Recently, ESPN had a poll about fan satisfaction with an array of topics and here they are with where the Kings rank:
• BNG (Bang for the Buck): Wins over the past three years per revenues directly from fans - 27th NHL
• FRL (Fan Relations): Ease of access to players, coaches & management – 27th NHL
• OWN (Ownership): Honesty; loyalty to players and city – 28th NHL
• AFF (Affordability): Price of tickets, parking and concessions – 26th NHL
• STD (Stadium Experience): Friendliness of environment; quality of game-day promotions – 22nd NHL
• PLA (Players): Effort on the field; likeability off it - 28th NHL
• CCH (Coach/Manager): Strong on-field leadership – 30th NHL
• TTR (Title Track): Titles already won or expected – 29th NHL
ESPN’s Fan Satisfaction Poll
Of all the categories and dismal rankings the Kings amassed on Lombardi’s watch, the last place ranking of his leadership is what I find most troubling, and perhaps not for the reasons one might predict. My past blogs evidence I am behind Lombardi’s plan – though it will be easier to live with when there is more evidence of progress on the ice.
Where I take issue with Lombardi is his silence and months later acknowledgement of his questionable choices …. Long after others have weighed in and the team’s results speak for themselves on the ice. Here are a couple of examples which readily come to mind:
Bar none, the Cloutier signing is his biggest blunder. I could appreciate the extension and the rationale behind it if Lombardi gave his take after the signing, or within a reasonable period after the train wreck known as Cloutier played out in all of its ugliness. Instead, last summer, my first time to hear Lombardi speak in person, he explained that he never saw Cloutier as anything more than average and a stop gap.
He ran the numbers, saw what free agents got and gambled badly that Cloutier would be at least average and healthy. Who other than I didn’t want to hear this in September or October as opposed to June? That could be filed under the Department of the Obvious.
Next, consider the mass signings of adequate at best free agents last summer. (Admittedly, I tried to make them sound better than they were in my earliest blogs.) Some articles lauded him for these signings. ESPN’s John Buccigross, spoke for many and says it better than most:
“Michal Handzus. Ladislav Nagy. Kyle Calder. Jon Klemm. Tom Preissing. Brad Stuart. Jean-Sebastien Aubin. What? Radek Bonk wasn't available? Oh, wait -- he was, but he signed with Nashville. "Bring out your junk and we'll give it a home." OK, maybe that is a little harsh, but I was hoping the Los Angeles Kings would stay young and keep giving those young players all the important blocks of ice time.”
Buccigross on Lombardi
Here, like with the Cloutier signing, Lombardi came clean … in March – long after the damage had been done and the Kings were permanent occupants of last place shy of the last week of the regular season.When Lombardi spoke to season ticket holders this March, he discussed how he never understood the positive press of these very adequate signings.
With eight holes to fill, and little to offer the best of the free agents, he combed the universe and not only overpaid for many, but gave them no movement clauses to boot. The latter contract language conveniently never hit the press … until February 27 more or less when fans looked on with disgust that none of the Kings’ unrestricteds appealed to play-off teams sufficiently to offer enough.. or to the Kings’ players personally who chose to exercise rights their play never earned.
Some took issue with me for giving Lombardi an “F” for his deadline inaction based upon his after the fact press call where he detailed the gory details of couldas, shouldas and wouldas. One individual in particular asked if I regretted my grade based upon what Lombardi had to say then. My answer was pretty easy, no – since he was the guy giving out no movement clauses like they were candy.
Does anyone other than I really think the Kings would be worse off if they didn’t sign Thornton, Handzus or even Blake frankly if Lombardi didn’t give them these rights that handcuffed Los Angeles? … truth be told, while I acknowledge Strachan’s credibility is questioned, it sure feels accurate to reiterate his Hot Stove segment on February 16 where he said that Handzus told friends the only offer he got was from Lombardi. Really.
(This can be viewed for yourselves under cbc.ca, click on Hockey Night in Canada, then Hotstove on the February 16 spot. Strachan on Blake’s view of Lombardi is there to be heard too.)
Bottom Line:
Lombardi needs to step up to the plate and tell the truth when he makes moves – not months and months later if he wants fans to keep drinking his Kool-Aid. There is a reason that the GM with a respected drafting record is seen by his team’s own fans as the worst leader in the league. That just is and if he thinks otherwise, then he is ignoring the ‘shareholders’ he explained last summer is his perception of season ticket holders.
Why pray tell were season ticket holders like myself told through most of the season that there would be no Breakfast with the GM this year. After the anger built up through the deadline, or perhaps before since I am not privy to these things, then the Breakfast got trotted out for March – the only one held this year. Strike that up to missing leadership too. Put up, show up, speak up or go home. Isn’t that how others really feel?
Dean, your collective bosses see you as the worst leader in the NHL, what are you going to do from this day forward to change this perception? Perception is reality and if Lombardi doesn’t step up to the plate in a timely and public way from now on that will be his downfall with the Kings and the team’s long suffering fans.
Update:
Update:
In the interest of full disclosure, since I wrote this blog, Rink Rat (the individual who runs letsgokings.com) was invited to a meeting with the Kings' brain trust where they explained not only new season ticket holder prices, but also a couple of opportunities where Lombardi will speak to his shareholders regarding the upcoming season. Read more here from Rink Rat and his site:
Lombardi to meet with season ticket holders & Season ticket prices for next year
I am thrilled to see Lombardi is changing his modus operandi and showing up. Perhaps when the Kings' organization recognizes the number of people who read my blogs, the Kings will deem this blogger worthy to be acknowledged so I will stop learning about this team from other sources -- rather than the Kings' directly.
Carla Muller Carla.hockeygal@att.net