Okay, these aren’t lessons from Lord Stanley
himself, donor of the hardest trophy to win in
sports. Instead, here’s a few observations culled from the season-long march of
 |
| Blackhawks Owner Rocky Wirtz |
Follow these lessons learned and you'll be more likely to claim your own version of the Stanley Cup some day:
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Think Long-Term: When Rocky
Wirtz took control of the Blackhawks after his father’s death the picture wasn’t pretty
-- few fans, fewer season ticket holders, front office malaise and no TV. Wirtz
hired long-time Chicago Cubs marketing whiz, John McDonough, secured a TV
contract, held on to a promising core of young players and rebuilt the front
office.
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Spend Wisely: In the salary cap era the
Blackhawks are the only team to win two Stanley Cups. The right balance of
long-term contracts for young players and key supplemental veterans willing to
be role players means the team has a player roster that’s the envy of the
league.
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Know Your Customers: Fans resented that legendary
Blackhawks players from the 1960's era had been abandoned by the team.
Relationships were reestablished with Hall of Famers Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita
and Tony Esposito. The former players became team ambassadors at a time when
the young stars of today were still finding their way.
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Prepare for Setbacks: When the Blackhawks
deposed head coach Denis Savard, a team legend in his own right, management
quickly dug into the ranks to elevate one of their scouts, Joel Quenneville, to
take the coaching reins. This was no coincidence; Quenneville had been in the
league for years, including successful stints as head coach for both Colorado and St.
Louis .
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Take Care of Employees: Wirtz has a well-earned
reputation as a boss who cares. Each year he invites parents of the players to travel
with the team on a road trip, a practice that other clubs now emulate. Also, for
the sixth game of the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals, Wirtz picked up the tab for
about 200 family members to join the team in Boston . It turned out to be one of the most
stunning wins in Stanley Cup history, experienced by the players and families,
thanks to the unusual generosity of the team owner.
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Ignore the Little Things: A double-F bomb
outburst at the Grant Park Stanley Cup celebration by the unlikeliest of characters, usually soft-spoken goalie Corey Crawford, was one of those things best described as “boys
will be boys.” Crawford’s a goalie, not a public speaker. Stanley Cup winners deserve
a pass for this sort of transgression.
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Stay Humble: Wirtz and McDonough signed a
full-page ad in the June 28 edition of the Boston Globe thanking the Bruins and their fans for their graciousness and respect during the playoffs. Both teams are a class act
which seems to be found in hockey more than other pro sports leagues these days.
