Scheduled tribe. Paul, Min. Former NHL player and Minnesota Wild assistant general manager Tom Kurvers died Monday of lung cancer, the team and the University of Minnesota Duluth said. He was 58 years old.
Kurvers served as Minnesota's assistant general manager since 2018. Brian Nystrom, a spokesman for the Minnesota Duluth Athletics, said that Kurvers' death was reported by Kurvers' family at a hockey event. The Wild said Kurvers died at his home on Monday morning.
Kurvers won the Hobby Baker Award as the top college player in Duluth, Minnesota in 1984. He played 11 NHL seasons from 1984–1995 with the Canadiens, Cebres, Devils, Maple Leafs, Canucks, Islanders and Mighty Ducks before moving on to management.
We are saddened to learn of the passing of former defenseman Tom Kurvers after a courageous battle against lung cancer. He was 58.https://t.co/wLpp2t5t95
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 21, 2021
He started out as a Coyotes scout, then joined the Lightning and helped build a Stanley Cup winning team before moving on to the Wild. Kurvers was diagnosed in January 2019 with adenocarcinoma, a small cell lung cancer that was thought to be inoperable.
"Tom's passion and success in hockey can only be surpassed by the love and optimism he shares with his family and friends every day," Wilde said in a statement. "Tom's kindness and enthusiasm will be greatly missed by the countless people he was a positive influence throughout his life."
Curvers was Montreal's seventh-round pick after his freshman season in 1981 and had 76 points leading Minnesota Duluth to the national title during his final year in 1984.
He was traded seven times as a player, two shy of the record. He was an aggressive defender, scoring 421 points in 659 regular-season NHL games.
At the front office, Kurvar became a mentor to other officers.
"There are so many wonderful people in the hockey world, but Tom came across as the coolest, kindest, and most humble," said Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julian Brisbois. "He was grateful for all the good he had in his life and was eager to give back. He was very generous with his advice and very insightful. I know Tom mentored many people during hockey, and I was fortunate to be one of them."