Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay Random
The thing is, Toews didn't change the culture in Chicago. And there was a culture, and it needed to be changed.
What changed the culture in Chicago was the death of William Wadsworth 'Dollar Bill' Wirtz. The man had antagonized the whole city, driven away thousands of paying customers, and consequently had to cheap out on every part of the hockey operation, including player salaries. When Rocky Wirtz inherited the team, he opened his wallet and won back the fans.
Bill Wirtz died on September 26, 2007. Jonathan Toews played his first NHL game on October 10. On October 22, Rocky Wirtz announced that for the first time, the Blackhawks were going to allow their home games to be broadcast on local TV, and that he had opened negotiations with Comcast. The culture change was dramatic throughout the whole organization, from top to bottom. Toews had the enormous good luck to walk in just as the change was happening.
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You are right that the change of management had a big impact. I think its safe to say that the change of coach had an impact as well. As did Toews.
The point - your point really - is that the winning culture isn't just a case of getting a couple good players. It also takes good management, good coaches, etc.
The Flames have better management in place now, IMO. I also like the coach.
IMO, it's a lot easier to
maintain a good culture, than trying to flip a switch and find it at some designated point in the future.