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Long time Red Wings executive Jim Devellano and former forward Dino Ciccarelli were enshrined in Toronto on Monday night.
Red Wings senior vice president Jim Devellano and former forward Dino Cicarelli were formally inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto tonight.
Devellano was the first general manager Mike and Marian Ilitch hired after buying the Wings in 1982 and Devellano didn’t disappoint. “Jimmy D” turned a team that rarely made the playoffs into a perennial contender and has been an executive for the team for all four of its’ most recent Stanley Cup wins.
After grooming his heir Ken Holland to be the team’s general manager, Devellano assumed the role of senior vice president in 1997 and has served in that capacity ever since. Devellano was instrumental in bringing in European players that other teams wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole, a model other teams have tried to replicate:
“Look, we simply could not get enough players quick enough out of North America,” Devellano said. "It was going to take forever to rebuild. We needed to find other resources for a supply of good players, and I knew in Russia and Czechoslovakia there were some fabulous players. But no one would draft them simply because there was an Iron Curtain up.
“I figured if I drafted them, our people could find a way to get them here,” he said. "People have jumped on our European model, ever since.
Ciccarelli was with the team from 1992-1996 and accumulated 608 goals (107 with Detroit) and 1,200 points in his 19-year career. Ciccarelli often managed his own contracts, which led to some pretty tense moments with Devellano and the front office:
"He was a little bit of an underdog, with the broken leg and not getting drafted," Devellano said. "He always felt he had to stick up for himself, and he was right. "Of course, at that time, I was managing the Red Wings, and we had a huge payroll. … We were close to winning a Cup, so I had to watch who we gave money to. Him and I would get into some pretty heated contract discussions, but at the end of the day, it never bothered me. I admired him for fighting for himself."
Both Devellano and Ciccarelli are certainly deserving inductees. Ken Holland is often referred to as the best GM in the NHL, but there wouldn’t be a Ken Holland without “Jimmy D.” Congratulations to both.
Before there was Homer, there was Dino.
Tomas Holmstrom has perfected the art of annoying opposing goaltenders, but Dino Ciccarelli invented the craft of crashing the net. Now, the most prolific goal-front pest in NHL history will be immortalized in the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2010. Ciccarelli has been eligible for eight years.
"You get so emotional thinking about this," Ciccarelli said. "I just lost my mom a few months ago and my dad a few years ago. It would have been nice to enjoy it with my parents, but I’ve got my kids, my family and a lot of friends. We’re going to enjoy this and celebrate it."
Ciccarelli scored 608 goals during his 19-year career with the Red Wings, Minnesota North Stars, Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. Considered one of the best players never to win the Stanley Cup, Ciccarelli was part of the 1995 Red Wings team that was swept by the New Jersey Devils. He was traded to Tampa Bay prior to the 1996-97 season--the year the Wings ended their Cup drought.
Joining Ciccarelli will be longtime Red Wings executive Jim Devellano, who will be inducted into the builder category. Devellano currently serves as the team's executive vice president, and was the general manager before Ken Holland took over in the 1990s.
"I’d like to thank the selection committee for naming me," Devellano said. "This game is all about the people, and since Lynn Patrick gave me my first break, I’ve been fortunate to be associated with great people."
Devallano has quietly been a top executive in the Red Wings front office since 1983, when he was hired as the team's general manager. Devellano has made many vital decisions in his tenure with the Wings, but he's best remembered for one he didn't get to make. In the 1983 NHL Draft, Devellano had his heart set on taking Pat LaFontaine with the fourth overall pick, but he was snatched up by the New York Islanders third overall. That forced Devellano to go with his second choice: Steve Yzerman.
Joining Devellano and Ciccarelli for the first time are two women players, U.S. national team legend Cammi Granato and Canadian Angela James. Also inducted under the builder category was the late Daryl Seaman, who was part of the business group that moved the Atlanta Flames to Calgary in 1980
VIDEO: Jim Devellano Gets His Hall Of Fame Ring
Via NHL.com
Nov 09 3:39p by Ryan Weiss - 0 comments