We love winners and we want them yesterday. Flash-in-the-Pan is fine as long we had our cheap thrill for a moment. Get the crowd excited: let out a cheer, crank up the band and let’s do the wave.
Legacies or dynasties are passé. Not that we would turn them down, but who wants to put in the time or the sacrifice? No, we’re far more content with a streak or sometimes even just an upset.
Hope is good. As long as we can dream about next season or even “once we get our starters back”. That’s pretty good for most of us.
Sometimes we even like being the spoilers. The underdogs. The wall-flower finally getting her chance to shine. If a team is losing and victory is out of reach? Send out the fighters and give the fans something to cheer about.
But once in a while, in the world of professional sports there comes an owner who loves the game. Really enjoys it. Is a true student of the game. It’s not about the money or even the accolades. It’s not about the ad dollars or the endorsements.
Craig Leipold of the Nashville Predators may be one of those rare owners. It’s not the Forsberg deal that makes me say this; although I think it was a brilliant move. It wasn’t even when he acquired any of the other stars in recent years: Dumont, Arnott, Kariya or Sullivan. I believe what sets Mr. Leipold apart is that he has surrounded himself with talented individuals and has stayed loyal to them. Case in point: Barry Trotz; he’s the only coach the Predators have ever known. That’s rare and even more special given the rocky start for the organization.
Prior to the days of the salary cap, all that teams who were desperate for a championship need do was sign the biggest guns in the league. Eight months later, the Stanley Cup was yours to take home. The easy road is now gone and teams that had relied on that strategy are hurting – in an awful way. Fans in Detroit know this to be painfully true.
But for those teams who have built a solid foundation, they are now reaping the benefits of a level playing field. Because Mr. Leipold has trusted his staff, they have been able to scout the talent needed for down the road, not merely some talent who can put points on the board and fans in the seats right now. Nashville has seen a steady improvement in the caliber of the players suiting up year after year. It's this same trust that allows the players to take risks on the ice.
Patience. That’s perhaps the best word to describe the Nashville Predators organization. Patience is difficult in a results oriented society. For most of organizations it’s the quick fix or nothing at all. Team not winning? Find a scapegoat. Trade someone. Blame the officiating.
Coach Trotz has been able to pick the players that will fit with the vision and strategy that has been in existence for close to a decade. Few teams can say that. Tomas Vokoun came from the original expansion draft that helped shape the Predators. David Legwand, our first draft pick, is still with the team; still developing and setting personal bests with Nashville.
Most coach’s offices come with revolving doors. Not enough wins this season? Time for someone else. The whole apple cart gets upset. And the organization starts from scratch. Forget about the talent already in the pipeline or developing with the farm team. It’s time to trade them for players who will fit with the new system.
Had Alexander Radulov been with most other organizations, he would have been burnt out by now. The hopes of the fans and the team would be crushing this rookie. Instead, thanks in no small part to an owner who sees the big picture, Alexander has been able to develop and learn from the veterans. This is undoubtedly a luxury that many youngsters, thrust into the spot light and touted as saviors, would love to experience.
Nashville’s front office was able to make the deal it did for Forsberg precisely because they had already secured the talent needed for years to come. Ramzi Abid and Rich Peverley are proof that the future is in good hands.
Because of the quality leadership which starts with the front office, the fans of the Nashville Predators enjoy refreshing honesty from the coaches and the players. Rarely, if ever, do we hear of finger pointing or back-biting. Earlier this season, in a game against Calgary, there was a mix up with the team's roster for that night. In the post-game interview, Coach took responsibility for the mistake and even apologized to the players. Imagine: a coach saying he’s sorry to a player. That’s class and that’s refreshing. Excuses are cheap and easy to come by. But the Preds have a policy: no excuses. Vokoun doesn’t blame the defense. The defense doesn’t gripe about the forwards. The rookies respect the veterans and so on down the line. Each player is accountable both on and off the ice.
In the four years that I have lived in Nashville, I have never heard of one Predator getting arrested. Beating his girlfriend. Not even one DUI. I believe this speaks to the character of the players and a pride they have in themselves, their teams and this sport.
So when I hear the talk about the Predators moving to another city… I get more than a little sad… I get angry.
I get frustrated by these “experts” who crunch the numbers and have come to the conclusion that the Preds are on their way to Kansas City. These “fair-weather-reporters” don’t understand what makes this organization great. It’s not just the President’s trophy or even the Stanley Cup. It’s a belief in doing things right – for a love of the game.
I believe Mr. Leipold and the Nashville Predators are staying right where they belong. They’re not done. Afterall, our dynasty is only beginning.
