Q&A: My sitdown with Wild owner Craig Leipold
Posted on February 7th, 2009 – 10:12 PMBy Michael Russo
First, I’ll be on with shock jock Jim Souhan Sunday morning at 10:35 a.m. on KSTP, 1500-am.
Friday, I sat down with Wild owner Craig Leipold for a state-of-the-team article, which can be read here.
I appreciate the time with Mr. Leipold, who is a busy man, and I’d like to thank Bill Robertson for arranging it. As promised, here is the full Q&A with Mr. Leipold.
In addition, if you never got a chance to read my summertime profile on Mr. Leipold, here’s the story that ran in August. His personality shines in the story, and also, this would be a good read for you because he talks about his desire to acquire top free agents in Minnesota that would help lure other top players. For the below Q&A and accompanying article, my time was limited with Mr. Leipold and I neglected to ask him about upcoming free agency plans. This is a passionate fan and owner, one who allows his GM to spend to the salary-cap ceiling (actually a few million south only because that allows the Wild to have flexibility to make moves during the year).
Q: So how are ya?
A: “A lot of sleepless nights … because of the closeness of the race, because of the uniqueness of this season is, where not only is your game important, there are other games that are just as important. It sure makes for an interesting evening no matter if we’re playing or not.”
Q: When you sit in the crowd, do you get a sense of the fans angst, their nervousness, their displeasure some nights, especially in December?
A: “I don’t know why it seems like this year has been a very, very intense year. It seems more intense than any other year I’ve had and I think it is because of the tightness of the race. I like this team. I like it a lot. We are so close in the standings, anything can happen. Clearly, I think we can still end up in a pretty good spot and frankly, I would like to get home-ice advantage. I still want to win the division. I think this team can do it. Every night is important to get to that position of winning the division. For some reason, it just seems like it’s been an unusually difficult year.
Q: I know this is your first year, but do you think that has a lot to do with the fact that these fans have been around nine years, they’ve seen the same hierarchy for eight years and the reality is sometimes things grow old?
A: “I think the expectation level is high. I think it is for me, I think as a fan. My nervousness of watching the game is as a fan, truly not as an owner. I want to win like the ‘Team of 18,000’ wants to win this game. So I don’t know whether that’s part of it. Expectations were high. I think they should have been. And I think we’re still going to achieve an awful lot this year.”
Q: The fans are very concerned about Niklas Backstrom. Can you talk about that situation right now?
A: “No. It’s not my role to talk about it. Negotiations are going on. We like Nik Backstrom. He’s a great goalie in this league. We want to have him here. He wants to be here. Hopefully we’re going to work it out. That’s really all I know. I would hope that we could get Backstrom signed and I’d be surprised if we didn’t.”
Q: As an owner, if you can’t work it out, do you think even if you’re in the thick of a playoff race that to keep the direction moving forward that you might have to consider trading Backstrom?
A: “That’s Doug’s role and responsibility. He’ll do what is best for this franchise in the long-term, not just for the last 20 games. I think that’s the sign of a good general manager is that they do stuff for the long-term.”
Q: This team has lost players for nothing – Brian Rolston for a fourth, who knows what’s going to happen with Gaborik. It does seem like to keep the franchise moving in the right direction and accumulating assets that this is something you’d have to strongly consider if you can’t sign Nik?
A: “Yeah, but I think we always have to remember that the Gaborik issue is an injury issue. It was not a strategy or philosophy of how we ended up handling Gaborik. Our only intention was re-signing Gaborik. It is still our only intention. Unfortunately the injury caused everything to shut down. It’s our hope that we’ll still re-sign him. I think he’d like to play here. We’re not done yet.”
Q: So you really believe that there’s still a chance?
A: “I hope so. As a fan, I sure hope so.”
Q: Really?
A: “Yeah (laughing).”
Q: Can you talk about your philosophy with management and coaches in your career. You had one GM and coach in Nashville. Why no kneejerks firings? Why don’t you change the hierarchy in a league that changes coaches and managers like they’re changing their pants?
