Donald Douglas Waddell (born August 19, 1958) is an
American professional
ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...
executive and former player who is currently the president of hockey operations and
general manager
A general manager (GM) is an executive who has overall responsibility for managing both the revenue and cost elements of a company's income statement, known as profit & loss (P&L) responsibility. A general manager usually oversees most or all of ...
for the
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets (often simply referred to as the Jackets) are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio. The Blue Jackets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern C ...
. He previously held similar leadership roles with the
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Con ...
and
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL) on June 25, 1997, and became the League's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL sea ...
.
Playing career
Waddell was selected 111th overall, in the
1978 NHL Amateur Draft. He was selected as the 3rd choice of the
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...
on June 15, 1978. He played in the NHL for only one game with the Kings during the
1980–81 season, against the
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...
on January 28, 1981.
His playing career consisted mostly of
minor and
college hockey. He played 4 seasons at
Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University (Northern Michigan, Northern or NMU) is a public university in Marquette, Michigan, United States. It was established in 1899 by the Michigan Legislature as Northern State Normal School. In 1963, the state designa ...
. 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 (IHL)
Governor's Trophy in 1982 for best defenseman during the
regular season
In an organized sports league, a typical season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session: for example, in Major League Baseball the season lasts approximately from the last week of March to the last week of S ...
.
During the
1984–85 IHL season, he was traded from the
Flint Generals with
Jim Aldred, to the
Toledo Goaldiggers
The Toledo Goaldiggers were a minor professional ice hockey club based in Toledo, Ohio, from 1974 to 1986. They played in the International Hockey League (IHL) and held their home games at the Toledo Sports Arena on the east side of Toledo. Pr ...
in exchange for Bill Joyce and
Mark Plantery.
Coaching career
After his tenure as a player, he moved to coaching for the
1987–88 season with the IHL
Flint Spirits
The Flint Spirits were a professional hockey team in Flint, Michigan from 1985 to 1990, and played their home games at the IMA Sports Arena. They were a part of the International Hockey League (1945–2001), International Hockey League and repla ...
as a player-coach. For the next two seasons, he moved behind the bench permanently. Waddell moved on to the IHL
San Diego Gulls
The San Diego Gulls are a professional ice hockey team based in San Diego. They are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Anaheim Ducks. The team plays its home games at Pechanga Arena.
History
On Jan ...
for the 1991–92 season. Waddell took over as interim coach of the Atlanta Thrashers during the 2002–03 season with a record of 4–5–1–0 as coach before
Bob Hartley was named to the permanent job.
After a disappointing start (0–6–0) to the
2007–08 Atlanta Thrashers season, Waddell was named
interim head coach
A head coach, senior coach, or manager is a professional responsible for training and developing athletes within a sports team. This role often has a higher public profile and salary than other coaching positions. In some sports, such as associat ...
of the team following the dismissal of Bob Hartley. For several months, he was able to lead the team on a turn around, but the Thrashers ultimately played poorly down the stretch and missed the playoffs.
Coaching record
Management career
Early career
Waddell's first front office experience came with the
International Hockey League's
Flint Spirits
The Flint Spirits were a professional hockey team in Flint, Michigan from 1985 to 1990, and played their home games at the IMA Sports Arena. They were a part of the International Hockey League (1945–2001), International Hockey League and repla ...
during the 1988–89 season when he served in the dual role of head coach and general manager. He moved into Flint's front office exclusively for the 1989–90 season before joining the IHL's
San Diego Gulls
The San Diego Gulls are a professional ice hockey team based in San Diego. They are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Anaheim Ducks. The team plays its home games at Pechanga Arena.
History
On Jan ...
. He was vice president and general manager for the Gulls from 1990 to 1995 before accepting the same role with the IHL's
Orlando Solar Bears
The Orlando Solar Bears are a professional ice hockey team that plays their home games at Kia Center (formerly Amway Center) in Orlando, Florida. They play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference and are affiliated with the Tampa ...
. While in Orlando, Waddell was also vice president of RDV Sports and served on the organization's executive committee which oversaw the
NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...
's
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic are an American professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. The Magic compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division (NBA), Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference (NB ...
, the Solar Bears and RDV Sports' retail and aviation interests.
Detroit Red Wings
After leaving Orlando, Waddell served as assistant general manager of the
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...
in the 1997–98 season, capturing the
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup () is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, and the International Ic ...
.
Atlanta Thrashers
On June 23, 1998, just one week after the Red Wings swept the
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...
in the
1998 Stanley Cup Finals, Waddell was named the first general manager of the
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL) on June 25, 1997, and became the League's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL sea ...
. He served as general manager of the Thrashers until the conclusion of the 2009–10 season when he was promoted to team president, and
Rick Dudley succeeded him as general manager. During his tenure as general manager of the Thrashers, the team recorded a 308–401–45–66 record and made their lone playoff appearance after winning the NHL's
Southeast Division in 2006–07. Waddell also served as executive vice president and co-chair of the executive committee for the Thrashers' parent company,
Atlanta Spirit.
Following True North's purchase of the Thrashers, Waddell announced he would not be moving with the team from Atlanta to Winnipeg.
Pittsburgh Penguins
On January 21, 2012, the
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...
announced their hiring of Waddell as a professional scout.
Carolina Hurricanes
Waddell left the Penguins organization on July 1, 2014, to become the president of Gale Force Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the NHL's
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Con ...
. On May 8, 2018, Waddell was named president and general manager of the Hurricanes. On May 24, 2024, Waddell resigned as president and GM of the Hurricanes, being replaced by assistant GM
Eric Tulsky on an interim basis.
Columbus Blue Jackets
On May 28, 2024, Waddell was named president of hockey operations, general manager and alternate governor of the
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets (often simply referred to as the Jackets) are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio. The Blue Jackets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern C ...
.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
International
Awards and honors
See also
*
List of players who played only one game in the NHL
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Waddell, Don
1958 births
Living people
American ice hockey coaches
American men's ice hockey defensemen
American sports businesspeople
Atlanta Thrashers coaches
Atlanta Thrashers general managers
Carolina Hurricanes general managers
Columbus Blue Jackets executives
Detroit Red Wings general managers
Flint Generals (IHL) players
Flint Spirits players
Houston Apollos players
Ice hockey coaches from Michigan
Ice hockey people from Detroit
Ice hockey people from Michigan
Los Angeles Kings draft picks
Los Angeles Kings players
National Hockey League executives
National Hockey League general managers
New Haven Nighthawks players
Northern Michigan University alumni
Northern Michigan Wildcats men's ice hockey players
Pittsburgh Penguins scouts
Saginaw Gears players
Stanley Cup champions
Toledo Goaldiggers players
20th-century American sportsmen