Home TV policy change adds to Hawks' momentum
Some people just get it. They understand how things are supposed to be, how to treat people, how to do things the right way.
It's looking more and more as if Rocky Wirtz is one of those people.
Not even a month has elapsed since his father died, and already Rocky has cleaned house in the front office, pushing out senior vice president Bob Pulford, and now has moved forward with a plan to televise a few home games, starting with the Nov. 11 clash with the Detroit Red Wings.
There is a surge of momentum building at the United Center that starts with Wirtz, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.
How good have Toews and Kane looked. In them the Hawks have not one but two potential superstars. It might be three if Martin Havlat could get healthy and stay on the ice.
If ever there was a time to get the product out there on television as much as possible, it's now with Toews and Kane showing the ability to lift fans out of their seats with the way they play. Toews flashed greatness Friday when he went around three Avalanche players to score the prettiest goal you'll ever see.
Maybe that was the moment Wirtz decided he had to get these kids out there more in the public eye. Maybe he felt all along the Hawks should televise home games but just couldn't convince his stubborn father to change the policy.
The suddenness of Monday's announcement that there would be home television this season was surprising. Some might question whether Wirtz is disrespecting his father by doing this, but the way the Hawks' new chairman sees it, if he can turn the franchise around and make it profitable again, his dad would be the first to come down and offer his congratulations.
The Hawks are determined to make Toews and Kane among the most high-profile athletes in the city. Their faces already stare out from billboards and newspaper ads. Now the potential is there for them to go to another level of recognition with added television exposure.
There is a buzz about the Hawks again, and Wirtz only added to it on Monday by playing the home television card.
"It's exciting," said Hawks coach Denis Savard. "With the team we have, I think people are going to enjoy watching it, not only on TV but at the United Center. The product has gotten better."
Do you think Wirtz knows that the more his team is exposed on TV, the better chance he has at filling the building again? Of course he does.
"It would be nice to have big crowds here," Savard said. "It's uplifting for our players. And they'll come back once they see what we have here."
Many players were happy with the news of more televised games.
"Everyone likes the exposure in their hometown," Martin Lapointe said. "I think the fans are waiting to come out and getting games on TV might be a way to bring them out."
Someone else who gets it.