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Masterminds of Hockeytown
Masterminds of Hockeytown
After 25 years, Mike Ilitch and Co. have built a hockey powerhouse
Interview Ted Kulfan, John Niyo and Bob Wojnowski
Together, they have 101 years experience with the same team and own 25 Stanley Cup rings. Together, they've built and maintained a franchise that has weathered the NHL's titanic changes and withstood the forces of parity.
This isn't about what the Red Wings will do this season, or what they did last season.
This is about a remarkable 25-year arc that began in 1982 when Mike Ilitch bought a sad-sack team, hired a hotshot executive named Jimmy Devellano and began assembling a brain trust that continues to grow and evolve and win.
Ilitch has owned the team for 25 years, and Devellano has been with him for all 25. Ken Holland has been here 24 years, the last 10 as general manager. Consultant Scotty Bowman has been here 14 years, including nine as coach, winning the Stanley Cup three times. Assistant general manager Jim Nill has been here 13 years.
Together, the group represents continuity you almost never see anymore, a link also reflected in the long career of Steve Yzerman, now making the transition from the ice to the front office. Continuity is a major reason the Wings hold the longest streak of consecutive playoff appearances -- 16 and counting -- of any franchise in the four major professional sports.
Hailed by many, railed by some, the Wings have acquired labels over the years ranging from "underachievers" to "visionaries," from "arrogant" to "brilliant." In a rare, candid glimpse into the inner workings of hockey's most successful brain trust, all five executives sat in Ilitch's Joe Louis Arena suite recently with the News' Ted Kulfan, John Niyo and Bob Wojnowski for an animated 90-minute conversation.
(continues with interview, rather long, so I just linked below)
After 25 years, Mike Ilitch and Co. have built a hockey powerhouse
Interview Ted Kulfan, John Niyo and Bob Wojnowski
Together, they have 101 years experience with the same team and own 25 Stanley Cup rings. Together, they've built and maintained a franchise that has weathered the NHL's titanic changes and withstood the forces of parity.
This isn't about what the Red Wings will do this season, or what they did last season.
This is about a remarkable 25-year arc that began in 1982 when Mike Ilitch bought a sad-sack team, hired a hotshot executive named Jimmy Devellano and began assembling a brain trust that continues to grow and evolve and win.
Ilitch has owned the team for 25 years, and Devellano has been with him for all 25. Ken Holland has been here 24 years, the last 10 as general manager. Consultant Scotty Bowman has been here 14 years, including nine as coach, winning the Stanley Cup three times. Assistant general manager Jim Nill has been here 13 years.
Together, the group represents continuity you almost never see anymore, a link also reflected in the long career of Steve Yzerman, now making the transition from the ice to the front office. Continuity is a major reason the Wings hold the longest streak of consecutive playoff appearances -- 16 and counting -- of any franchise in the four major professional sports.
Hailed by many, railed by some, the Wings have acquired labels over the years ranging from "underachievers" to "visionaries," from "arrogant" to "brilliant." In a rare, candid glimpse into the inner workings of hockey's most successful brain trust, all five executives sat in Ilitch's Joe Louis Arena suite recently with the News' Ted Kulfan, John Niyo and Bob Wojnowski for an animated 90-minute conversation.
(continues with interview, rather long, so I just linked below)
Full transcript of interview
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