Don Waddell
American ice hockey executive and former defenseman, currently GM of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Donald Douglas Waddell (born August 19, 1958) is an American professional ice hockey executive and former player who is currently the president of hockey operations and general manager for the Columbus Blue Jackets. He previously held similar leadership roles with the Carolina Hurricanes and Atlanta Thrashers.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Forward (Left Wing)
- Nationality
- Canadian
- Nhl era
- 1960s – 1970s
- Playing style
- Physical
- hard-hitting
- team-first
- Role
- Enforcer; Tough forward
- Franchise connection to kraken
- None (pre-dates Kraken by 50+ years)
Lore & Background
Waddell was selected 111th overall in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft as the 3rd choice of the Los Angeles Kings. He played in the NHL for only one game with the Kings during the 1980–81 season, against the New York Rangers on January 28, 1981. His playing career consisted mostly of minor and college hockey. He played 4 seasons at Northern Michigan University. He was one of the final cuts for the 1980 U.S. men's hockey team after he broke his leg in a pre-tournament game. He won the International Hockey League's Governor's Trophy in 1982 for best defenseman during the regular season. During the 1984–85 IHL season, he was traded from the Flint Generals with Jim Aldred to the Toledo Goaldiggers in exchange for Bill Joyce and Mark Plantery.
Reader's Guide
After his playing career, Waddell moved to coaching for the 1987–88 season with the IHL Flint Spirits as a player-coach. He later coached the IHL San Diego Gulls and served as interim coach of the Atlanta Thrashers during the 2002–03 season and again in 2007–08. His front office career began with the Flint Spirits in 1988–89 as head coach and general manager. He was vice president and general manager for the San Diego Gulls from 1990 to 1995, then held the same role with the Orlando Solar Bears. He served as assistant general manager of the Detroit Red Wings in 1997–98, capturing the Stanley Cup. He was the first general manager of the Atlanta Thrashers from 1998 until 2010, then served as a professional scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins, president and general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, and was named president of hockey operations, general manager and alternate governor of the Columbus Blue Jackets on May 28, 2024.
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