What a great time to start talking about creating a culture of success in an organization!
It’s a theme that comes up often in coach Martin St-Louis’ comments, and it starts at the top of the hockey pyramid, beginning with hockey vice president Jeff Gorton and general manager Kent Hughes.
I say this is the right time for two reasons. First of all, I really enjoyed the Canadian’s weekend and especially the intensity of Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, who wants to fight for a place in the National League. It fits perfectly with the message from St-Louis, who was himself an underdog when he started out in professional hockey.
The other reason it’s good is because last Thursday I took Michel Therrien and a few friends on board my plane to Tampa where the Lightning was hosting the Colorado Avalanche. A meeting reminiscent of the last Stanley Cup final.
These are two organizations that have developed a culture of success and constantly strive to improve. I had a chance to chat a little with the Lightning’s general manager, Julien BriseBois, who I knew in Montreal when he first started in a managerial position.
BriseBois really impressed me. Here’s a guy who knows where he’s going and went to the right school with Steve Yzerman, his former boss in Tampa. In a few minutes I understood how much he aspired to build a perfect organization at every level and most importantly to win the Stanley Cup year after year.
The Lightning won back-to-back Cups before being dethroned by the Avalanche last spring, but the team is still very competitive and the goal is clear: bring the Cup back to Tampa.
BriseBois hasn’t given me any big secrets and he hasn’t told me about the amazing Boston Bruins he might find on his way to the playoffs, but he’s on a mission and it shows. In short, he does not neglect any detail.
eye for detail
Well, the Canadian isn’t quite up to the level of the Lightning, but we’re developing the attention to detail and St-Louis is making sure of that. It takes that quest for perfection before he becomes a champion, and that’s what has driven St-Louis throughout his career. His message seems to get through.
It also takes guys who refuse to lose. In both Tampa and Denver, we never accept defeat! You have to win, that’s all, like the Canadian’s great years.
Obviously, it takes more than the right attitude to win. The elements have to be there and sometimes you have to find them somewhere else. We’ll see what Hugues does in the next two weeks and it’s obvious he’s a salesman. If he can find good young players or a quality goalkeeper, let him take the chance. This last point has priority.
Coming back to culture, we saw the Canadian beat two good teams over the weekend, with determination being the key to success. Of course the break was good, but if we see the same determination every night, CH will win more often.
Space for young people!
We’ve seen the youngsters excel and that’s what I want to see at the end of the season. It’s time to evaluate them, and if I have a message for them, it’s to follow the lead of Harvey-Pinard, who has compelled St-Louis to give him a good time on the ice since his recall.
Every player is different and there’s no one-size-fits-all formula, but when the opportunity to play in the NHL presents itself, you have to find a way to differentiate yourself. No question about being half there and complaining that we don’t play enough. Every presence on the ice is crucial.
– Interview by Gilles Moffet
