Bob Lowes is a name that probably won’t ring a bell for most Golden Knights fans. He’s the Assistant Director of Player Personnel and was hired in 2016 among the first group of full-time front office members following George McPhee and Kelly McCrimmon. But what he really has been is a clue to who the Golden Knights might pursue at the trade deadline.
Like many in the VGK organization, Lowes began his career in Brandon, Manitoba as a scout for the Wheat Kings. He eventually worked his way to the NHL with the Ottawa Senators on a part-time basis and then became the Director of Amateur scouting for the Sens in 2014.
Maybe the most famous thing he did while running the Draft for Ottawa was select 6’3″ 180 pound Mark Stone in the 6th round of the 2010 Draft. A player that was constantly knocked for his below-average skater, Lowes’ familiarity with Stone led to the pick and he continued to stump for Stone until he broke through into the NHL full-time in 2014.
Of course, when Stone became available on the trade market at the deadline back in 2018, we can assume Lowes was once again in Stone’s corner trying to get him to Vegas. But it’s not just Stone that jumps off the page on the list of players selected by Lowes while he was in Ottawa. He’s picked the main trade target for the Golden Knights at all three deadlines.
Last season, the Golden Knights made waves by trading for goalie Robin Lehner. He was selected 46th overall by Lowes in 2009. The prior year was Stone and at VGK’s first deadline they were hot after Erik Karlsson, who was selected 15th overall by Lowes.
All of this got the wheels turning in my head as we look forward to a trade deadline where the Golden Knights may be looking for an upgrade. Who else is connected to Bob Lowes? The names are pretty plentiful.
