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Entering his 25th season with the Detroit Red Wings and his 40th overall in the National Hockey League, Jim Devellano continues to be a driving force behind Detroit's success as well as a strong influence in the evolution and improvement of the league itself. Devellano can be credited with carefully building Detroit's 1997, 1998 and 2002 Stanley Cup Championship teams through the Entry Draft, savvy trades and aggressive free agent acquisitions.
He choreographed the Red Wings steady rise from one of the NHL's weakest teams into the powerful club that has reached the Stanley Cup Finals four of the last 10 years and lifted the coveted Cup in triumph three times, giving Devellano his fourth, fifth and sixth Stanley Cup rings (three with New York Islanders and three with Detroit).
Devellano was the first individual hired by owners Mike and Marian Ilitch after purchasing the Red Wings in June of 1982. He was the team's general manager for eight seasons before ascending to his current position of senior vice-president July 13, 1990. An excellent judge of talent throughout his 39 years in the NHL, Devellano believes that building a solid foundation begins with a capable scouting staff and strong Entry Draft selections. Evidence of the wisdom in this plan can be seen in Devellano's first draft as Red Wings general manager when he tabbed future Hall-of-Famer Steve Yzerman in the 1983 Entry Draft to be the cornerstone of the franchise.
Devellano was one of the first NHL general managers to assemble a strong European scouting staff back in 1984. A progressive move that has produced several Red Wing standouts including Russians Sergei Fedorov, Slava Kozlov and Vladimir Konstantinov. Europeans such as Nicklas Lidstrom and Tomas Holmstrom were discovered by Devellano's Swedish scouting staff.
Through the course of Devellano's tenure with the Red Wings, Detroit has participated in seven conference finals (1987, '88, '95, '96, '97, '98, '02) and four Stanley Cup Finals (1995, '97, '98 '02), collected four Presidents' Trophies (1995, '96, '02, '04), five regular-season Western Conference championships (1994, '95, '96, '02, '04) and 11 division championships (1988, '89, '92, '94, '95, '96, '99, '01, '02, '03, '04).
Devellano is the proud owner of 12 Championship Rings. His impressive collection includes: Six Stanley Cup Rings (N.Y. Islanders 1980, 1981, 1982 and Detroit 1997, 1998 and 2002), Three Calder Cup Championship Rings in the American Hockey League with Adirondack (1986, 1989 and 1992), Two Adams Cup Championship Rings in the Central Hockey League (Fort Worth 1978 and Indianapolis 1982), and one Riley Cup Championship Ring in the East Coast Hockey League (Toledo 1994).
Devellano's lengthy tenure as head of hockey operations for the Red Wings is second only to the 35 years served by the late Jack Adams, the legendary G.M. credited with building the Red Wing dynasty of the 1950's. In addition to his duties as senior vice-president, Devellano serves as the team's alternate on the NHL's Board of Governors.
He has been instrumental in many historical decisions in the National Hockey League. In 1980, it was Devellano who campaigned to have the annual NHL Entry Draft moved from a hotel ballroom into various NHL arenas, transfoming the draft into a spectacular event where fans can now witness what occurs with each and every team as the draft takes place. Devellano was also responsilbe for bringing the Entry Draft to the United States for the very first time on June 13, 1987 at Joe Louis Arena. Most recently, it was at Devellano's suggestion that the NHL instituted a new overtime format beginning with the 1999-2000 season that includes skating four aside as well as one point for each team following a regulation overtime and an additional point if a team is victorious in overtime.
Having served as a teacher and mentor to numerous front office personnel over the years, Devellano's influence has reached several NHL clubs. Currently there are three NHL general managers who have succeeded under Devellano's tutelage - Detroit General Manager Ken Holland, Darcy Reiger of the Buffalo Sabres and Don Waddell of the Atlanta Thrashers.
Devellano, 62, did not play professional hockey, but rose through the ranks in various capacities in his native Toronto. Joining former Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman, he became a scout with the St. Louis Blues in 1967 when the NHL expanded from six to 12 teams. Also, it was Devellano's strong recommendation to owner Mike Ilitch that led to Scotty Bowman's hiring by the Wings.
Joining the New York Islanders as a scout when that club was founded in 1972, Devellano's scouting skills helped build a team that won four consecutive Stanley Cup titles (1980-83). It was Devellano who highly recommend that the Islanders GM, Bill Torrey, hire Al Arbour to coach the club. Arbour was captain of the St. Louis Blues when Devellano scouted for that franchise. The recommendation turned out better than expected as Arbour guided the Islanders to four consecutive Stanley Cup Championships. In 1979-80, he became general manager of the Islanders' Indianapolis (CHL) farm club and was named Minor League Executive of the Year by The Hockey News. He returned to New York in 1981 as the Islanders' assistant general manager.
On a personal level in 2003, Devellano set up two private foundations supporting mostly children's charities in the United States and Canada.
In June of 2001 Mike Ilitch named Devellano Senior Vice-President of MLB's Detroit Tigers. Devellano resides in Detroit and Sarasota, Florida. |