A: “First of all, I think my history that I have shows that I don’t get involved in player or coach decisions. And I feel real good about having earned that reputation. The fact is I don’t. I let Doug know really early on that if he asks me, I will give him my opinion. And if I ever thought that he would make his decision based on what my opinion is, I’ll stop giving it to him. And I would be very disappointed. I want to give him an opinion as a fan because he knows more than I’ll ever know about this game. And I’m not about to make decisions on players and coaches that he should be making.”
Q: Does he ask your opinion a lot?
A: “(Laughing). I don’t know what ‘a lot’ means. He doesn’t directly ask, but he talks and does ask, ‘What do you think about this, what do you think about that?’ I would not say he doesn’t ask my opinion a lot, but we do talk a lot.”
Q: So are you always up to date with what’s going on with a Backstrom, what’s going on with a Gaborik?
A: “Yeah, I’d say yes. The answer to that is yes. He is very open to what’s happening with the players, so I’m aware of that.”
Q: Expectations, what do you expect with this team?
A: “I would expect this team to make the playoffs.”
Q: Would you do anything if they didn’t?
A: “No. As every fan, I would be disappointed. I’m looking at this team on the ice right now and I look at where we are relative to what I would consider the seven or eight teams we’re competing with, and we’re better than those teams. It’s my hope that we make it. And I think Gaborik’s going to be back in the end. I think that’s going to help us. It’s going to give us a little bump. I like our position.”
Q: So Doug’s in this for the long haul no matter what. Doug’s job is safe?
A: “Oh yeah. Doug’s fine. This is his team. He’s built it. Let’s be real honest: It’s been disappointing that Gaborik’s been hurt. You see how close we are in this race. Gaborik by now would have been worth 25 goals and 50 points. How many games does that win us? And if the answer is just five games, that puts us ahead of our division right now. So, yeah.”
Q: What’s your theory on Jacques? Do you think he’ll retire after this season?
A: “I don’t know. I’ve never spoken to Jacques about it. He’s an icon in our business. And that’s between Jacques and Doug. I have no input on that. I don’t know what Jacques’ thinking is on that honestly.”
Q: As a fan, and I know Nashville plays almost the exact same style, but do you like the Wild’s defensive style? Would you like to see a more up-tempo game?
A: “I like it when we win. You know what? The issue with style, this is only about winning. The game we saw the other night against Anaheim, I thought was a great game. I thought we played super. Defensively, we played very, very well. And when we had the chance to score, we took it and we did it. And I love a team that can play that way. So, I like this style of game.”
Q: On the state of the league, how concerned is there league-wide that the cap could go significantly down in two seasons?
A: “First of all, I don’t know if it’s a concern. The players are obviously concerned about that. My only concern would be that means the revenue is going down. And I think that’s going to clearly happen. But with the cap going down, that means the teams that are more strategic … from a competitive and advantage standpoint, I think it helps us because we think strategically, we think long-term. It’s the other teams that don’t think that way that are probably going to be in trouble.”
Q: In your situation, are you guys confident that you’ll be able to sustain this economic downturn and continue selling out every night?
A: “We clearly recognize that these are very difficult economic times. We aren’t so brazen to believe that we aren’t going to be affected by this economic downturn. So we’re doing things that are selfishly we think good for us but also good for our fans. We want them to be able to afford tickets. We want them to be able to afford the playoff that we’re going to be in this year. So if we have to freeze our ticket prices, we’re more than OK with doing that. What we want to do is continue our league-leading sellout streak because so much of our revenue is dependent on people here to watch the games. We’ll do everything we can to ensure that happens. The steps we made last week were to help us help the fans afford coming to the games.”
Q: What’s the latest with the practice facility?
