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New York Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Perils of tanking, costs of fandom and intrigue of Nick Lardis: Lazerus NHL mailbag
Before we get to the silliness, futility and futile silliness of a summer hockey mailbag, I just wanted to say a quick thanks for the overwhelming and unexpected response to my column about my dad a few weeks ago. It was just something I wrote in a daze on the plane that night; I tend to think with my fingers and was just trying to put the mental chaos I was feeling into something coherent for my own sake. And I've never been so uneasy about an edit as I was when I had my mom read it first. But all your comments, tweets, texts and personal stories were genuinely heartening and comforting. My mom, my brother and I read them all, and we all thank you. Advertisement Now, on to the promised nonsense. I'll let the results of our Chicago Blackhawks fan survey next week address all the conspiracy theories and rending of garments about Danny Wirtz and the rest of the team brass. And none of you asked anything nearly as interesting and involved as 'Reimagine the Blackhawks as Harry Potter characters,' so I'm going to try to be succinct (not my forte!) so I can get to as many as possible. Part 2 will run soon. Questions have been edited for clarity and length. Let's dive in. Maybe I'm too late, but I just heard you on 'The Athletic Hockey Show' saying, 'These kinds of rebuilds never work' about the Blackhawks. But I think you're the same guy who's said, 'No one's ever done it like this before.' Who, as a Chicago radio institution put it, are you crappin'? — Ted M. I say a lot of stupid things, so I'm going to need some accurate citations here. But both of those statements are true. At least, in the modern era. I'd argue that no team in the salary-cap era has won the Stanley Cup by actively tanking. The closest one would be the 2010 Blackhawks, but organizational incompetence isn't quite the same thing as intentionally losing. Sure, you need a couple of big names at the top of the lineup, and the draft is an excellent way to get there. But no team successfully builds exclusively through the draft. Not those Blackhawks. Not these Florida Panthers. Not anyone. At some point, you have to start trying. And it's true, the Blackhawks have tanked harder than any team has tanked since maybe the 1983-84 Pittsburgh Penguins. And with Chicago GM Kyle Davidson making an absurd 11 first-round picks in the last four drafts, and possibly Gavin McKenna waiting next summer, maybe I'll look foolish in the long run. Wouldn't be the first time. But given how disastrous other full guts have gone (hello, Buffalo and Detroit!), all I can hear in my head is Tobias Fünke saying, 'But it might work for us,' or Chief Wiggum saying, 'No, no, dig UP, stupid.' Advertisement Will Laurent Brossoit ever play a game for the Blackhawks? — Gregory E. You know, I actually saw Laurent Brossoit — or, at least, someone who WGN's Charlie Roumeliotis told me was Laurent Brossoit — walking out of the locker room after a game late last season, but I'm still not entirely convinced he's a real person and not simply a deepfake we all saw online last summer. If he does exist, I imagine he's in the same dungeon underneath the United Center in which Stan Bowman stashed Nikolai Khabibulin after Antti Raanta's emergence in 2014. Seriously, though, put it this way: If Brossoit — a very good goalie, historically — is physically able to play this season, it should be for the Edmonton Oilers, not the Chicago Blackhawks. Lord Stanley knows they need him. Will you please stop being a smug elite journalist who is above reproach and who has never done anything wrong? And please get off your high horse and report sports rather than your political and progressive views. When you report sports, you are actually a very good reporter. Nobody but your political believers cares about your personal opinions; just do the sports. — Jed I. Three things: First, very kind of you to call me elite. Thank you. Second, I'm literally an opinion columnist. It's my primary role at The Athletic. So, no? Third, I only included this question because my 13-year-old daughter was Googling me (as, I suppose, you do as a kid these days) recently and found a robust Reddit thread entitled, 'Does anyone like Mark Lazerus? [serious question]' and she read every word and showed all her friends and thought it was the funniest thing ever. And she was correct. [serious answer] At what point should fans be much more upset about the costs involved with attending and supporting a team that seems to think of them as piggy banks? I have had full-season seats since 1994. The costs around this incarnation of the team are ridiculous. From parking to concessions and even merch, I feel like the club is raising costs whenever and however they like, with absolutely no consideration for the people who go to 30-plus games a year. I am not angry about the team trying to make a buck, but this is getting ridiculous. They have one of the