The still unnamed Las Vegas hockey team, which is set to begin play during the 2017-18 season, continued to build its front office on Monday when it announced the hiring of Kerry Bubolz who will serve as the first team president in franchise history.
“We conducted an extensive search to find the right president for our hockey franchise. I am happy to announce that Kerry is that leader,” Las Vegas owner Bill Foley said in a statement released by the organization.
“Kerry has a wealth of experience leading business operations of not only teams in the NHL, but most recently the world champion Cleveland Cavaliers. He will be able to leverage that varied experience to bring the very best to the Las Vegas NHL franchise. I am looking forward to working with Kerry to create a successful franchise for our community, our fans and our team.”
Bubolz has an extensive resume in pro sports and spent 13 years with the Cavaliers organization, including most recently as its president of business operations. According to the Las Vegas release, he also “served as president and alternate governor for all franchise property teams owned by the Cavaliers Operating Company, including the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL), the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League and the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League.”
Along with his time in the NBA, he also has some experience in the NHL -- specifically in what would be considered “non-traditional markets -- having worked as the vice president of sales for both the Carolina Hurricanes and Dallas Stars. He also held the same position for Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers.
The Las Vegas team still has almost another full year to continue to build its front office before the expansion draft that will take place next June where it will start assembling its playing roster.
Former Washington Capitals general manager George McPhee will oversee the hockey aspect of that roster construction as the team’s first general manager.