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The Edmonton Oilers got their man Wednesday, but no, his name wasn't Marian Hossa. Instead, it was that other guy, the one who opened his news conference inside the arena bearing his company's name with a dry yet amusing take.
“So we finally meet face to face,” Oilers owner Daryl Katz cracked in his first public appearance since his seven-month purchase of the NHL club began. “I'm sure some of you thought that would never happen.”
Seeing and hearing Katz ushered in a new era for an organization that has experienced a variety of results, everything from the spirited Stanley Cup run of 2006 to the disappointment of being rejected by high-profile stars who wanted no part of life in Canada's most northerly metropolis.
By many accounts, Katz is everything his predecessors in the now-disbanded Edmonton Investors Group were not. He is single-minded, deep-pocketed, able to move quickly and personally capable of leading the charge for a new arena.
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And yet as a tribute to his predecessors, who salvaged the Oilers from certain doom 10 years ago, Katz appointed former EIG head Cal Nichols as the club's chairman and alternate governor. It was the lone bit of news on a day when many Oilers fans had hoped the new owner would make good on his promise of icing a competitive team by signing Hossa, the 29-year-old free-agent scorer.
Given a staggering offer that some said was more than $80-million (all contract figures U.S.) over nine years, Hossa considered the Oilers, took a phone call from Katz and listened to Edmonton players and management types sing the praises of their operation. In the end, he signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings worth $7.45-million.
“He's one of the few players who said they're not doing it for the money then actually did it for the sheer opportunity to win a Cup,” said Hossa's Edmonton-based agent, Ritch Winter. “I never thought I'd turned down $85-million to $100-million and be happy about it … signing for one year gives [Hossa] the flexibility of making a decision later.”
Winter has known Katz for years and whole-heartedly endorsed the new owner for being “dynamic, and it's really important having a dynamic owner. Look at Detroit. [Mike Ilitch] has built relationships with his players. Daryl's young, friendly; he's a guy the players can relate to.”
Katz, who made his fortune in the pharmaceutical business, spoke for several minutes Wednesday at Rexall Place, insisting his ownership was “nothing more than a dream come true” for a guy who “grew up with the boys on the bus. I lived and died by the Oilers.”
He reminded everyone he was Edmonton born and educated and that he also hopes to some day establish a centre of hockey excellence at his alma mater, the University of Alberta.
Edmonton coach Craig MacTavish said Katz's commitment, beyond the $200-million purchase price, had already produced tangible benefits.
“It's been energizing. He's got an uncompromising vision in terms of adding the elite of the elite,” MacTavish said. “Ultimately it's the players' decision [as to where they sign]. But our players see that [pursuit of Hossa] and it energizes them.”
As part of Katz's introduction as owner, the Oilers played a video of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. In his comments, Bettman thanked the EIG for its support then said, “We're confident we're getting an owner who can take this franchise into the future.”
Katz joins the NHL with no serious baggage. He didn't need partners or financial assistance from other NHL owners (unlike the Nashville Predators group, which brought in William (Boots) Del Biaggio III only to discover he had defaulted on monies owed to the Anschutz Entertainment Group and Craig Leipold, owner of the Minnesota Wild). Nor does Katz crave the media limelight (unlike his Tampa Bay Lightning counterparts Oren Koules and Len Barrie, who are being quoted in every news release concerning a new coach or player signing).
Instead, Katz is happy to be a contributor to a management team that made a series of smart moves in recent days (acquiring defenceman Lubomir Visnovsky and forwards Erik Cole and Gilbert Brulé) and is planning to spend as close to the new $56.7-million salary cap as needed.
“There's a new NHL and Daryl is perfectly suited for this new NHL,” Oilers general manager Kevin Lowe said. “I'm excited and confident, as he is. As he's said to me often, ‘Let's have fun.' Let's hope the fans have fun along the way as well.”