lowest salary outputs in the league, the squad will most likely have yet another bottom-five finish, and if/when they get to be decent again, all I know is my seats will go up another 10-30 percent. When does it stop? Is the problem me? — Andrew C. Couldn't have said it any better myself. It'll never stop. And every single one of you (well, at least those without a trust fund) should have reached that point years ago. Nearly every team in every league has made it all but impossible for an average family of four to reasonably attend a game. And for billionaires to keep asking for the same amount of money (or more!) from working-class fans when they're actively trying to put a failing team on the ice or on the field or on the court, as the Blackhawks and so many other teams have done in this era of long-term tear-down rebuilds, is genuinely unconscionable. It's wealth inequity and late-stage capitalism at its worst. Eat the rich, man. (Sorry not sorry, Jed I.) Advertisement How detrimental is it to Connor Bedard's development not to find at least one high-performing winger to help open up Bedard's game? I understand wanting to make room for young players, but having a third year of plugging in secondary options on the top line seems risky. — JR. I've been beating this drum for a while now. But to be fair to Davidson, he did try to get Jake Guentzel last summer and had to settle for Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teräväinen, both of whom seem to have been poached for the second line by Frank Nazar. The fact is, Bedard does need someone who can keep up with him — physically and mentally — for him to reach his almost limitless potential. But the fact also is, no stud winger in his prime is looking to sign with the Blackhawks until they show they're serious about trying to win. Call it a Catch-98. Part of the perils of tanking. Favorite 'KPop Demon Hunter' song? Are you Team Huntr/X or Team Saja Boys? — Conor H. Please. I'm here for the bops, not the abs. And how does that Saja Boy with the gray hair even see? Truthfully, the songs all blur together for me as my 9-year-old plays the movie on an endless loop, the way I did 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' when I was her age. But someone explain to me how you make a movie that focuses so seriously on a trifurcated three-person songwriting process — the lyrics, the harmonies, the beat — and then have it culminate in a completely spontaneous yet perfectly structured final song, like the kind you see in a Broadway musical? It's just bad screenwriting. It's 'Up' all over again. (Do NOT get me started on 'Up.' You think I'm an insufferable pedant with the 'dynasty' talk …) Who is your 'long-shot' prospect who gets some NHL time this year? — Anthony D. Samuel Savoie. The Blackhawks have a ton of talent in the system. They don't have a ton of sandpaper. Savoie's nasty side could be enough for him to leapfrog a bunch of guys. What did players who had the type of OHL season Nick Lardis had last season do the following year? Did they open in the NHL? How many points did they follow their monster year with? — Joshua T. It's difficult to find a historical trend for Lardis because so few players in the modern era have done what he did last season. Since the turn of the century, only John Tavares (72) has scored more goals in an OHL season than Lardis' 71 last season (thanks to Elite Prospects for the data). Of course, Tavares was 16 when he did that and Lardis was 19, so temper your expectations a bit. But next on the list in the 21st century? Alex DeBrincat, with 65 goals. He was 19, too. DeBrincat jumped right into the NHL the next season, a year earlier than expected, after a very impressive rookie tournament in Traverse City and a strong preseason. Could Lardis do the same? Sure. Is it likely? No, but I do expect we'll see him at some point in the 2025-26 season. For more Chicago comparisons, Patrick Kane had 62 goals and 83 assists in his one OHL season, and walked right into the NHL as the No. 1 overall pick. Dave Bolland had 57 goals and 73 assists as a 19-year-old in the OHL and played one game in the NHL the following season. The only real conclusion I can draw from these numbers is that OHL goaltending stinks. Which Blackhawk, who played with the team before 2000, would you want on this current Blackhawks team in their prime? — JP G. This is where I get myself in trouble. I genuinely think every single player in the NHL right now is significantly better than the very best player on the planet in, say, the 1950s and 1960s. I don't think it's particularly close, either. MacKenzie Entwistle would skate circles around Rocket Richard. The game is virtually unrecognizable, and the year-round, life-long training has transformed these guys into near metahumans. So while the standard answer would be Stan Mikita, who, relative to his peers, is one of the greatest of all time (or Bobby Orr, if you want to be cheeky), I'd want someone from the 1990s. I'd pick 1991-94 Jeremy Roenick. Advertisement Montreal surprised everyone last season, and the Blue Jackets very nearly made the playoffs, too. What needs to go right for the Hawks to be in the mix rather than another year in the basement? — Andrew L. I won't be shocked if the Blackhawks are markedly better this season. I also won't be shocked if they're truly abysmal. But to really be in the playoff mix? It would have to involve Spencer Knight being a Vezina Trophy finalist. I don't see any other way. (Top photo of Nick Lardis: Jamie Sabau / USA Today)
