Kevin Hugh Lowe is a retired defenceman and coach in the
National Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
and the current President of Hockey Operations for the
Edmonton OilersThe Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
. As a defenceman, he played for the Edmonton Oilers and the
New York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
.
Background and early career
Lowe played 3 seasons starting in 1976 with the
Quebec RempartsThere have been two junior ice hockey franchises known as the Quebec Remparts that played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The first franchise played from 1969 to 1985; the current franchise has played since 1997. Both franchises were based out of Quebec City, Quebec...
of the
QMJHLThe Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
. He scored 42–131–173 in 201 games played, with 245 PIM. In the 1978–79 season, he was named the first English-speaking captain of a QMJHL team. He was drafted in the first round, 21st overall, of the 1979
NHL Entry DraftThe NHL Entry Draft is an annual meeting in which every franchise of the National Hockey League systematically select the rights to available amateur ice hockey players who meet draft eligibility requirements...
by the Edmonton Oilers.
NHL playing career
Lowe played 13 full seasons in his first stint with the Oilers, winning 5
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
s. He was team captain for the 1991–92 season.
The Oilers traded him to the New York Rangers, in December 1992 (Lowe was a restricted free-agent). There he helped other ex-Oilers
Glenn AndersonGlenn Christopher Anderson is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger in the National Hockey League who played for the Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, and St. Louis Blues...
,
Jeff BeukeboomJeff Beukeboom is a former NHL defenceman from Dutch descent. He is a cousin of NHL player Joe Nieuwendyk, as well as a brother of former minor-leaguers John and Brian Beukeboom....
,
Adam GravesAdam Graves is a former professional hockey player. He is best-known for his ten-year tenure with the New York Rangers. He also played for the Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, and San Jose Sharks...
,
Craig MacTavishCraig "MacT" MacTavish is the current head coach of the American Hockey League Chicago Wolves and a former ice hockey player and coach in the National Hockey League. He played centre for 19 NHL seasons with the Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis...
,
Mark MessierMark Douglas Messier is a former Canadian professional ice hockey centre of the National Hockey League and current special assistant to the president and general manager of the New York Rangers. He spent a quarter of a century in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, and Vancouver...
, and
Esa TikkanenEsa Tikkanen is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey forward. He played for the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, St...
to win another Stanley Cup, bringing his personal total to 6. As Stephen Cole said in
The Best of Hockey Night in Canada, the Rangers winning the
Stanley Cup in 1994The 1994 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series contested between the Eastern Conference champion New York Rangers and Western Conference champion Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League...
was a win for "New York's Oilers," as the team consisted of members of the great Edmonton team of the 1980s. In fact, it was the last hurrah for the great Oilers dynasty of the 1980s, according to Cole.
In 1996, he re-joined the Oilers as a free agent, and played another full season. He started the 1997–98 season with the Oilers as well, but only played 7 games due to illness – an inner-ear virus that affected his balance, thus ending his playing career.
In total, Lowe played in 1254 career regular season games, scoring 84–347–431 with 1498 penalty minutes. He added another 214 playoff games, scoring 10–48–58 and earning 192 penalty minutes.
Post playing career
Lowe joined the Oilers staff in 1998 as an assistant coach. In 1999, he took over head coaching duties from
Ron LowRonald Albert Low is a former Canadian ice hockey goaltender and coach. He grew up in Foxwarren, Manitoba.-Playing career:...
. He was head coach for just a single season, getting the Oilers to the first round of the playoffs. He was promoted to general manager of the Oilers in 2000 when long-time GM
Glen SatherGlen Cameron "Slats" Sather is the President and general manager of the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League . He has also served as the head coach of the Rangers, as well as General Manager and coach of the Edmonton Oilers of the World Hockey Association and later NHL...
left for the
New York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
. He remained the Oilers' Executive Vice President and General Manager until the 2008–09 season when he was promoted to President of Hockey Operations.
Lowe has also been responsible for assisting Canadian national hockey teams. He was a member of the management team for the Canadian men's ice hockey team at the
2002 Winter OlympicsThe 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
that won the gold medal, and was also named a manager for the 2004
World Cup of HockeyThe World Cup of Hockey is an international ice hockey tournament. Inaugurated in 1996, it is the successor to the previous Canada Cup, which ran from 1976 to 1991...
team. In addition, he has managed Team Canada at
World Hockey ChampionshipsThe Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
.
