Report: Kelly McCrimmon top candidate for Las Vegas assistant GM

Brandon Wheat Kings head coach Kelly McCrimmon, top centre, looks to the scoreboard with his players during second period CHL Memorial Cup hockey action against the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in Red Deer, Saturday, May 21, 2016. (Jeff McIntosh/CP)

Less than a month after George McPhee was hired as the first-ever general manager of the Las Vegas NHL expansion franchise, the team could be getting closer to hiring an assistant GM.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, who credited an earlier report, it looks like longtime WHL GM Kelly McCrimmon could be the man for the job.

McCrimmon is the owner, GM and head coach of the Brandon Wheat Kings, and has been with the club in various roles since 1988.

During his time with the Wheat Kings, the team has been a steady playoff threat, and attended this year’s MasterCard Memorial Cup tournament as the 2016 WHL champions.

McCrimmon’s resume also includes being named WHL Executive of the Year three times (1995, 2010, 2015) and CHL Executive of the Year once (2010).

The league awarded Las Vegas a franchise through expansion in June. The team will debut at the beginning of the 2017-18 NHL season.

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