New York Times
03-07-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Why the Blackhawks are staying the course and not rushing Kyle Davidson's rebuild
Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson has shown no signs of steering away from the rebuild plan he started three years ago. If anything, with some roster changes — especially trading Seth Jones — he's dug deeper into his attempt to structure his team around the NHL Draft and player development. Three years from now, which might be a realistic timeline for the Blackhawks to be competitive again, Davidson's roster could be almost entirely players who have come through the prospect pipeline, plus Ryan Donato, Tyler Bertuzzi and Spencer Knight. There are no guarantees those three players will be with the team, either. Fans can disagree with Davidson's plan, but this is how it works. Time is an essential part of it. Advertisement Of course, there are also no guarantees that Davidson will be allowed to see the plan through. Some factors are out of his control. First and foremost are the fans. Not everyone has to like the plan — and one look at social media shows not everyone does — but the Blackhawks need fans to buy tickets and jerseys, watch on TV, and just generally financially support them. If the Blackhawks' United Center attendance were closer to the 12,000 fans they drew in the 2006-07 season, while simultaneously getting less TV viewership and revenue, you can bet Blackhawks chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz would be telling Davidson to be more aggressive to win now. But there aren't any indications that the Blackhawks' business is struggling. Wirtz said in March that the team's 'metrics that would sort of indicate brand health are still in a really good place.' Attendance is down from the Stanley Cup years, but it's still near the top of the league. The Blackhawks are in a place where they likely can increase season ticket prices while still also increasing season ticket sales. Their centennial-year celebration will undoubtedly help juice that, too. TV viewership was a disaster last season, but they're hopeful that's behind them with CHSN's Comcast carriage and a viewership increase when their roster got younger last season. Connor Bedard's presence alone is taking care of merchandise sales. So Wirtz doesn't seem to have financial reasons to accelerate Davidson's rebuild. He also doesn't seem to have philosophical reasons. Wirtz has said many times that he supports Davidson's plan and has the patience for it. There's no way Davidson would be going about this offseason as he is — the Blackhawks are essentially done making moves — without Wirtz's blessing. On paper, the Blackhawks are likely somewhere between last season's 61 points and being a 75-point team. In the standings, that probably puts them between 29th and last place among the NHL's 32 teams. There's no reason for Davidson to spin the current roster's projection to Wirtz, either. The Blackhawks are likely heading toward their fourth consecutive top-five draft pick next year, and because of Wirtz's trust, Davidson's job security remains as strong as ever. Advertisement Of course, Davidson has to show progress. It's all relative, though. Midway through last season, there was a growing sense that Davidson might need to take a more aggressive approach this offseason, given the combination of coach Luke Richardson's firing, the Winter Classic embarrassment, young players' growing pains (especially Bedard) and CHSN's dismal ratings. That changed by season's end as Connor Bedard's production took off, Oliver Moore, Ryan Greene and Sam Rinzel signed out of college and jumped into the NHL, and Frank Nazar and Artyom Levshunov arrived from Rockford. The Blackhawks' young players shifted the narrative and increased optimism for the future. Again, Wirtz is the measure of all that. He could see and feel the positive momentum. 