In 1992, Lombardi was hired as the general manager of the San Jose Sharks, a position he held for seven years. During his time with the Sharks, Lombardi oversaw the team's transition from an expansion franchise to a playoff contender, and he was responsible for drafting several key players who would go on to have successful careers in the NHL.
After leaving the Sharks in 2003, Lombardi spent several years working as a consultant for various NHL teams before being hired as the president and general manager of the Los Angeles Kings in 2006. During his tenure with the Kings, Lombardi oversaw a dramatic turnaround for the franchise, which had struggled for many years prior to his arrival.
Under Lombardi's leadership, the Kings won two Stanley Cup championships in 2012 and 2014, and he was widely credited with building a team that was both talented and resilient. Lombardi was known for his meticulous attention to detail and his willingness to take risks in order to build a winning team.
In addition to his success with the Kings, Lombardi was also involved in several other important initiatives during his career. He was a key figure in the creation of the NHL's salary cap system, which was designed to promote parity and prevent teams from spending too much money on player salaries.
Lombardi was also a strong advocate for player safety and was involved in the development of several new rules and regulations aimed at reducing the risk of head injuries and other serious injuries on the ice.
Overall, Dean Lombardi's career in hockey has been marked by a relentless focus on building winning teams and promoting the long-term health and success of the sport. His contributions to the game have been significant, and he is widely regarded as one of the most successful and respected executives in the NHL today.
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