Wirtz Encouraged By Blackhawks' Progress, Return To Profitability

Wirtz Says Blackhawks Among Top 10 Revenue Producers

Blackhawks Chair Rocky Wirtz said the "initial progress" of the club's growth under his leadership "has been encouraging," according to Dan McGrath of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Wirtz said that the Blackhawks "lost money every year for a decade before halting the flow of red ink and 'cutting into the losses' last season." The team "wound up among the NHL's top 10 revenue producers, which means they're feeding into a pool to help support the bottom 10, and much-needed moves to upgrade sales, marketing and player-development areas cost money as well." Wirtz: "We're a victim of our own success." Wirtz said while the Red Wings have done a "terrific job with the way they develop and acquire players and compete every year," the Blackhawks are creating their "own template ... on the business side." Meanwhile, following the recent dismissal of GM Dale Tallon, Blackhawks President John McDonough "heard from the Tallon backers in the crowd when he was introduced" Friday at the opening of the Blackhawks Convention. Wirtz was "spared similar rancor," and he jokingly told McDonough, "Now you know what it's like to be a Wirtz in this town." Tallon's dismissal followed a snafu involving free-agent contract procedures, and Wirtz said, "I don't want to blame any one individual, but (the offer-sheet error) was an embarrassment for the whole organization. Going forward, we don't want to have this sort of public dysfunction. We need to put systems in place where it doesn't happen" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/19).

FAN FEEDBACK: In Chicago, Len Ziehm wrote the response to McDonough was the "most interesting reaction during the opening night of the Blackhawks Convention," as he was greeted with a "chorus of boos, a sure indication the club's most loyal supporters didn't like the firing" of Tallon. Tallon, who has been retained as Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations, "wasn't included in the rousing introductions of players, staffers and alumni" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 7/18). McDonough said of the reaction, "I absolutely understand. I think I would have booed had I been a fan." McDonough added, "It doesn't feel good. When we made this decision to do this in advance of the convention, we knew exactly what was coming. It's not what you want to hear. I would say I've been fortunate in my sports career that I haven't heard much of it. I've certainly never had anything like that, but I think I have very, very thick skin" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/19). ESPNCHICAGO.com's Melissa Isaacson wrote while McDonough said that he "expected some tough moments in the question-and-answer sessions Saturday, you got the feeling that was not what he expected" (ESPNCHICAGO.com, 7/18). ESPNCHICAGO.com's Al Cimaglia wrote, "No matter whether the Hawks take the next step forward or slip back, a main goal for [McDonough] will be to keep fans interested -- even if they don't make the playoffs. Judging from the level of fan and media attention these days, hockey has become a relevant sport in Chicago once again." Cimaglia: "McDonough walks the fine line of a team official who quickly admits that he doesn't have a strong understanding of hockey, but yet is at the forefront of key franchise decisions. That's a tough spot. McDonough will take boos in stride, especially if the franchise continues to prosper. As far as the marketing and advertising world is concerned, any reaction is better than none" (ESPNCHICAGO.com, 7/18).

CONSPIRACY THEORY: In Boston, Kevin Paul Dupont cited sources as saying that it would have been the responsibility of Blackhawks Assistant GM Stan Bowman, who has been promoted to GM to replace Tallon, to "mail out the qualifying offers to the Blackhawks' free agents." One GM said, "Think about that. Bowman screws it up, they fire Dale, and then they make (Bowman) the boss. Does that make any sense?" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/19).