Al MacIsaac will stick with Blackhawks through 2014
Adam L. Jahns ON THE blackhawks July 11, 2011 11:02PM
Updated: July 12, 2011 4:56AM
Other than chairman Rocky Wirtz, no one among the Blackhawks’ senior executives has spent more time with the franchise than Al MacIsaac. MacIsaac, entering his 12th year with the team, has been in various decision-making capacities in the American Hockey League and with the Hawks. Today, the team will announce that he has received a contract extension that runs through the 2013-14 season. MacIsaac has the unique title of vice president/assistant to the president. Essentially, he ensures the business side works with hockey operations. It’s partially his job to explain to a lifelong baseball guy in team president John McDonough why certain moves are necessary. “He underestimates his own abilities,” a laughing MacIsaac told the Sun-Times. “[But] I consider myself having a good foundation to get where I am. I’m very fortunate.” MacIsaac spent 18 years in the minor leagues, basically doing everything from coaching to selling tickets. In 2000, he was hired by former Hawks general manager Mike Smith to be the GM of the Norfolk Admirals. In December 2007, McDonough brought him to Chicago to help set up the business model that now defines the Hawks. “Part of what I was brought in to do was put a business structure in a hockey environment,” MacIsaac said. “We’ve been able to do that. Now we have a protocol for all our employees . . . and each and every one of our players.” MacIsaac has a vote in every hockey decision, including which players to target in free agency.
