Hawks' McDonough: We're not there yet
Only two years ago, the Blackhawks were a laughingstock.
Now, in only two days, they lost to the Stanley Cup champion Red Wings in the conference finals, and the NBA champion Celtics in voting for the sports franchise of the year.
Long way in a short time.
"It's pretty good company, and it tells me we're making some progress, but I'm not one to get caught up in any of this," said Hawks president John McDonough as he boarded a plane headed back from New York. "I look at it from the inside out, not from the outside in, so I don't see it as others might, as the fans might.
"I'm pleased with the direction, but we're not there yet.
"But it's good for the spirit of the organization, and it really reflects well on the great people we've hired and the great things that have been done on the ice."
As far as off the ice, GM Dale Tallon has a year left on his deal and it appears he'll have that year to prove his worth to McDonough.
"He does have a year left on his contract and so there's plenty of time. That's really all there is to say about that," McDonough said. "I know there's been some speculation, but I think that in any business operation when a new president comes in and he brings in some of his own people, there is a familiarization curve that takes place.
"I have a certain style. I'm very aggressive and direct and I have high expectations, but I also need to understand and get accustomed to other people's styles.
"We all need to adapt to each other, and so I think some of the speculation (about Tallon) may be surrounding that."
Tallon and the rest of the front office personnel will be right back at it next week when the organizational meetings provide the direction for a busy summer of cap management.
"There's a lot to discuss. The most important thing is trying to keep the core together to the best of our ability and make good decisions based on that," McDonough said. "Dale has worked very hard preparing for this, and so have Stan (Bowman), Al (MacIsaac), (Rick) Dudley and Mark Kelley.
"I think we'll have a pretty good idea what direction we're going with a lot of the biggest issues by the end of next week."
The Hawks had forever been known as an organization that reacted to trouble, and generally covered up or denied whatever disaster befell them.
This is certainly a different kind of front office now 18 months after McDonough took over the operation.
He insists that his employees see the solutions before the problems arise, so that they're proactive.
"Overall, the year was perceived to be successful season because we made great progress," McDonough said. "Everyone here realizes the potential of where the franchise could go if we're really careful on our decisions.
"But we need the right process in making those decisions, both in business operations and hockey operations, and we hold people accountable.
"There are expectations, and by communicating we make sure there are no surprises and that everyone's on board."
McDonough is so certain about it that internally he's instituted a daily update online that everyone in the organization can read first thing each morning.
"It's everything that's going on in the organization from who's meeting with who and information about players and coaches and updates on roster issues," McDonough said. "It's really a wonderful tool because we need to talk to ourselves better.
"One of the things that's going to be imperative is our communication system, and with the right people weighing in on things, there won't be knee-jerk reactions."
And just so we're clear, no one on West Madison has ordered rings yet.
"We're not there yet," McDonough said. "It was a successful year, but let no one make the mistake of thinking we're there yet."
brozner@dailyherald.com