Quote:
Originally Posted by Flash Walken
Dollar Bill Wirtz died after multiple decades of sticking his nose into hockey operations, branding and marketing. He oversaw the longest cup drought in Blackhawk history and the third longest in NHL History at the time of his death.
He was eventually so disliked for his reputation as a cheap and micromanaging owner that his moment of silence was BOO'd at the United Centre following his death.
9 Months later, they Hawks handed out the richest contract in franchise history to Brian Campbell, spent through the nose for Huet, expanded their hockey operations department bringing in hockey guys like Scotty Bowman and Joel Quennville.
The hawks weren't rebuilding for 14 years, they were being squeezed and milked for all they were worth by a hawks owner who thought he knew more than his employees, including in the arena of hockey ops. Winning was a secondary concern to things like profits and Wirtz's personal relationship with some players and other employees in his franchise, employees like Dale Tallon.
They started rebuilding in 2004 when they made Dale Tallon assistant GM after being director of player personnel for several years where he oversaw the draft. He was made GM roughly a week before the 2005 NHL entry draft after a year of learning on the job as assistant.
From the 2004 draft when they initiated a new rebuilding strategy and the end of the 2007 draft, the hawks had made 44 draft selections, 4 of which were top 10 picks, hitting home runs with 2 of them and 'striking out' with the other two.
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Yes, I know, I am pretty familiar with Chicago's situation.
But there is a fair bit of revisionist history when it comes to the Wirtz era these days. I don't dispute anything you said, but let's keep in mind that prior to 2004, Chicago had already drafted Keith, Seabrook, Byfuglien, Wisniewski, Crawford and others, as well as other assets that were used to trade for other pieces.
It is very misleading to suggest that they started a new rebuild in 2004.