After Chicago Blackhawks CEO Rocky Wirtz verbally exploded on two Chicago-based reporters at a town hall meeting, there’s going to be certain fallout. Quickly showing how little he’s learned about how important the Kyle Beach situation is to this Blackhawks’ organization moving forward, it was a public relations nightmare when Wirtz slammed reporters for continually asking questions about 2010, Beach, and the culture surrounding the team. The fallout from Wednesday night has many asking, ‘If Wirtz remains in control of the franchise, why would anyone want to play for this organization?’
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What Wirtz did by discounting the Beach story and its relevance to the present day and future of this team was what we call misreading the room on a grand scale. Even his son Danny Wirtz tried to jump in and professionally answer the question, but Rocky cut him off, instead preferring to try and shift the conversation in a direction that was preferable. Sure, talking about the past issues with this team might be uncomfortable, but it’s necessary. No one on that panel should have been surprised by the questions and all should have been prepared with a response. Instead, Rocky Wirtz lost his cool and showed the world exactly why, in part, there was probably a culture problem in Chicago to begin with. Making matters worse, his fury led everyone else who could have been more professional to sit there in fear.
Rocky Wirtz released a statement apologizing to both reporters, but it’s too little, too late now. Few believe his words are sincere and most know he’s got egg on his face, the statement being just one way to try and mitigate the pure vitriol that will inevitably follow such a poor decision.
The immediate questions will be, does the NHL step in? Can or should Rocky be suspended? From there, many will wonder which members of the management team and what players will try to distance themselves from this organization? There has to be some expectation in Chicago now that members of this team, both in terms of players and executives will have to take a long, hard look in the mirror and ask themselves if in this Chicago Blackhawks organization is the best place to be.
Wayne Gretzky made an interesting point on TNT Wednesday night when he saw the footage and then said, “I’m sitting here thinking, as a parent, you’re sitting there going, ‘My son is 18 years old and he’s going to maybe be drafted by that team…I want to know my 18-year-old son is going to be protected.” How many draftees will tell the Blackhawks not to draft them? And, if drafted, how many will refuse to report? It seems hard to fathom young prospects looking to crack the NHL jeopardizing their future in the pros, but stranger things have happened.
Will Current Players Want Out?
What about current players? Free agents might think twice about joining this sh– show. Players on the active Blackhawks’ roster might be happy or eager to find a way out. Someone like Marc-Andre Fleury has been in the rumor mill already, but does he happily waive his no-trade clause or tell the Blackhawks to work on a deal if he’s thinking that finishing out his NHL career is best done elsewhere? It probably doesn’t help that he was pulled Wednesday night after allowing multiple goals and was visibly upset.
I’m not at all suggesting Fleury’s losing his cool was at all related to the Wirtz comments. What I am saying is that this Blackhawks organization is a mess. Fleury got little help, the team is in utter disarray and it’s only logical to assume that another club will make a trade deadline offer for Fleury and all parties will decide that perhaps a move is best. “Free Fleury” was trending on social media and that narrative is likely only going to gain steam over the All-Star break and the next couple of weeks.
Wirtz screwed up. How badly remains to be seen. Does he merely look bad in the eyes of the general public or is there more coming? Many believe he shouldn’t get another chance and if he does, how do players and personnel connected to the Blackhawks react? Some will inevitably do nothing. All it takes is one to say, “Yeah, no, I’m out.”
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