Biggest difference? McDonough says everyone now accountable

There is only one way to develop a reputation as a tough guy in hockey.

You take on anyone, anywhere, at any time.

Winning the fight isn't as important as showing up - unless you're John McDonough.

The Blackhawks president may be relatively new to hockey, but he's quickly developing a reputation around the game as one of the most ferocious men in the NHL.

And it doesn't bother him a bit.

"I know how it works. Hockey is a small community and word gets around,'' McDonough said with a smile, knowing his own employees have spread the word. "I would prefer the word 'firm' over tough.

"But I think you have to be true to yourself, and I'm a really, really, really competitive person and not long on patience. If that's a weakness, so be it.

"I have an obligation to our fan base, to the Wirtz family and to the city to get this right.

"People say, 'Well, you must be happy with the way it's going.' I'm not sure I have that 'happy' gene, but I can tell you this much: No one here is gushing because attendance is good and it's been a better year on the ice.

"We have a lot of work to do and we are just getting started. We're at our own 2-yard line with this thing. In my mind, we have accomplished nothing.''

Stories have made their way around the league about how McDonough treats his employees, including dressing down those who come to work improperly attired.

"This idea of the era of casual dress at work, I don't like it because I don't see anything casual about what we're trying to do here,'' McDonough said before the Hawks' 6-5 victory over the Sharks at the UC on Wednesday.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with looking like you mean business.''

Those words should be comforting to Hawks fans worried that the club is only concerned with selling tickets and marketing jerseys.

The Hawks have done that well, but McDonough will not rest until the Hawks are worthy of a Stanley Cup both on the ice and in the front office, a notion that was laughable in all ways when he arrived in late 2007.

McDonough took over an organization that was unstable on the ice, and off the ice was up to date for the time period - if the time period was the 1950s.

"One thing I'm most proud of is we know who we are and where we are, and I can't say that was true when we got here 16 months ago,'' McDonough said. "Where we are now is that we're not satisfied with where we are, and anyone who thinks we're satisfied is sadly mistaken.

"Everyone here is accountable, and I think that's the biggest difference. It starts with me, and I'm accountable to Rocky Wirtz first, and I'm sure he'll hold me accountable.

"We have an approach and a map, on the ice and off, and I expect us to follow it.

"There's a reason someone came up with those two letters, 'W' and 'L.' They matter, and they will matter as long as I'm here, and we will be accountable for wins and losses.''

As McDonough sat in a quiet building two hours before the first roar, he reflected on his new life on the West Side and addressed several topics.

• On GM Dale Tallon's contract, McDonough was a bit cryptic: "He's got another year left. There's no hurry. We'll assess everything after the season. We're all assessed on team performance, and we'll look at everything after the season.''

• On coach Joel Quenneville: "He's tough, he's fair, and he's all business, all substance. No agendas. No currying favor.

"He's a 'less is more' guy. Watch a practice and you see he doesn't have them out there just for the sake of it. He holds the players accountable, and I really like that. He's got some (Mike) Ditka in him.''

• On Martin Havlat's contract talks: "I'm sure Dale will continue to have conversations about it, but that's all it is right now is a conversation. We have seen a healthy Martin Havlat is a great hockey player.''

• On the economy and freezing ticket prices for next season: "People said we could have gotten whatever we wanted next year, but (raising prices) wasn't the right thing to do, period. We have a big- picture approach here, and it simply would not have been right.''

• On playoff tickets: "I just found out five minutes ago we had 97 percent of our season-ticket holders take their playoff tickets. That would be high for a winning baseball team.''

• On the return of the fan base: "We will never take any of it for granted. I promise you that. We don't think we're entitled to even one person coming in here. We have to earn it.''

brozner@dailyherald.com