A: “We are in communication with the Mayor’s office of St. Paul and they have indicated their strong desire to build an ice-skating facility at the Seven Corners site over here, which is also called Cleveland Circle. And they’ve asking whether we would want to partner with them to be the official practice facility. We absolutely would. We’re encouraging them to do this. And we want to be part of that process. We’ve just begun the dialogue to try to get something built – not just hockey, but all ice skating as part of the entertainment quarter that we have in St. Paul.”
Q: Is there a timetable with that?
A: “Not that I’m aware of. Not at this point.”
Q: Lastly, how involved are you in trying to land an outdoor game?
A: “Our people are talking with the NHL. We absolutely believe that we’re going to get one. I think what we need to do is we’re trying to create a unique theme that this market will have – like Chicago had Wrigley Field, like New York has Yankee Stadium, like Boston has Fenway Park. What we’re known for is outdoor rinks. I’d love to have it someplace where you have all these rinks all around the stadium and doing a tournament outside. We are the State of Hockey and that’s our theme. And so when we’re going to be pitching this to the NHL, it’s all about the State of Hockey, not just what’s going on in the stadium, but all around these parking-lot rinks.”
Q: You’re a “Mystery Alaska” fan. Is it feasible to do a pond hockey-type game on a lake as long as you have a heated indoor press box, of course?
A: “Yeah. Yeah. Sure it is (laughing). But it’s got to be exhibition because you can’t build the facilities.”
35 Responses to "Q&A: My sitdown with Wild owner Craig Leipold"
Don’t get me wrong. Craig seems like a great guy. But was he drinking Kool-Aid during the interview? I hope he’s right about Backs. But he’s still hopeful about Gaby?!
It’s hard to understand the loyalty to Risebrough. With Gaborik being gone next year and the strong possibility that Backstrom will be gone. It will be necessary to have a rebuilding on some level. I for one don’t believe that Risebrough should be in charge of that, considering the lack of polished prospects in the system, the poor draft history after the first round, and the fact that when the team has had a chance to make a long playoff run, he has never made a deal to make them legitimate contenders. That’s just my opinion.
Wow, Sounds like Leipold thinks Gaborik is going to come back and cure all the Wilds problems. What team is he wathing? How about adding some players that work hard each shift !!!!
The one guy who could rid us all of this team’s biggest detriment is his biggest fan. WE ARE DOOMED!
Wow… I’m not sure what to think about this, Craig? At BEST, you are missing the obvious–stuck in a fantasy world. At WORST, you are lying right to Mr. Russo’s face.
Sounds like this mo fo leipold is as clueless as DR, and its time to say bye to my season tickets. no more thousands of dollars for this dip sh$# run club. Its just like skoula and lemaire-what the heck is going on here. Dont be stupid fans! dont contribute to this team.
After reading Leipold’s comments and as a charter season ticket holder, I will not be renewing my season tickets. The managment of this organization is a joke!
This is so disapointing. Yes, I like the Wild too as a team that “might” make the playoffs. I like many of the players, but come on…we generally lose to those “other teams” CL speaks about. He is happy with the team and his goal is to make the playoffs? That really sucks. If winning is the only criterion as he states,then I would hope he would have a mindset like us fans…get us a team that can at least give us the “hope” to win a cup. This team can give us no hope. Nice guys, play well 1/2 the time, and no chance to beat 3 teams from the east or west in a 7 game series. Sorry…ITS NOT GOOD ENOUGH, especially when its hard enough to afford $50-200 for a good ticket…then see 10 shots in a game. Pathetic. Give me hope or start changing Mggmt or Players.
“they’ve seen the same hierarchy for eight years and the reality is sometimes things grow old” ………Ouch!….Grow old?, wow that’s harsh, personal maybe?
But was he drinking Kool-Aid during the interview?
He’s not drinking it, he’s selling it.
Here we go again. How many times has someone claimed that they are now giving up their season tickets. Well, if you even have them, give them up. Someone else will likely take them. Sure it is a legitimate means of protest but do it–don’t just talk about it. As for me, frustrated though I am at times, I will still go–and boo as I did at the end of the Preds game but cheer when we do something well.
