Maple Leafs Job Fair: Jeff Gorton’s Resume

8 years ago

I don’t know who told the people who want to become the next head coach or general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs to send their resumes to The Leafs Nation instead of the team itself, but it’s worked out pretty well for us. New York Rangers Assistant General Manager Jeff Gorton was the latest person to fall for this cruel but very timely prank.

JEFF GORTON

I really want to become a General Manager somewhere, but the New York Rangers keep forbidding other teams from talking to me.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Assistant General Manager of the New York Rangers (2011-Present)

Responsible for all aspects of hockey administration for the team. I oversee all day-to-day aspects of our hockey operations department. In particular, I oversee player, coach, and staff contracts, represent the team in salary arbitration matters, work on a continued basis with our pro and amateur scouting staffs, and oversee team research projects.

Assistant Director of Player Personnel for the New York Rangers (2008-2011)

I spent most of my time in this role overseeing professional scouting operations. But I really don’t want to talk about it.

Professional Scout for the New York Rangers (2007-2008)

After being fired by the Boston Bruins, I took the first job I could get.

Interim General Manager of the Boston Bruins (March 27, 2006-July 8, 2006)

I didn’t do too much during my time as the Interim GM in Boston. I guess if I had to try and find something redeeming about my very brief tenure in this role, it would be drafting Phil Kessel, Milan Lucic, and Brad Marchand, as well as trading for Tuukka Rask and signing Zdeno Chara as well as Marc Savard.

Assistant General Manager of the Boston Bruins (1999-2006)

During this time I was involved in contract negotiations, scouting operations, and overseeing our AHL affiliate in Providence.

Director of Scouting Information for the Boston Bruins (1994-1999)

I’m pretty proud of my work in this role. From scratch, I created the Bruins’ scouting database which networks our scouts and coordinates video on prospects in preparation of the NHL Draft.

Member of the Boston Bruins’ Public Relations Department (1992-1994)

Everybody’s gotta start somewhere.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Graduate of Springfield College’s Masters program in Sports Management
Graduate of Bridgewater State College’s Physical Education undergraduate program
Time Magazine’s 2006 Person of the Year

BEST TRADE

Remember that time I traded you guys Andrew Raycroft for Tuukka Rask? Yeah, good times…

WORST TRADE

I thought suggesting the trade of Joe Thornton to San Jose for Wayne Primeau, Brad Stuart, and Marco Sturm would be a great way to get then-GM Mike O’Connell fired, thus paving the way for me to become the General Manager of the Boston Bruins. Well, turns out that trade was so bad that they decided to can me, too.

BEST DRAFT PICK

I don’t mean to brag, but I’ve been a part of some pretty good ones. We drafted Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci in the second round while I was an assistant in Boston, and then while I was the temp GM there we took Milan Lucic in the second round and Brad Marchand in the third.

WORST DRAFT PICK

Admittedly, suggesting we take some guy named Lars Jonsson 7th overall in the 2000 Draft was not my brightest idea.

PERSONAL INTERESTS

Creating entire scouting databases from scratch

HIRING MANAGER’S NOTES

Jeff Gorton is a relative unknown to the casual hockey fan, but it turns out he has a pretty incredible resume. If experience is something that’s important to the Leafs he has that in spades. It’s hard to say how much of a role he’s played in the draft while serving as an assistant in Boston and New York, but seeing names like Bergeron, Krejci, Kris Versteeg, Kessel, Lucic, Marchand, and J.T. Miller drafted during his time in these roles provides reason for optimism. His three-and-a-half month tenure as Bruins GM where the team acquired Kessel, Lucic, Marchand, Rask, Chara, and Savard is quietly one of the best periods of hockey management we’ve seen – ever. Gorton played a big role in helping the Bruins become the contender that they were, and seems to have played an equally important role in shaping the New York Rangers as present-day Stanley Cup contenders. It’s tough to argue with this sort of track record.

Other Resumes We’ve Received: