Kevin Lowe Kevin Hugh Lowe ( born April 15 , 1959 in Lachute , Quebec ) is a former defenceman and coach in the National Hockey League and the current President of Hockey Operations of the Edmonton Oilers . As a defenceman , he played for the Edmonton Oilers and the New York Rangers . Background and early career . Lowe played 3 seasons starting in 1976 with the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL . He scored 42 – 131 – 173 in 201 games played , with 245 PIM . In the 1978 – 79 season , he was named the first English - speaking captain of a QMJHL team . He was drafted in the first round , 21st overall , of the 1979 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers . NHL playing career . Lowe played 13 full seasons in his first stint with the Oilers , winning 5 Stanley Cup s . He was team captain for the 1991 – 92 season . The Oilers traded him to the New York Rangers , in December 1992 ( Lowe was a restricted free - agent ) . There he helped other ex - Oilers Glenn Anderson , Jeff Beukeboom , Adam Graves , Craig MacTavish , Mark Messier , and Esa Tikkanen to win another Stanley Cup , bringing his personal total to 6 . 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 as well , but only played 7 games due to illness - an inner - ear virus that affected his balance , thus ending his playing career . In total , Lowe played in 1254 career regular season games , scoring 84 – 347 – 431 with 1498 penalty minutes . He added another 214 playoff games , scoring 10 – 48 – 58 and earning 192 penalty minutes . Post playing career . 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 , getting the Oilers to the first round of the playoffs . 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 addition , he has managed Team Canada at World Hockey Championships . In 2005 , the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League created the Kevin Lowe Trophy ( Trophée Kevin Lowe ) , 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 . Brian Burke , GM of The Anaheim Ducks , has publicly blamed Lowe for an inflation in player salaries , though Lowe did not respond to these attacks until July 4 , 2008 . Notable achievements . Lowe holds the Edmonton Oilers record for most regular season and playoff games played as an Oiler ( 1037 and 172 ) . He was the team ' s first - ever NHL draft pick , and scored their first NHL goal ( a power play goal against the Chicago Blackhawks assisted by Wayne Gretzky and Brett Callighen ) . During his professional hockey career , Lowe did not play a single game in the minor leagues , and his teams only once failed to make the playoffs . Lowe was named an NHL all - star in 1984 , 1985 , 1986 , 1988 , 1989 , 1990 , and 1993 . He also won the league ' s King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 1990 . In 1988 , Lowe never missed any playoff games , despite nursing a broken wrist and wearing a full cast . On the night the Oilers won their fourth Championship , Wayne Gretzky informed the media that Lowe was also hiding broken ribs throughout the playoffs , adding , " That ' s what it takes to win a Stanley Cup . "