In 2005, the
Quebec Major Junior Hockey LeagueThe Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
created the
Kevin Lowe Trophy (Trophée Kevin Lowe)The Kevin Lowe Trophy is awarded annually to the player in the QMJHL judged to be the best defensive defenceman. The winner is determined by the number of bodychecks, plus-minus differential, the player's role within the team, and the number of scoring opportunities...
, awarded annually to the player in the QMJHL judged to be the best defensive defenceman.
In the 2006–2007 NHL offseason Lowe offered contracts to restricted free agents
Thomas VanekThomas Vanek is an Austrian professional ice hockey left winger, an alternate captain for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League...
, which was matched by the
Buffalo SabresThe Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
, then to Anaheim forward
Dustin PennerDustin Penner is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League . Penner was never drafted by a team in the NHL. He was discovered and signed as a free agent by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim after playing college hockey for the...
, which was signed. Following the offer sheet to Penner, Brian Burke, the then-GM of The
Anaheim DucksThe Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, publicly blamed Lowe for an inflation in player salaries, accusing Lowe of "colossal stupidity". Then head coach
Craig MacTavishCraig "MacT" MacTavish is the current head coach of the American Hockey League Chicago Wolves and a former ice hockey player and coach in the National Hockey League. He played centre for 19 NHL seasons with the Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis...
responded by referring Burke to the Wizard of Oz, "You comb his hair, put a white shirt on, wheel him out in front of the camera and he'll say whatever you guys want". Lowe did not respond to Burkes' attacks until July 4, 2008 on a local radio show, Total Sports with Bob Stauffer, calling Burke a "moron" and "a media junkie".
Lowe's No. 4 has not been retired, but he had been the only player in the Oilers' NHL history to wear No. 4 until he issued it to
Taylor HallTaylor Strba Hall is a Canadian ice hockey left winger currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League . He was the first overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Hall has had a highly successful junior career, helping the Windsor Spitfires to two consecutive Memorial Cup...
, the Oilers' first-round draft pick in 2010.
Notable achievements
Lowe holds the
Edmonton OilersThe Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
record for most regular season and playoff games played as an Oiler (1037 and 172). He was the team's first-ever NHL draft pick, and scored their first NHL goal (a power play goal against the
Chicago BlackhawksThe Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
assisted by
Wayne GretzkyWayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
and
Brett CallighenBrett Callighen is a retired professional ice hockey forward who played 160 games in the National Hockey League and 213 games in the World Hockey Association. He played for the New England Whalers and Edmonton Oilers. He was Wayne Gretzky's first regular left winger...
). During his professional hockey career, Lowe did not play a single game in the minor leagues, and his teams only once failed to make the playoffs.
Lowe was named an NHL all-star in 1984, 1985, 1986,
1988, 1989, 1990, and 1993. He also won the league's
King Clancy Memorial TrophyThe King Clancy Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution to his community. Since the award was established in 1988, no player has won it more than...
in 1990.
In 1988, Lowe never missed any playoff games, despite nursing a broken wrist and wearing a full cast. On the night the Oilers won their fourth Championship, Wayne Gretzky informed the media that Lowe was also hiding broken ribs throughout the playoffs, adding, "That's what it takes to win a Stanley Cup."
Personal information
Lowe is the younger brother of the former
Edmonton OilersThe Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
Head Medical Trainer Ken Lowe. He is married to Canadian Olympian
Karen PercyKaren Percy Lowe is a former Canadian alpine skier. She was born in Banff, Alberta. She won 2 bronze medals in skiing at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics...
, and is the father of
Edmonton Oil KingsThis article refers to the original Oil Kings franchises that existed until 1978. For the current team that began play in 2007, see Edmonton Oil Kings...
defenceman Keegan Lowe, who was drafted by the
Carolina HurricanesThe Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
in the third round of the
2011 NHL Entry DraftThe 2011 NHL Entry Draft was the 49th NHL Entry Draft. It was held on June 24–25, 2011, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was the first time the Draft was held in the state of Minnesota since the Minnesota North Stars hosted the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.The top three picks consisted...
.