'I do think the bigger picture is starting to resonate with fans that I think gives us a lot of hope and optimism, regardless of what's happening in front of us and specifically with the standings,' he said. This season's goal is probably more of the same. While it may be unrealistic for the Blackhawks to rocket up the standings, their progress can be gauged in so many other ways. Davidson's confidence to largely stand pat in the offseason and go forward with a lineup filled with so many young players is one indicator. The individual development of Nazar, Bedard, Levshunov, Rinzel, Moore, Greene and others down the line is another. How those players perform together in new coach Jeff Blashill's system is yet another. Next season won't always be pretty. The Blackhawks are likely to score more than they have in recent years, but they could also give up more goals. But if the good vibes from late last season can stick around, the Blackhawks will be pleased with their direction. More young players will join that mix, too. It wouldn't be shocking if Anton Frondell can earn a spot out of training camp and stick with the Blackhawks this season. Nick Lardis may not break camp in the NHL, but he could be in Chicago by the season's end. Sacha Boisvert could easily sign out of college and end the season in the NHL. By the 2026-27 season, Roman Kantserov will likely be in the NHL after coming over from Russia. And you never know what could happen if Chicago gets another top-five draft pick in 2026. All of this brings us to the elements Davidson can control. Drafting and development are vital. Davidson has accumulated enough draft picks that not everyone has to hit, but he still has to hit on enough of them. The Blackhawks need stars and a core to win at the highest level. Bedard and Alex Vlasic are probably the only sure core pieces right now. Nazar is trending that way. Rinzel looks like he could grow into that this season. Wyatt Kaiser showed encouraging signs late last season. Over the next few seasons, the Blackhawks will have much more information on what they have and what they need. Advertisement Davidson has expressed a willingness to acquire key players who could help the Blackhawks in the short- and long-term, but he hasn't taken action. He was asked again Tuesday about giving Bedard a star-caliber linemate. 'Well, you're always looking for that type of player,' Davidson said. 'You're always looking for good players in the marketplace — they just come up very seldomly. And when you do, you act aggressively. And I feel we've reacted accordingly. Again, doesn't always work out, and so you move on. 'But having said that, if we look internally, I think there's a number of players that are coming that can fill those roles. That doesn't mean you don't proactively look out in the marketplace. It's just (that) they're so few and far between when they are available, so you have to be very aggressive when they do (become available). And doesn't always work out that way. But I think the most sure way of finding those players is developing them yourself. And so that's what we'll do until a new opportunity arises.' The takeaway from that: Davidson is unlikely to pursue that type of player now. To be fair, those players don't seem to want to come to Chicago right now, either. Mitch Marner wasn't interested this offseason. Jake Guentzel wasn't last offseason. On the other hand, Davidson doesn't know what he has in his system yet. He's hopeful he already has those types of players and they just need time to develop. We'll see. Three years from now, if the Blackhawks are where they think they can be and someone like Brady Tkachuk hits the open market, maybe there will be mutual interest. Davidson can also control contracts. The salary cap is going to be a challenge for the Blackhawks in the next couple of years. They acquired Shea Weber's contract at the trade deadline to ensure they meet the $70.6 million cap floor this upcoming season. They acquired André Burakovsky this offseason in part because his $5.5 million cap hit helps them over the next two seasons (the cap floor increases to $104 million in 2026-27). As the Blackhawks trend younger and younger, they will have more entry-level contracts and more obstacles to reaching the cap floor. Davidson has to reach the cap floor. But to succeed in the long term, building the type of roster he desires, he has to make sure the contracts he signs now and in the future all fit together in the big picture. From Vlasic's extension last offseason to extensions for Bedard and Nazar, and later Levshunov and company, cap hits will likely determine the fate of this rebuild. Add up all of those things in and out of Davidson's control, and it's clear that a lot has to go his way for the Blackhawks to eventually win big. Of course, that's the case with most rebuilds. Davidson's strategy requires a lot of losing and growing pains, but it's all with the intent of sustaining success afterward. As of today, the Blackhawks plan to see that through. (Photo of Kyle Davidson: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
New York Times
27-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Blackhawks unveil home jersey for centennial season
