News Article: Portzline article with John H. McConnell II

[CBJWerenski8]

Figured this deserved its own thread.

Posting some of the more important aspects of the article in here:

The Columbus Blue Jackets are in transition at the ownership level. While John P. McConnell, 71, remains the majority owner, his son, John H. McConnell II, 41, was elevated to alternate governor last fall and is on track to assume majority ownership of the franchise.

He would be the third member of the family to hold a majority ownership stake in the franchise, and early indications suggest John H. McConnell II will be more integrated with Blue Jackets management and the day-to-day operations than his predecessors.
John H. McConnell, the franchise’s founder and majority owner until his death in April 2008, was a beloved figure among Blue Jackets’ fans, who often gave him a standing ovation when he waved to the crowd on the scoreboard during games. John P. McConnell has been far less visible to fans, both at games and in public comments, choosing mostly to let club president Mike Priest and others speak on his behalf.

The approach by John H. McConnell II seems most similar to his grandfather and namesake, but perhaps even more engaged. He sat beside general manager Don Waddell during this year’s NHL trade deadline, made frequent road trips with the club, and has familiarized himself with management, staff and players along the way.

What do believe should be the role of an owner in professional sports?

For me, it’s really how my grandfather and I, and my dad, have viewed this. Hire the right people, give them resources, support them, and we’re not going to be the active player in that. We want to make sure we’re giving the people who are here, who are in the roles their in, the resources they need to be successful.

Is that a difficult balance? You’re a guy who knows hockey, has played hockey … could it be a challenge to maintain that delineation?

No. Learning from my grandfather in business and with the hockey team, and my father, I represent the ownership group as a whole, I share a deep passion for hockey, and learning how they (the previous two generations) have conducted and carried themselves … I’ll do it differently, because I’m a different person, but I will continue in the way they’ve done it. I attended some road games this year. I plan in the future to attend more road games, but I have a young family as well, so balancing my family time and responsibilities is part of that.

The NHL salary cap is going up this summer after a long stagnation coming out of COVID. Some estimates suggest it could go up an additional $20 million over the next two seasons. Are there any concerns, as a small-market club, about being able to keep pace?

I don’t think it’s going to continue as an astronomical climb. It’s more pairing to the hold that was taking place during COVID and now matching economically where it needs to match between the players, the NHL players’ association and the NHL. But we’re in a good place for the market adjustment, and we don’t see any issues with that going forward.

Have there been overtures or expressed interest from others in buying the Blue Jackets? There has been speculation that (Cleveland Browns and Columbus Crew owners) Jimmy and Dee Haslam have been interested. Can you confirm if there has been expressed interest by the Haslams or anybody else, and has there ever been any consideration of selling the franchise?

No. I think part of that is the Haslams coming to Columbus with the Crew and expanding their sports network with the Haslam Sports Group in acquiring (a 25 percent stake as co-owners) of the (NBA’s Milwaukee) Bucks. We have a good working relationship with the Haslams. We have to, being in a community here, with them down the street with the Crew. It has been a great relationship. But we have no intention of selling the franchise.

How would you describe the current state of the Blue Jackets’ franchise and where do you see it going?

We have one of the best prospect pools in the NHL. The young players we’re drafted have been in the system and building through it. Some of the changes we made to the roster last season was to get veteran players in here to help get them thinking the way we think, in the way we want to represent our organization and make sure they’re getting NHL ready. We’ve got a great core. We’re going to continue to build on that over the next couple of seasons.

Do you anticipate an active summer?

It’s going to be interesting to see. We’re going to see how we get to the draft timeframe (mid- to late June). We’ve got seven draft picks. We’re going to be able to see what comes to us, in a lot of ways. Two first-round picks this year gives us an opportunity to make some decisions.

And that includes the possibility of not selecting players with those picks.

Correct.

John H. McConnell II Q & A: Blue Jackets’ future owner on his transition, NHL’s rising salary cap

Blue Jackets' alternate governor John H. McConnell II is on track to assume majority ownership of the franchise.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

For the love of all things holy and not (depending on what you believe in) keep the Haslams away from this franchise.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

Read like a typical corporate-type interview to me. Standard cliches, etc.

That being said I have a feeling the the younger McConnell has learned a lot from the mistakes of his father and while he says he won't be a day-to-day type, I sense that he will be much more active than his predecessors and that no one in management will have the length of rope given to them by his grand dad and father.

Given that he played hockey and that he goes to some road games would suggest a greater level of interest in the day-to-day and strategic planning of the hockey ops than his dad has.

The good news for him is that he has a very low bar to reach to exceed the performance of his dad.