[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Bob Murray — 1,008 career NHL games; six years prior front office experience
John Chayka — 0 games
Don Sweeney — 1,115 games; nine years
Jason Botterill — 481 games; seven years
Brad Treliving — 0 games
Stan Bowman — 0 games
Joe Sakic — 1,378 games; two years
Jarmo Kekäläinen — 55 games
Jim Nill — 524 games; 22 years
Ken Holland — 4 games
Peter Chiarelli — 0 games
Dale Tallon — 642 games; seven years
Rob Blake — 1,270 games; four years
Marc Bergevin — 1,191 games; four years
David Poile — 0 games
Ray Shero — 0 games
Garth Snow — 368 games; 0 years
Jeff Gorton — 0 games
Pierre Dorion — 0 games
Ron Hextall — 608 games; 14 years
Jim Rutherford — 457 games; who knows?
Doug Wilson — 1,024 games; ten years
Doug Armstron — 0 games
Steve Yzerman —1,514 games; four years
Jim Benning — 610 games; 20 years
George McPhee — 115 games
Brian MacLellan — 606 games; 13 years
Kevin Cheveldayoff — 0 games

Ten NHL general managers have never played a single NHL game, and another three have played less than 150. Of the former career players who are current GMs, only two have entered their positions with less than two years prior front-office experience, and another three with less than seven.

I don't think either one of your assertions is correct. It seems too me that the NHL employs a relatively high number of former scouts and non-players in executive ranks, and it also seems that "fast tracking" former players into executive roles is fairly uncommon.

Ahem. So you have just proven that 2/3 of NHL GM’s are ex-players. Thanks.