The National Hockey League’s newest expansion franchise may not have a nickname or a logo just yet but they do have general manager.
George McPhee, who led the Washington Capitals to the Stanley Cup final in his first season as GM there, was named the first general manager of the Las Vegas NHL team on Wednesday.
“Our mission here is clear: we’re going to build an organization and a team that people in Nevada and Las Vegas are going to be proud of,” McPhee said at a press conference in Las Vegas. “We’re going to do it quickly and we’re aiming at the Stanley Cup.”
McPhee, a current executive with the New York Islanders, was one of seven potential candidates interviewed by team owner Bill Foley.
Assistant general managers such as Pittsburgh’s Jason Botterill, Tampa Bay’s Julien BriseBois and Nashville’s Paul Fenton were also considered for the position.
McPhee served as the general manager of the Washington Capitals from 1997 until 2014, when he was relieved of his duties. He accepted a position as a special adviser with the Islanders on September 2015.
Under McPhee, Washington reached the NHL championship series in his first season, losing in four games to the Detroit Red Wings.
The Capitals won the Southeast Division seven times, had eight 40-or-more win seasons and a franchise-record 121-point season in his tenure.
McPhee said a new state-of-the-arena is going to be attractive to fans and a modern practice facility will help bring in top class players.
“I think a lot of people are going to want to play here. There’s a lot to offer. The arena is fabulous. I’ve seen where the practice facility is going to be and it’s a great place for the players to develop,” McPhee said.
“Obviously, the climate is fantastic in state income tax matters. We’re going to build a treasured team.”
Foley said on Monday that he hopes to unveil the team’s nickname and logo in early October.
The 58-year-old Canadian played parts of six seasons in the NHL — four with the New York Rangers and two with the New Jersey Devils, finishing with 24 goals and 25 assists in 115 games.
The league approved the expansion franchise in Las Vegas, the league’s 31st team, on June 22.
The team will begin play in the 2017-18 season.
Las Vegas will select players from the 30 current teams in an expansion draft next June.