NHL History: Winnipeg Jets promote John Paddock to GM

Today in 1994, the Winnipeg Jets promoted head coach John Paddock to the full-time role of general manager.

Named head coach four years prior, Paddock’s first two seasons behind the bench were both strong years coaching the Jets to winning seasons in both campaigns. They earned playoff berths in both years, but were unable to get out of the first round.

In 1991-92, they were eliminated by the Vancouver Canucks in seven games and the next year, Vancouver eliminated them once again, this time in six games. Paddock, who was the first Manitoba-born coach of the franchise, struggled in 1993-94 as the Jets posted a 24-51-9 record, the second worst in the league.

Only 33 games into the 94-95 season, the Jets had only won nine games as they struggled in the lockout-shortened season. With only 15 games left, Paddock resigned his role as Terry Simpson took over.

That January, Paddock had been appointed to acting GM after the club dismissed Mike Smith.

Paddock acted swifted acquiring Neil Wilkinson from the Chicago Blackhawks for a third-round pick, and fired assistant GM Dennis McDonald replacing him with Mike O’Hearn.

One of his more significant trades, however, happened on March 15, 1994. Paddock acquired Dave Manson and a 1994 6th round pick from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Mats Lindgren, Boris Mironov, a 1994 first-round pick and a fourth-round pick that same year.

Paddock followed the Jets to Phoenix, but was dismissed in December 1996.

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