This is the first post from Let’s Go Devils podcast host Sam Woo! Enjoy!
Out of nowhere earlier this week, Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment’s CEO Scott O’Neill decided to step down from his post and “pursue new opportunities” after “eight successful years” as what the press release stated. O’Neill was the CEO of the sports empire conglomerate know as HBSE that oversaw the Philadelphia Sixers and Devils.
My first reaction was good grief! Didn’t O’Neill just give the green light to Devils GM Fitzgerald to spend money on players? He said this on the Devils In The Details podcast while promoting his new book. This was certainly a surprise as Devils managing partner Joshua Harris also stepped down from Apollo Global Management a month earlier to focus on HBSE. Now, where do the Devils go from here?
Since 2015, the Devils frustrating rebuild will enter its seventh season since Lou Lamoriello left for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Harris and David Blitzer need to make a bold move to find an inspiring and exceptional leader because the Devils are at a pivotal moment in their franchise history. They need to find a successor that will engage with Devils fans and refocus on an organizational three-word mission statement: Win With Honor.
Winning solves everything. The Devils need an organizational leader on top of the food chain who can bring a refocused mindset towards winning. “The Process” has taken too long and Devils fans have watched Lou Lamoriello, David Conte, and countless former Devils players have immediate playoff successes on other NHL clubs during this time period of a rebuild. The Devils marketing, hockey analytics, and content have been a major upgrade during the Harris-Blitzer era compared to previous ownership groups. But what good is it when the product on the ice has only translated into one playoff win and appearance in eight years since owning the team? Devils need to win now!
It all starts from the top. Who would you pick as a successor?