News and Notes XXII: Now With More Finnish!

[tarheelhockey]

A decade ago it was just the opposite. We were the model non-traditional franchise with a frenzied fanbase, and Nashville was relocation fodder.

I'll give you one guess as to what made the difference between the franchises over the subsequent 9 years.

 

[MinJaBen]

I'll give you one guess as to what made the difference between the franchises over the subsequent 9 years.

Country music?

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Downtown Arena?

 

[ikani87]

Better execution of a vision crafted by better leadership

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I think PNC has a pretty good selection of craft beers.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Better execution of a vision crafted by better leadership

I'm not going to argue against the idea that the Preds have better leadership. But the bottom line here is the on-ice product, not the off-ice. If that team had been down with the dregs of the league for the past 8 seasons, you can be assured that nobody would be talking about their amazing arena atmosphere or their super-hardcore fanbase.

They've done an AMAZING job capturing the fanbase that has followed from improving their team -- but make no mistake, the winning came first.

Signed,
Someone who lived in the Nashville area and attended Preds games about 10 years ago

 

[GoldiFox]

I don't get it.

Organizational culture is important, but you can't craft an organizational culture of winning when you are constantly losing. You can bring in "winners". Let's say, for example... Jordan Staal, Brian Bickell, Tuevo Teravainen, Markus Kruger, Joakim Nordstrom and TVR. You can promote guys to high positions in the org who are lifelong "winners". Let's say, for example Rod Brind'Amour to Assistant Coach or Ron Francis to GM. You can yell with all your might "Let's get out there and win!"

At the end of the day... You gotta win on the ice. Nashville is struggling if they aren't making the Playoffs. It doesn't matter how many "studies" they have done on welcoming fans.

As for all the arena improvements, trainers, scouts, etc... Dundon has talked about the planned improvements at every turn. He is personally invested in making the fan and player experience better. He has already started by making tickets significantly cheaper with special deals. He is doing a lot behind the scenes to put out the thousands of small fires left burning by PK.

Seems like 99% of what you are describing is already taking place. Not hard to see if you look.

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

Paragraphs, man. Paragraphs.

 

[tarheelhockey]

One thing that we simply can't match is that Bridgestone Arena is simply a better place to see a hockey game, full stop. PNC Arena is what I would consider a "generic" pro sports venue, which is to say it's not a dump or anything but it's just kind of a solid C and always will be as long as it's maintained decently. It don't feel very current or very old.

Bridgestone was built the same year, for about the same amount of money, and feels a lot more modern. Part of it is the design of the arena bowl which to me feels a bit steeper and more intimate. There are nosebleeds far from the ice in the very upper section on one end, but otherwise the seats feel closer to the ice. That creates atmosphere that just can't be replicated in a big empty bowl like PNC.

And in turn, this comes largely from the difference between being designed for small-city events like college basketball and mid-level touring concerts, as opposed to being the primary indoor entertainment venue in an entertainment industry driven city like Nashville.

 

[bluedevil58]

So it's come to this? Already talking about the off season and it just hit March. We have a new owner who we all think will spend money although I'm skeptical that will actually happen because it hasn't yet.

Then we have an off season full of weak UFAs. JT will not be available and there really isn't anyone else aside from Kane who I think we take a shot on. Past that I just don't know...

 

[ikani87]

Organizational culture is more than the win/loss record. Yes I agree that Jordan Staal is good however not nearly the talent his brother Eric was in his prime. Bickell while a great story was a really nice piece but more of a good locker room guy which is important. The rest of who has been mentioned are alright but still there lacks the centerpiece to build around. The Hurricanes are filled up of a bunch of Robins but where is the Batman? Past management has had a problem with spending real money for the right players to come in and play but when real money was spent, it was on the likes of an Alexander Seimen. It is not always about getting the best players but getting the right ones to fit the system. The culture and the vision of leadership and direction for the NHL franchise starts at the top. That means that the ownership needs to be willing to spend money and allocate time and resources properly. It depends on the GM and scouting department to do their homework on free agents and building through the draft. It is developing the players brought in through those various avenues. A handful of young players truly show some promise and potential. Noah, Aho, and Slavin just to name some are poised to potentially be quality careers as pro hockey players. But who will come in and truly get the most out of the players they currently have and get the most out of them. Because this is a smaller and non traditional market, building through the draft and player development is of higher importance as compared to larger more traditional markets such as those of Original Six pedigree. Because of that, the fiscal consequences are that much more magnified with not doing the proper things along the way to build up this team. Dundon says that his is going to do a number of things because he probably has seen what has worked and has not worked based upon similar studies and data that I have seen to piece this original message together. At the end of the day, I think we all want what is best for this team and to create something viable and positive for the long term and have sustainable success.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Paragraphs, man. Paragraphs.

What he said.

 

[Breakdowns]

Dear @ikani87 ,

Please use "Enter" button.

Sincerely,
Canes Board

 

[ikani87]

Does winning truly come first tarheelhockey? Let me ask this, how does sustained winning happen? I can tell it just does not happen magically like UNC basketball players getting good academic grades. First it begins with a good plan and executing a good plan. Identifying problems and creating viable positive solutions. Even a broken clock can be right twice a day. This franchise has one cup which is more than what some franchises have, sorry Buffalo (actually not sorry). That honeymoon has long been over especially with not making the playoffs in the better part of a decade. How does winning happen on a level that is long term and sustainable? It just does not happen by osmosis and organically with some new age type of techniques that are based upon wishes and hope alone. Wish in one hand and crap in the other, which one will fill up first? Yeah and that is what fans of the Hurricanes have been left with for nearly a decade. One big handful of hot steamy excrement. In a society of instant gratification, generally we want stuff right now and tomorrow will be too late. Winning once helps build momentum towards the next season and then into the following seasons but it does begin with a well executed plan that helps move that along rather than just blind luck or wishes alone. Anything worth having requires patience, hard work, and dedication.

