New Future for the Blackhawks

William Wirtz, owner and President of the Chicago Blackhawks, has passed away after battling cancer.

Wirtz became team President of the Blackhawks in 1966 and since then had been a key figure in the NHL. He served as Chairman of the NHL's Board of Governors nearly two decades, and was influential in helping to merge the NHL and WHA. Wirtz's legacy was set when in 1976 he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Since the Wirtz family took over the Blackhawks in 1954, they have only managed to win one Stanley Cup, in 1961. Although Wirtz family haven't managed to deliver many Cup successes, William Wirtz was able to deliver the fans a new arena.

Wirtz has been criticized over the years by the fans, for blacking out home games on television and for failing to spend the necessary money, to deliver the players to build a winning team.

Wirtz was a very hands on President and often had too much say in the direction of the team on the ice, undermining his General Managers. Wirtz's vision for the team was very old fashioned and lead to a decline in the success of the team since it moved into their new arena 12 years ago.

With Wirtz's passing, maybe now the Blackhawks front office will get an overhaul and we will see a successful and modern management team put in place.

Wirtz failed to realize that to attract fans to the games you have to premote your product as much as you can and this can't be done by blacking out your team's home games. A modernizing President is exactly what this team needs, one that allows the General Manager to do his job without interference.

My condolences go to the Wirtz family, but if the right moves are made, the Blackhawks future could be bright again and that will be the best tribute anyone could pay to William Wirtz. He may have been out of touch with today's game, but his legacy will live on.