Awards and achievements
- 1983–84 – NHL
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
– Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
(Edmonton OilersThe Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
)
- 1984–85 – NHL – Stanley Cup (Edmonton Oilers)
- 1986–87 – NHL – Stanley Cup (Edmonton Oilers)
- 1987–88 – NHL – Stanley Cup (Edmonton Oilers)
- 1989–90 – NHL – Stanley Cup (Edmonton Oilers)
- 1993–94 – NHL – Stanley Cup (New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
)
Career statistics
| |
|
Regular season |
|
Playoffs |
| Season In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
|
Team |
League |
GP |
G In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to...
|
A In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal...
|
Pts Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one...
|
PIMA penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,...
|
GP |
G |
A |
Pts |
PIM |
| 1976–77 The 1976–77 QMJHL season was the eighth season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The leagues renames its division in honour of Robert Lebel and Frank Dilio, two lifetime contributors to ice hockey in Quebec. The East Division becomes the "Dilio Division" and the West Division...
|
Quebec Remparts There have been two junior ice hockey franchises known as the Quebec Remparts that played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The first franchise played from 1969 to 1985; the current franchise has played since 1997. Both franchises were based out of Quebec City, Quebec...
|
QMJHLThe Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
|
69 |
3 |
19 |
22 |
39 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1977–78 The 1977–78 QMJHL season was the ninth season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league inaugurates two awards, the Robert Lebel Trophy for the team with best goals against average, and the Guy Lafleur Trophy for the Most Valuable Player of the playoffs. Ten teams played...
|
Quebec Remparts |
QMJHL |
64 |
13 |
52 |
65 |
86 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1978–79 The 1978–79 QMJHL season was the tenth season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The QMJHL unveils a new logo for its tenth anniversary, using the letters of league's french acronym shaped as an ice skate. Ten teams played 72 games each in the schedule...
|
Quebec Remparts |
QMJHL |
68 |
26 |
60 |
86 |
120 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1979–80 |
Edmonton OilersThe Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
|
NHLThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
|
64 |
2 |
19 |
21 |
70 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| 1980–81 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
79 |
10 |
24 |
34 |
94 |
9 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
11 |
| 1981–82 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
80 |
9 |
31 |
40 |
63 |
5 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
| 1982–83 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
80 |
6 |
34 |
40 |
43 |
16 |
1 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
| 1983–84 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
80 |
4 |
42 |
46 |
59 |
19 |
3 |
7 |
10 |
16 |
| 1984–85 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
80 |
4 |
22 |
26 |
104 |
16 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
8 |
| 1985–86 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
74 |
2 |
16 |
18 |
90 |
10 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
15 |
| 1986–87 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
77 |
8 |
29 |
37 |
94 |
21 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
22 |
| 1987–88 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
70 |
9 |
15 |
24 |
89 |
19 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
26 |
| 1988–89 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
76 |
7 |
18 |
25 |
98 |
7 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
| 1989–90 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
78 |
7 |
26 |
33 |
140 |
20 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
10 |
| 1990–91 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
73 |
3 |
13 |
16 |
113 |
14 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
14 |
| 1991–92 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
55 |
2 |
8 |
10 |
107 |
11 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
16 |
| 1992–93 |
New York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
|
NHL |
49 |
3 |
12 |
15 |
58 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1993–94 |
New York Rangers |
NHL |
71 |
5 |
14 |
19 |
70 |
22 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
20 |
| 1994–95 |
New York Rangers |
NHL |
44 |
1 |
7 |
8 |
58 |
10 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
12 |
| 1995–96 |
New York Rangers |
NHL |
53 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
76 |
10 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
| 1996–97 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
64 |
1 |
13 |
14 |
50 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 1997–98 |
Edmonton Oilers |
NHL |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
| NHL totals |
1254 |
84 |
348 |
432 |
1498 |
214 |
10 |
48 |
58 |
192 |
Coaching record
| Team | | Year | | Regular season | | Post season |
| G | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | Finish | W | L | Win % | Result |
EDMThe Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
|
1999–2000 |
82 |
32 |
26 |
16 |
8 |
88 |
2nd in Northwest The NHL's Northwest Division was formed in 1998 as part of the Western Conference due to expansion. Like the Pacific Division, the Northwest Division is also a descendant of the former Smythe Division, as three of its Canadian teams played in that division from 1981–1993...
|
1 |
4 |
.200 |
Lost in 1st round (DallasThe Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
) |
External links