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The Red Wings are one of the best run NHL teams AP Photo/Mark Avery
When we take a look at how SI.com has ranked the best NHL owners a few questions come to mind. How should we rate these men, it is simply on the ice success, or is it simply the ability of the club to make money, or in the end is it a balance of the two.
If we look at on the ice success all of the five men rate by SI as the best are good ones:
1. Mike Illitch-Detroit Red Wings
2. Jeffrey Vanderbeek-New jersey Devils
3. Mario Lemuiex/Ron Burkle- Pittsburgh Penguins
4. San Jose Sports and Entertainment- San Jose Sharks
5. Peter Karmanos- Carolina Hurricanes
Speaking of Karmanos I find it kind of weird that two Detroit area business men (Illitch and Karmanos) end up on this list. However in Karmanos’ case we must consider that he bought a team (Hartford Whalers) and moved them. The other owners on this list bought teams and rebuilt them in their original cities. When we add the fact that Karmanos cut former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick a sweetheart employment deal when the disgraced mayor was released from jail I think we can effectively delete Karmanos from this list.
Really Illitch is by far the best owner in this league that he should be put on a different list then all the rest. His big minus is leveraging the Detroit community into building his baseball stadium for him (Illitch also owns the Detroit Tigers of the MLB). Since his hockey team is now in need of a state of the art facility I sincerely hope Mr. Illitch doesn’t do the same, and tarnish his reputation as a great sports owner. Of course I have a different take on Illitch as a resident and citizen which can be read here.
Personally I would list the Pittsburgh Penguins as they vest organization in the NHL today. Not that long ago the Penguins were bankrupt and the moving truck were all but packed or a move either to Kansas City or Hamilton, Ontario. Lemuiex and Burkle saved this team for the city of Pittsburgh and NHL fans across North America. What they have been able to achieve is nothing short of astounding.
Overall though these are good owners who have had much success on the ice as well as in their pocketbooks. While SI takes a berating nationally from sports fans it appears they got this one mostly right.
A look at the worst NHL owners
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