Rocky Wirtz offers fans hope for better days ahead

There should be some nervous people on West Madison Street these days.

And we're not talking about the real-estate developers.

It's those who have survived the numerous executions of the past 20 years who are on notice.

And you have to ask yourself, how did those people survive in a Blackhawks environment in which few could be trusted and so many were out to get others?

Simple. Follow the Golden Rule of the club, which was, "Do unto others before they could do unto you.''

Self-preservation, eyes in the back of your head, and a sharp knife have been key organizational skills, never mind a focus on drafting, scouting or winning.

And those days may finally be coming to an end.

When his father passed away and it was clear Rocky Wirtz would be taking over, it still came as a shock to many who had enjoyed the protective blanket of Peter Wirtz or Bob Pulford.

And the only ones surprised by Peter Wirtz leaving the club last week probably were those who'd been protected and who now must prove they deserve jobs in order to keep them.

Peter knew the line of succession and saw the handwriting on the wall, so, to his credit, he got out and will leave the cleanup to his brother, who has stayed clear of this group for years, likely knowing change was impossible under the circumstances and any gesture to the contrary futile.

That, in and of itself, is encouraging.

The Hawks need a clean sweep, though you can't expect Rocky to take a broom to the joint tomorrow. Perhaps not until spring or summer.

But we do expect it, and we're not alone, which is why there are folks concerned at the UC these days.

We are guilty of having had high hopes for Peter, as well, but he changed little during his years with the club, in part because his father and Pulford were just too strong a tandem and in part because his close relationship with Dale Tallon clouded decision-making.

Tallon's front-office time has not been a success, though he might finally score with a couple of high draft picks, the result of picking near the top every year because the Hawks are awful every year -- not exactly the definition of brilliant management.

There have been many high picks since Tallon has been a part of the front office, but the supposedly talented kids who were always "on the way'' must have gotten on the wrong bus because most never arrived in Chicago.

When things were at their worst, the front office would save necks and jobs and pacify Bill Wirtz by telling him Anton Babchuck was the next Al MacInnis, Tuomo Ruutu the next Peter Forsberg, and Cam Barker the next Denis Potvin.

As for Peter, he dumped Bill Gardner from the broadcast booth because Tallon didn't want to work in the front office with GM Mike Smith, and when Smith was gone, Tallon exited the booth and returned to management.

Bill Wirtz also brought in Trent Yawney to develop young players, but when Yawney told Tallon the truth about failed free-agent signings or about prized draft picks who would never make it, Tallon fired Yawney.

Tallon has since admitted those mistakes and dumped most of the players Yawney said couldn't play, but where was Peter to stop his friend from firing Yawney before it occurred?

Now, we have a new Wirtz on the way in, the right Wirtz from everything we've been told the last few years by those who have hoped for this day.

We believe -- we hope -- Rocky will do it the right way.

On notice, from this day forward, is everyone there who did it the wrong way.

They know who they are.