LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL FOR CITY’S SPORTS FANS
From Oilers resurgence to UFC 216, Nicholson is painting a masterpiece
It’s great to be alive, unretired and Bob Nicholson.
‘Bobby Nick’ was definitely one giddy guy as he contemplated Game 2 between the Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks here Friday, and a return to the ballistic scene that will be created for Games 3-4 in Edmonton next week after announcing UFC 216 to your correspondent Thursday.
“This is a special, special time to be in Edmonton right now, whether you are me or anybody else,” said the vice-chair and CEO of Oilers Entertainment Group.
Two and a half years ago, Nicholson, with 46 gold medals — including three of the Olympic men’s variety after a 50-year drought — retired as president of Hockey Canada.
Here Wednesday, the unretired Nicholson watched his hockey club score a 5-3 victory over the Ducks to take a 1-0 lead in their second round Stanley Cup playoff series. Then early Thursday morning, he announced to me under embargo that Edmonton had won the right to host UFC 216 to celebrate the first anniversary of the opening of Rogers Place on Saturday, Sept. 9.
“To be in this situation this soon with the Oilers since the winning of the lottery and Connor McDavid and quickly getting the next two biggest pieces — Peter Chiarelli and Todd McLellan — is incredible,” he said.
The hope was to be in contention for a playoff spot down the stretch and maybe, just maybe, pick off a playoff position and get this group some playoff experience.
Nicholson had barely been on the job when he sent Bill Scott to the lottery with a pair of lucky socks, lucked into McDavid and then quickly hired Chiarelli and McLellan, who had become available with unbelievable timing to take the jobs of building a team around McDavid.
“Chiarelli and McLellan were two big pieces to get in place. They continue to show that they are top people in the league.
“Peter has transformed the Oilers into a playoff team. He wanted to get bigger but when he got bigger, he wanted to stay quick and he’s been able to accomplish that.
“And Todd McLellan has shown that he’s one of the best in the league. Being nominated for the Jack Adams as coach of the year shows not just how good he is, but how good the coaching staff is. It’s a reflection of all of them.
“It all turns to the players on the ice. They are developing. They are getting better. And they’re going to have to continue to keep getting better to continue this ride.
“There’s no question when that lottery card came up it was our lucky day in Edmonton. It put an attention on the Oilers that we had to be better. And we’ve answered that to this date. We’ve improved the team that we had to do for Connor to continue to excel.
“We’ve all seen what type of a season that he’s had. And with him on the roster, it helps other players grow. If you look at the growth of Leon Draisaitl, for example, everyone is growing around him.”
Nicholson is the big-picture guy and what a beautiful picture it’s becoming.
“In all of this, you have to reflect on Daryl Katz’s vision. He’s turned Edmonton into a destination in North America. Building this arena. Building this organization. Building this team. Getting the Garth Brooks concerts. Allowing us to do the deal with IMG to get PBR and now UFC.
“It’s just starting. It’s like our team. The arena is there. The Ice District is coming.
“This Ice District is just going to take downtown like a storm. It’s going to be so great. There are going to be activities every night downtown. What we can build there with the screens, activities and festival events. If you don’t have anything to do, you’ll say: ‘Lets go downtown because there will be stuff going on all the time.”
Your correspondent makes a habit of asking a last question in most interviews.
“What haven’t I asked you?” “What’s more important, winning a gold medal or a Stanley Cup?” he responded. “There’s no question. I only have one thing in my vision right now and it’s the Stanley Cup.”
But it’s about so much more than “just” a Stanley Cup for Nicholson.
“The City of Edmonton is well positioned. And if we do things right, if we strategize right, this journey has just started.
“Back in 1998, I was offered the job as vice-president of hockey operations with Carolina and at the last minute didn’t take it. At one time, I was a finalist for the Toronto Maple Leafs’ job. But I always felt that the Hockey Canada job was as good a job as you can get.
“I was supposed to retire but this job is the best job in hockey. I not only get to work with the hockey team, but work with the building and try to rebuild the city all at the same time.”