Photo: @EdmontonOilers
For 17 years, George McPhee served as the Washington Capitals’ General Manager and Vice President of Hockey Operations. He presided over many drafts and selected superstars like Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Nicklas Backstrom, and Braden Holtby.
But on Saturday, McPhee — now serving a different role as a special advisor to Garth Snow — left the New York Islanders table on the floor of First Niagara Center and found a seat in the crowd. He had a different role to perform once the fourth round of the draft began: being a dad.
“After all the years in the business, it’s torture sitting there,” McPhee said to Sports Illustrated’s Alex Prewitt about the experience.
George joined his 17-year-old son Graham, a talented prospect in this year’s draft, and the rest of the McPhee family in the stands. They watched and listened as 57 other players were drafted. Then at pick number 149, George’s son Graham had his dream realized. “The Oilers select from the United States National Under-18 Team, Graham McPhee.”
“I didn’t know when my name would be called and I heard it,” Graham said during his first press conference as a pro. “I just hugged my family and soaked it all in. I give so much credit to my parents. It means a lot because they do a lot of things that gets pushed under the table. I appreciate their help.”
George, usually quiet and reserved, became emotional.
“Even though you’ve been in the business a long time, it blows you away,” George said according to the Associated Press.
“It’s an emotional thing. I was hoping it wouldn’t be this emotional,” he added, with his voice cracking. “Got the lump in the throat.”
Graham, who calls himself a “competitive two-way forward who has a lot of offensive upside,” has lived and breathed hockey since he was a child. Graham was a constant presence at Kettler Capitals Iceplex taking the ice after the NHL team practiced.
“I grew up in the Washington Capitals locker room and hanging out with all the guys,” Graham McPhee said. “Alex Ovechkin actually lived with my family his rookie season, which was really cool. He’s a really great guy and I learned a lot of the little things the pros do.”
Graham even served as one of the Capitals draft runners when he was younger, fetching snacks for team executives.
“That was me,” Graham said. “It was pretty cool being at some of the past drafts and being drafted now. That was something that always motivated me. Seeing guys that Washington drafted how happy they and their families were.”
“He was fast,” Capitals assistant GM Ross Mahoney joked. “Really fast. Good at getting the chips right away.”
The younger McPhee will join Boston College in the fall, where he will play for legendary coach Jerry York, the same coach George had during his Bowling Green days when he won college hockey’s top prize: the Hobey Baker Award.
“He works hard,” George said to Prewitt. “Once you can get him away from fishing, he trains hard and he works hard. He’s the guy on the team who likes to fish and everyone wants to go fishing with him. That’s okay. Better there than nightclubs, right?”
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