We either have an owner who is blissfully unaware, or doesn’t know what he is doing. He states that negotiations are ongoing to resign Backstop, yet Backstop states that no contact has been made. Is Ballgame negotiating with himself on this or is Backstop a flat-out liar? Then CL states he wants to resign Gabby and is working to get that accomplished, but yet Salcer states that no contact has been made and Russo pointed out in Sunday’s wrap that Salcer and Ballgame can’t even look each other in the eye. It’s no secret that Ballgame wouldn’t walk across the street to p!ss on Salcer if he was on fire. Honestly, I would rather have an owner be frank with the team of 18,000 than try to sell us on the “everything is going to be great” speil. I appreciate the owner’s optimism, but many folks who shell out the dollars to go to games are not simply meat with eyes. Many folks in Russoville are not ignorant to the game of hockey. We can see that the prospect list for this organization is slim to none in the farm system; there is no true goal scorer on the ice; the only thing consistent about the team’s play is it’s continued inconsistency; and the head coach, many of whom credit for being able to make the lineup as competitive as it has been, seems like he is one off-season away from skating off into the sunset. It also seems like Ballgame has a free pass for the coming future, which cannot be a good thing. Anyway, considering the team played like absolute sows on Friday night against the vaunted Predators, don’t be surprised if they beat the Grease this afternoon 4-1, only to turn around and lose 5-4 to the Snowflakes.
woodcock: agreed. Cough up the tickets and you get in back of a 7,500-person line. Nothing wrong with retaining them and selling them off to others who may not mind watching the gang fire 10 shots against a team that played the night before. Sooner or later, one would pray, the team will be ready to compete for a Cup so getting rid of the tickets doesn’t seem like a really wise move unless the financial strain is simply too much. But, it seems as though the team has made it easier to pay for them. It would simply come down to finding a buyer for the games you don’t wish to go to, which I have never had a problem with, even in these economically depressed times.
jefft says:
February 8th, 2009 at 7:36 am
This is so disapointing. Yes, I like the Wild too as a team that “might” make the playoffs. I like many of the players, but come on…we generally lose to those “other teams” CL speaks about. He is happy with the team and his goal is to make the playoffs? That really sucks. If winning is the only criterion as he states,then I would hope he would have a mindset like us fans…get us a team that can at least give us the “hope” to win a cup. This team can give us no hope. Nice guys, play well 1/2 the time, and no chance to beat 3 teams from the east or west in a 7 game series. Sorry…ITS NOT GOOD ENOUGH, especially when its hard enough to afford $50-200 for a good ticket…then see 10 shots in a game. Pathetic. Give me hope or start changing Mggmt or Players.
Jeff what a great post! I’m with you 100%. As a long time season ticket holder with the North Stars back in the 70’s/80’s I live & breathe hockey.
I’ve been through the good years & the bad years. The bottom line is i’m looking for a Stanley Cup. This B.S. that Craig Leipold throws out there just doesn’t do it for me! I heard him on Chad Hartman & it was the same old crap! Do you believe Craig Leipold or Niklas Backstrom when Backstrom says nothing is happening in talks. I know who I believe. Let’s rethink this team & make tough changes!
Deep Breath
Great 10:13 a.m. post! It’s right on the money!
What an underwhelming interview.
Not to knock you Rouse, but not a whole lot of new and informative stuff coming out of Leipold’s mouth.
I’m hoping we will not have to compare this guy (CL) to Glen Taylor?
Dan, I kinda see that as the point. In my head, I have this vision of Russo doing the interview and just salivating as every rosy word comes out of CL’s mouth, knowing how polar opposite the general fan sentiment is.
Hey Russo…. Great job on Souhan’s show.
You are (as always) being straight forward and at times brutally honest with this team. It’s a great blend between journalist and fan.
Keep up the great work!
