Heisinger endorses Hildebrand as assistant GM
When Craig Heisinger was promoted to assistant general manager from equipment manager of the Manitoba Moose in 1999 — a similar move made by Saskatoon Blades’ Steve Hildebrand on Thursday — he had some trepidation.
“Clearly the most difficult part of the transition was how I felt people would perceive the change — whether they thought it was a joke that an equipment guy was going to switch to a management position,” Heisinger said. “That was the No. 1 foremost (consideration) in my mind.”
The career move paid off for Heisinger, now the senior vice-president, director of hockey operations and assistant GM of the Winnipeg Jets.
He has little doubt Hildebrand, who was promoted to assistant GM from athletic therapist after 13 years with the Blades, will do just fine too.
Heisinger was the general manager of the Moose when Hildebrand was their equipment manager in 2006-07.
He called Hildebrand on Thursday to offer his congratulations on the new job.
“The biggest advantage guys like us have is we work from the ice up instead of the boardroom down,” Heisinger said.
“It’s just your basic understanding of what’s important. Little things make a difference. You can’t overlook them. I think that’ll be Hilty’s forte as well.”
Heisinger was the equipment manager of the original Jets, but decided to stay in Winnipeg when the team moved to Phoenix in 1996.
With four young children at the time, Heisinger opted against uprooting his family and got a job with the then-International Hockey League’s Moose.
Eventually he took on more administrative responsibilities while working under head coach/GM Randy Carlyle.
But when the promotion was offered, Heisinger wasn’t convinced he should take it. He consulted with his inner circle, which included current Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff, about how he would be perceived.
Heisinger only accepted the new position after receiving assurance he could return to his equipment manager job if he wanted.
The move proved to be relatively seamless.
Heisinger was promoted to GM of the Moose, then in the American Hockey League, in 2002 when Carlyle moved onto the NHL.
Heisinger expects Hildebrand to adjust well, in part because of his relationship with Blades head coach and general manager Bob Woods.
Woods was a defenceman with the Brandon Wheat Kings in the 1980s when Heisinger was the WHL team’s trainer.
Plus, Heisinger said, Hildebrand’s networking and relationships with players will help too.
“I don’t think the transition is that difficult because you’re still dealing with the minute details,” he said. “You do that as a trainer and you do that as an assistant GM.
“The fact is he’s cultivated relationships as a trainer, which makes the job as the assistant GM probably easier.
“It probably gives the players more (comfort) because they know your background and they know where you came from.”