Lemieux: Firing old friend Patrick was ‘tough call’
PITTSBURGH – Pittsburgh Penguins owner Mario Lemieux said signing off on Hall of Fame general manager Craig Patrick’s ouster last month was the toughest decision he had made as an executive. “I don’t like to let go of my friends,” Lemieux said Thursday. “I like to be as loyal as much they have been to me, but sometimes you have to make changes and it was a tough call to make.”
Lemieux hadn’t spoken publicly since retiring for the second time in his career in January, following a bout with an irregular heartbeat. He also had not previously discussed team president Ken Sawyer’s decision to let Patrick go after 16-plus seasons on the job.
Patrick was greatly responsible for assembling the talent that helped the Penguins to win the Stanley Cup in 1991 and 1992 and reach the playoffs for 11 consecutive seasons through 2001. But Patrick’s passion for his job seemed to wane as he was forced to dump most of the team’s higher-priced players following the franchise’s emergence from bankruptcy six years ago.
Patrick also chose to operate with the leanest front office in the NHL, with assistant Eddie Johnston serving as his only key aide. Dealing with contracts, trades and other front office minutiae left Patrick with little time for scouting or player evaluation.
Lemieux said times have changed, and suggested that Patrick’s system didn’t work as well in the modern-era NHL.
“Craig did a great job during his 17 years here, but sometimes you need to make a change,” Lemieux said. “The game is a lot different now and you have to be a lot more involved with scouting and knowing the young players, and we thought we needed to make a change there.”
Patrick’s successor, Ray Shero, was involved with scouting and player evaluation while working as the assistant general manager in Nashville and Ottawa.
His duties in Nashville the last eight years included overseeing the Predators’ top farm club.
“Ray’s been around for 14 years, scouting and knowing the young kids in the minors, so we thought that would be a good fit for where we are now,” Lemieux said.
Lemieux, whose official title is chief executive officer and chairman, said he was not actively involved in the search for a general manager.
He said he did not talk to Shero until calling him Wednesday, and didn’t meet him until just before Thursday’s news conference.
Lemieux said he plans to remain friends with Patrick, even though the two will no longer work together.
“Craig is always going to be a good friend and it’s just business, and I think he understands that,” Lemieux said.
As for his health, Lemieux said he feels better than he has in months. He had surgery Feb. 27 to eliminate the need to take medication to control the irregular heartbeat. Lemieux also needed to take blood thinners for several months following the procedure.
“It’s really good,” Lemieux said.
“Everything went well. I’m just getting off the medication now. I’ve got a test next week, and it should be good. It was tough for a while, but I feel better now.”