The Chicago Blackhawks have been wearing essentially the same jersey — with minor tweaks along the way — for seven decades. So their centennial look doesn't stray too far from what's always worked. The Blackhawks on Friday unveiled their home jersey for their upcoming centennial season, and they're the familiar red with black-and-white striping. But there are some changes, including a vintage lace-up collar, a gold trim around the logo and a '100' shoulder patch. On the inside hem at the bottom of the jersey, the Blackhawks' championship years — 1934, 1938, 1961, 2010, 2013 and 2015 — are stitched in black. And the phrase, 'Always an original,' a play on their Original Six status, is on the inside of the collar in white. 'The Blackhawks sweater has consistently been voted the best jersey in sports by players and fans alike,' Blackhawks chairman Danny Wirtz said in a released statement. 'For our centennial season, we wanted to honor that iconic symbol of Chicago's hockey heritage that has remained largely unchanged since 1955. While the classic elements of the jersey stay the same, thoughtful design details make this jersey unique — melding past and present while proving that the best traditions transcend trends.' The Blackhawks said the jersey was made 'in very limited quantities for one season only,' and is available to preorder, with delivery anticipated in late September. The new look is part of a yearlong celebration of 100 years of the Blackhawks, as Chicago was awarded an NHL on May 15, 1926, and debuted in the fall of 1926. The team is also creating a Blackhawks Hall of Fame, which fans can vote on, and are expected to have a full slate of theme nights and giveaways throughout the season. (Photos courtesy of Chicago Blackhawks)
Entrepreneur
11-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
5 CEOs Get Brutally Honest About Leadership in Today's World
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. There's a unique energy that exists when you put five CEOs around one table. At our latest The CEO Roundtable episode, that dynamic played out in full. I sat down with Danny Wirtz (Chicago Blackhawks, Breakthru Beverage), Ashley Thompson (MUSH), Gregg Majewski (Craveworthy Brands), Emily Groden (Evergreen) and Luke Saunders (Farmer's Fridge) to explore what it actually means to be a CEO in today's world. It was an open, candid exchange of hard-won lessons, gut decisions and the kind of self-reflection that only comes from leading through highs and lows. One of the big takeaways from this discussion was the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship and leadership. Nearly everyone at the table shared stories about the personal weight of leading a company. Emily spoke about how lonely it can feel at the top, and Danny emphasized that when you're in the driver's seat, there's nowhere to hide, specifically when you're the CEO of a professional sports team. Gregg put it simply: "It's not sexy." These weren't just war stories — they were reminders that leadership comes with a cost, one that can't be measured in valuations or press headlines. Related: 5 Founder-CEOs Come Together to Discuss the Realities of Leadership, Entrepreneurship and What It Takes to Succeed Another powerful theme was letting go — or at least, learning to. Each of these leaders started their company or took over a legacy one with a clear vision, but as their businesses grew, so did the need to trust others to execute. Luke talked about the complexity of scaling Farmer's Fridge and the moment he realized he couldn't do everything himself. That same sentiment echoed across the table. Ashley, now with a larger team and investment behind MUSH, spoke about balancing hands-on energy with leadership maturity. Growth, it turns out, means giving up control to gain momentum. We also dug into the unique pressures of consumer-facing businesses. All five leaders are selling something you can touch, taste or experience — products that depend on branding, shelf space and customer emotion. Whether it's the nostalgia of Evergreen waffles or the boldness of Craveworthy's restaurant portfolio, these founders are shaping what Americans eat and how they feel about it. That means rapid feedback loops, tight margins and constant adaptation. No one at the table is insulated from inflation, supply chain pain or labor shortages, but each of them is trying to build resilience into their operations. One thing I didn't expect — but probably should have — was how deeply personal the conversation got. Gregg described feeling almost addicted to the chaos of startup life. Ashley shared how imposter syndrome creeps in, even after massive success. Danny talked about inheriting not just a brand, but a legacy. And Luke reminded us that startup culture isn't always the mental health haven people think it is. There was vulnerability in the room, and it made the dialogue more honest — and frankly, more useful — for anyone trying to understand modern leadership. Related: How the CEO of This Iconic Pizza Brand Is Building on 50 Years of Deep-Dish Dominance and Fueling Sustainable Growth As the moderator, my goal wasn't to extract soundbites. It was to give space for complexity. This wasn't a panel of untouchable icons. These are people navigating real-time decisions in messy, evolving markets. The biggest lesson? Being a CEO today means knowing yourself just as well as you know your P&L. Also, when you're the CEO of a large organization, you have a heavy responsibility to lead with integrity, to serve your employees and customers and to utilize business "for good." Otherwise, what are we doing here?!
