Kevin Lowe

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Lowe joined the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 1976. An Anglophone, he learned French as the team used it, and in 1978 was named captain, the first English captain in team history. He was drafted in the first round, 21st overall, of the 1979 NHL entry draft by the Edmonton Oilers, the franchise's first NHL draft selection. Lowe played 13 seasons plus part of a 14th in his first stint with the Oilers and helped lead them to five Stanley Cup championships. He became team captain for the 1991–92 season after Mark Messier was traded to the New York Rangers. The Oilers traded him to the New York Rangers in December 1992. In 1994, he won the Stanley Cup with six other ex-Oilers, bringing his total to six. In 1996, he re-joined the Oilers as a free agent and played another full season. He started the 1997–98 season with the Oilers but only played 7 games before being forced to retire due to an inner-ear virus that affected his balance. Lowe played more regular season and playoff games in an Oilers uniform than anyone in franchise history (1037 and 172). He was the team's first NHL draft pick, but the Oilers' first NHL goal was scored by Brett Callighen. During his professional hockey career, Lowe did not play a single game in the minor leagues.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of Lowe's career is defined by grit and adaptability. After Mark Messier was traded, Lowe took over as captain for the 1991–92 season, guiding a struggling team that started 1–5–1 to a 36–34–10 finish. His physical presence was unmatched, earning him 1,498 penalty minutes in the regular season and 192 in the playoffs. He never played a minor league game, making his direct jump from junior to the NHL unique. Post-retirement, he became an assistant coach in 1998, then head coach for the 2000–01 season, winning 32 games before being promoted to General Manager. In 2006–07, a fierce public dispute erupted with Anaheim GM Brian Burke over offer sheets to Thomas Vanek and Dustin Penner; Lowe eventually called Burke a "moron" on the radio. His number 4 was finally retired by the Oilers in 2021, ending a period where it had been issued to Taylor Hall and Kris Russell.

Reader's Guide

Lowe joined the Oilers staff in 1998 as an assistant coach. In 1999, he took over head coaching duties from Ron Low. He was head coach for just a single season, winning 32 out of 82 games (32-26-16-8), and getting the Oilers to the first round of the playoffs where they fell to the Dallas Stars in five games. He was promoted to general manager of the Oilers in 2000 when long-time GM Glen Sather left for the New York Rangers. He remained the Oilers' Executive Vice President and General Manager until the 2008–09 season when he was promoted to President of Hockey Operations. Lowe has also been responsible for assisting Canadian national hockey teams. He was a member of the management team for the Canadian men's ice hockey team at the 2002 Winter Olympics that won the gold medal and was also named a manager for the 2004 World Cup of Hockey team. In 2005, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League created the Kevin Lowe Trophy, awarded annually to the player in the QMJHL judged to be the best defensive defenceman. In the 2006–2007 NHL offseason, Lowe offered contracts to restricted free agents Thomas Vanek, which was matched by the Buffalo Sabres, then to Anaheim forward Dustin Penner, which was signed. Following the offer sheet to Penner, Brian Burke, then-GM of the Anaheim Ducks, publicly blamed Lowe for inflation in player salaries, accusing Lowe of 'colossal stupidity.' Then head coach Craig MacTavish responded by comparing Burke to the Wizard of Oz. Lowe did not respond to Burke's attacks until July 4, 2008, on a local radio show, calling Burke a 'moron' and 'a media junkie.' Lowe's No. 4 was not retired by the Oilers until 2021; he had been the only player in the Oilers' NHL history to wear No. 4 until he issued it to Taylor Hall, the Oilers' first-overall draft pick in 2010. Kris Russell wore No. 4 for the Oilers as well until the beginning of the 2021-2022 season. In 2021, Lowe was appointed to the board of directors for Play On! Canada.

Did You Know?

• Lowe was the main narrator of The Boys on the Bus, journalist Bob McKeown's 1987 documentary film about the Oilers.
• During the Oilers' run to the 1988 Stanley Cup, Lowe played with a broken wrist and a full cast, and Wayne Gretzky informed the media that Lowe was also hiding broken ribs throughout the playoffs.
• Lowe was named to play in the NHL All-Star Game in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, and 1990.
• Lowe is married to Canadian Olympian Karen Percy and is the father of defenceman Keegan Lowe, who was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the third round.