Background
Kurvers was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but grew up in Bloomington, Minnesota.
professional executive hockey player
Kurvers was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but grew up in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Bachelor in Communications, University Minnesota, Duluth, 1984. Master of Arts in Sports Management, University St. Thomas, 1997.
He is also a former interim General Manager for the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2009-2010 season. Kurvers played collegiately at the University of Minnesota Duluth, and was selected 145th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1981 National Hockey League Entry Draft following his freshman season. Kurvers made his National Hockey League debut in the 1984-1985 season with the Canadiens.
After two full seasons with Montreal, and one game in the 1986-1987 season, he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres for a draft pick.
Before the 1987-1988 season, the Sabres traded Kurvers to the New Jersey Devils. He would play some of his best hockey for the Devils, posting 15 points in their surprising run to the 1988 Wales Conference Finals, and notching career highs of 16 goals and 66 points in 1988-1989 season.
He played two full seasons, and one game in the 1989-1990 season, with the Devils before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for the pick that would turn out to be Scott Niedermayer. He was always a highly productive player, especially dangerous on the powerplay due to his wicked point shot and playmaking skills.
That said, at even strength Tom was often a defensive liability.
Several coaches along the way attempted to fix his defensive shortcomings, however, without result. Thus, Kurvers was destined to become a journeyman, making stops with the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim before leaving the league after the 1994-1995 season. He played a season in Japan before retiring.
In his National Hockey League career, Kurvers appeared in 659 games.
He scored 93 goals and added 328 assists for 421 points. He also appeared in 57 Stanley Cup playoff games, scoring eight goals and recording 22 assists.
Following his retirement, Kurvers landed a job doing radio commentary for the Phoenix Coyotes, in part due to his connection to former Montreal teammate Bobby Smith who was General Motors in Phoenix at the time. Following one season in that capacity, he was hired as a pro scout by the Coyotes.
Kurvers was promoted again, to Director of Player Personnel, in 2005.
Kurvers is married and has 4 children.
Married Heather Kurvers. Children: Madison, Rose, Weston, Roman.