CBS News
03-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Chicago Blackhawks unveil renderings of renovated Fifth Third Arena
The Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday revealed renderings on their planned expansion for the Fifth Third Arena community ice rink a short distance from the United Center. Fifth Third Arena, at 1801 W. Jackson Blvd., first opened in 2017. It has been undergoing major renovations since May of last year. When those renovations are complete in January 2026, Fifth Third Arena will feature more than 250,000 square feet of community hockey space, state-of-the-art training facilities, and "versatile areas for the best athletes in the world, rising stars and the next generation of players," the Blackhawks said. "Through the Fifth Third Arena expansion, we are creating the epicenter of hockey in the Midwest," Danny Wirtz, chairman and chief executive officer of the Chicago Blackhawks, said in a news release. "This venue is where NHL superstars train alongside rising talent, creating an environment where championship dreams can take flight." The Blackhawks expect the revamped Fifth Third Arena to welcome more than 1.5 million guests per year. The team expects the arena will help catalyze an economic boost for the Near West Side, and will serve as the Midwest's leading destination for youth and amateur hockey — with seamless connectivity to the 1901 Project development plan around the United Center. Fifth Third Arena will also remain the official training home for the Blackhawks, and will become the permanent home for the Chicago Steel United States Hockey League team — which the Wirtz family acquired in 2023. The Blackhawks unveiled renderings for the following features: The Championship Arena will be one of two new rinks, with stadium-style seating, hospitality areas for 2,000 spectators, a state-of-the-art scoreboard, and exclusive party decks. This arena will be the new home of the Chicago Steel. Fifth Third Arena: Championship Arena Creative Admin Centennial Hall will celebrate 100 years of Blackhawks history, and will be the permanent physical home to the new Blackhawks Hall of Fame. Fifth Third Arena: Centennial Hall Creative Admin Fifth Third Arena: Centennial Hall Creative Admin Rocky's Bar, named for late Blackhawks Chairman Rocky Wirtz, will anchor the food and beverage offerings at Fifth Third Arena. It will feature a premium cocktail menu and curated food offerings. Fifth Third Arena: Rocky's Bar Creative Admin Lounges at the Fifth Third Arena were set up with families in mind — with flexible workspaces, quiet areas with Wi-Fi access, and comfy seating. Fifth Third Arena: the lounge Creative Admin The Patio, an open-air space on the upper level of the arena, will offer unique views of the Chicago skyline and the future 1901 campus. The Blackhawks characterized The Patio as a perfect spot for pre- or post-game cocktails, business meetings, and watching sports on TV. It has room for 150. Fifth Third Arena: The Patio Creative Admin A Walk of Fame commemorative sidewalk along Jackson Boulevard will honor milestone moments and legendary players from the Blackhawks, with engraved plaques for the franchise's six Stanley Cup-winning teams and Hall of Fame inductees. Fifth Third Arena: the exterior Creative Admin
