The hockey world is in mourning today after news emerged that Tom Kurvers, Minnesota Wild assistant general manager, has passed away at the age of 58. Kurvers had been diagnosed with lung cancer in January 2019, but continued working for the Wild and is still listed as AGM.
The Minneapolis native had a long playing career before taking up his position in an NHL front office. In 1984, serving as captain of the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Kurvers was named the Hobey Baker award winner as the best college player in the country. He had scored 76 points in 43 games that year, despite being just a seventh-round pick in 1981. He stepped directly into the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens the following season, scoring 45 points as a rookie. His Canadiens won the Stanley Cup the following year, though he did not play in the postseason. A long winding career took him through Buffalo, New Jersey, Toronto, Vancouver, New York, Anaheim, and even to Japan for one season. Though he scored 421 points in 659 games, his impact was perhaps even greater in the front office.
Soon after his retirement, he became a scout in the Phoenix Coyotes organization and started the long climb of management. In 2015 he was promoted to director of player personnel and then in 2008 he was given his first opportunity as an assistant GM, this time with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He remained with the Lightning through the 2017-18 season, before following Paul Fenton to Minnesota. Even though Fenton was let go less than two years later, Kurvers stayed on with new GM Bill Guerin.
Along with the rest of the hockey world, PHR would like to send condolences to the Kurvers family.
RIP
My sympathies to the Wild and his family. I will always remember Bowling Green’s four overtime win over Kurvers and Minnesota Duluth in the 1984 NCAA National Championship game.
Is that the one where one of the goalies kept knocking his net off its posts?
Traded by the Devils to the Leafs for a 1st round pick…Scott Niedermayer. RIP Tom.
I’d like to send my condolences to the Kurvers family and the Minnesota Wild. Rest in Peace, Tom.
RIP. never followed his career but remember finding a hockey card from my childhood of him on Toronto with the trade mentioned.
RIP Tom
RIP Tom
I’ll never forget the year you had for us in 88/89, you really helped us get to the ECF
Then you nabbed us the pick that got Niedermayer
Sad news to hear. Was quite an effective point man on the PP. RIP.