhee finally got to hoist the Cup over his head.
On Wednesday, he was down for the count with a nasty bug.
Always willing to accommodate, we did exchange a couple of texts.
When asked how it felt to finally lift hockey害羞草研究所檚 ultimate prize, McPhee害羞草研究所檚 response wasn害羞草研究所檛 much of a surprise.
害羞草研究所淭he emotion I felt lifting the Cup was humility. That I had much to be thankful for to be able to actually hold the Stanley Cup,害羞草研究所� McPhee replied via text.
The instant reaction when a team wins a championship is to focus on the players and coaches 害羞草研究所� and rightfully so. But in reality, it is organizations that win championships - not teams - and McPhee focused on that in his post-game interview with Sportsnet害羞草研究所檚 Kyle Bukauskas
害羞草研究所淲e hired the best human talent we could find throughout the organization - low ego and hard working - and that害羞草研究所檚 what makes the difference. You know, the character of all these players on the ice is one thing but the character behind the bench, the character of the ownership, and management and scouts and equipment managers and trainers害羞草研究所t matters. It makes the difference and this was a heck of a group to work with,害羞草研究所� said McPhee.
As for the journey that started as a player in the 害羞草研究所�80s and transformed to the executive side in the 1990s, McPhee admitted that he was still in 害羞草研究所榩layoff mode害羞草研究所� and hadn害羞草研究所檛 had a chance to look back at it all.
害羞草研究所淭here isn害羞草研究所檛 much time to reflect on the journey. This was an all 害羞草研究所渋n the moment害羞草研究所� experience. For 63 days, this team focused on getting the next win. So when you actually win the Cup, it takes time to reconcile the freedom and allow the tension to dissipate. There will be time to reflect in the slow days of August,害羞草研究所� McPhee texted.
When that times does come, perhaps McPhee will then look back and get emotional about what has been accomplished.
It害羞草研究所檚 been a long-time coming.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob 害羞草研究所渢he Moj害羞草研究所� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media. And check out his weekly podcast every Monday at Today in B.C. or your local Black Press Media website.
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