The term “culture change” is both one of the worst and one of the most common cliches in the NHL vernacular at the moment.
At its lowest, it’s an empty phrase that advocates managerial/coaching change for the sake of change. Because culture is nebulous and internal, the new guy can proclaim it changed whenever he wants, regardless of what he actually does.
In some cases, though, a culture change is exactly what a team needs. No current NHL example is better than the Edmonton Oilers, a team that desperately needs to alter the way it does things.
For a brief time, the hiring of general manager Craig MacTavish seemed like a signal that such change was on hand.
On April 15, 2013, MacTavish was reintroduced to Oilers fans as the team’s new head of hockey operations in a press conference aired live on the team’s official site. After years of indecision and what MacTavish later described as “neglect-style” management, the new general manager offered a bold vision for the team.
“I’m an impatient guy, and I bring that ...
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Article written by Jonathan Willis