 

[bluedevil58]

Organizational culture is more than the win/loss record. Yes I agree that Jordan Staal is good however not nearly the talent his brother Eric was in his prime. Bickell while a great story was a really nice piece but more of a good locker room guy which is important. The rest of who has been mentioned are alright but still there lacks the centerpiece to build around. The Hurricanes are filled up of a bunch of Robins but where is the Batman? Past management has had a problem with spending real money for the right players to come in and play but when real money was spent, it was on the likes of an Alexander Seimen. It is not always about getting the best players but getting the right ones to fit the system. The culture and the vision of leadership and direction for the NHL franchise starts at the top. That means that the ownership needs to be willing to spend money and allocate time and resources properly. It depends on the GM and scouting department to do their homework on free agents and building through the draft. It is developing the players brought in through those various avenues. A handful of young players truly show some promise and potential. Noah, Aho, and Slavin just to name some are poised to potentially be quality careers as pro hockey players. But who will come in and truly get the most out of the players they currently have and get the most out of them. Because this is a smaller and non traditional market, building through the draft and player development is of higher importance as compared to larger more traditional markets such as those of Original Six pedigree. Because of that, the fiscal consequences are that much more magnified with not doing the proper things along the way to build up this team. Dundon says that his is going to do a number of things because he probably has seen what has worked and has not worked based upon similar studies and data that I have seen to piece this original message together. At the end of the day, I think we all want what is best for this team and to create something viable and positive for the long term and have sustainable success.

Dude. Well thought out but f*** man these no paragraphs are killing me.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

Yes! A winning culture is needed! Please win more, and then we will have a winning culture! This is very smart!

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

Dude. Well thought out but **** man these no paragraphs are killing me.

He’s doing it on purpose at this point, I think.

If we keep complaining he may stop using a space between each word next.

 

[the halleJOKEL]

we need to trade aho in the offseason so we can get multiple solid pieces

 

[HisIceness]

This off-season may or may not be the tell-tale sign on where this team is going, but it will give us all an idea of what we are in for under the Dundon era.

Look at it this way, we could either become what the Dallas Mavericks were right after Cuban bought the team in 2000 (consistent playoff contender), or we could become the current version of the Sacramento Kings who are 4 years into the Vivek Ranadive regime (a shitshow to put it short and sweet). We have a nice mix of young players like the 00's Mavs in Aho/Slavin/Pesce/Hanifin and we are also a small market that for 3 years had all kinds of question marks surrounding the future of the ownership/franchise location like the Kings. And like both, we're currently in a long playoff drought after a decade of success (Mavs in the 80's, Kings/Canes in the 00's).

So far Dundon has become more a Cuban type of owner from a fan standpoint and from a player standpoint (TopGolf, steak dinners). From a roster management standpoint right now is unknown. Lets all hope for a Mavs-like future

 

[bluedevil58]

My issue is there isn't any game changers available aside from JT. He is a pipe dream. That's like hoping Jake Gellanhaal and Heath ledger will be involved in a Brokeback Mountain 2 sequel ....

It just ain't happening. So where the he'll does that leave the team? I don't see a major trade happening either. People don't trade 1Cs. They also sure as he'll don't trade away game changing goalies . So...

But say we can trade you say? I don't think so. We have a frugal GM. We need to do something. What that us though I have no idea.

 

[Hulkacaniac]

My issue is there isn't any game changers available aside from JT. He is a pipe dream. That's like hoping Jake Gellanhaal and Heath ledger will be involved in a Brokeback Mountain 2 sequel ....

It just ain't happening. So where the he'll does that leave the team? I don't see a major trade happening either. People don't trade 1Cs. They also sure as he'll don't trade away game changing goalies . So...

But say we can trade you say? I don't think so. We have a frugal GM. We need to do something. What that us though I have no idea.

No.. there is another game changer

Spoiler

 

[tarheelhockey]

My issue is there isn't any game changers available aside from JT. He is a pipe dream. That's like hoping Jake Gellanhaal and Heath ledger will be involved in a Brokeback Mountain 2 sequel ....

It just ain't happening. So where the he'll does that leave the team? I don't see a major trade happening either. People don't trade 1Cs. They also sure as he'll don't trade away game changing goalies . So...

But say we can trade you say? I don't think so. We have a frugal GM. We need to do something. What that us though I have no idea.

With CGI these days, anything is possible.

Have faith in your dreams, man.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

We have no idea if we have a frugal GM or not. What we do know, is that we had (past tense) a frugal owner, who has shown this both under Rutherford and Francis. Let's see how Francis does under Dundon before declaring him a "frugal GM".

 

[Joe McGrath]

We have no idea if we have a frugal GM or not. What we do know, is that we had (past tense) a frugal owner, who has shown this both under Rutherford and Francis. Let's see how Francis does under Dundon before declaring him a "frugal GM".

Exactly this. This is one of the many things that drives me f***ing nuts. As if Francis went to New York or Chicago he wouldn’t start spending to the cap because he’s a frugal GM. See: Rutherford, Jim

 

[geehaad]

hoping Jake Gellanhaal and Heath ledger will be involved in a Brokeback Mountain 2 sequel

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