Remember, folks…
First and foremost, Craig Leipold is a SALESMAN. He is selling hope, just like any good carnival barker does.
Dan, Ms. C, you’re both right. Nothing new came out of the Russo interview. I could guarantee that had anything cxome out of that interview, Billy Robertson would have quashed it in an instant.
Leipold’s focus is on the bottom line. It’s all about continuing to put butts in the seats, no matter what kind of product Smug and TooL produce.
Deep Breath: For your 10:13 post: +2 (would have been +3 had it not been one long paragraph.) If Salcer and Smug are not speaking, even when they are in the same area 8 feet apart, says volumes about how diametrically opposed each is to the other.
Summary of the above interview:
Don’t worry Wild fans, everything will be good in the coming months and years. We’re working diligently on signing talent and not giving guys away for nothing, but when that happens it’s not DR’s fault. That guy is doing a great job and will continue to do so. What is he doing exactly? I don’t know, I haven’t asked. But, like I said before, continuing buying tickets (we even lowered the prices) because this team will continue to produce wins in the years to come.
wow. the CL interview kind of irritates me. is he trying to sell his organization and put butts in the seats? yes. but, he just seems so out of touch with our(fans, STH’s, Russoville) opinions on this team and DR. my stomach is turning just thinking about DR is given a free pass not matter what happens, a free pass to run this team into the ground because he can’t seem to pull the trigger on certain deals, negotiations, etc. if he continues to ignore UFA contracts until July 1, that is exactly what is going to happen. and how childish is it that DR can’t even speak to salcer? he’s running a big time money making machine!
And i’ll leave JL out of this for now because i think he’ll do what he has to do given the players he has to work with.
And don’t forget if the salary cap is reduced DR will have another excuse for
his actions.
Only one thing to do here to FORCE change. Hit em where it hurts the most.
The wallet.
Drinks the kool aid? Are you kidding? he owns the Kool aid, of course he drinks it. P.s. I like the purple kind.
edubs, it’s always iron range red. there is no purple kool-aid here.
DR has something on the dip SH#$ that he gets a free pass. I see the attendance at every game going down.
Wow, why are people so pissy today?
It’s an interview. It wasn’t supposed to be hard-hitting journalism.
ATX…you always seem to find the half-full part of the glass. If nothing else, you are consistent.
I used to be that way about a franchise too. I used to tell everyone I knew what a great job they were doing and how we were always ‘So Close We Can Taste It’.
And then Norm took them to Dallas.
So, if I seem just a wee bit cynical, it’s ‘cuz I don’t trust big money people.
Sure it’s easier to pay for your season tix with the changes. But they collect a LOT more money sooner. Just think of the extra ‘float’ they’re earning off the money collected in March, April and May.
And, why shouldn’t they? We’re all SO grateful that the NHL is back that we’ll just sit here and take it.
And THEY know it.
Fair enough kj, but no one is forcing you to spend your money on the team. Just sit at home and watch them on TV for free. 
I don’t think the franchise is perfect by any means. But I try and keep a positive outlook because it is more fun that way. I get disenchanted every once in awhile and I get angry with the effort of the team from time to time… but overall I enjoy watching the team and I have no problem with DR, CL, or JL.
I just don’t see why people like to give Russo a hard time about this interview not having any substance to it. He can’t force CL to say anything worthwhile.
The play of the team this year is a direct reflection of the coach.
The talent in the organization is a direct reflection of management.
The direction of the franchise is a reflection of ownership.
I know people here don’t care if you’re a season tix holder or not. But, this year, given the economic times, the state of the franchise, I will not be purchasing playoff tix, and I will wait to the very last moment to decide if I pay for next year.
All of us as fans of our team (remember the banner the first in the rafters of the X) can now only speak our opinions in one manner. With our hard earned money.
Its clear now CL doesn’t know much. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt last summer when he was clearly ignorant to the fan knowledge of hockey and its team. Whatever he’s smoking, or selling, clearly is different from what I’m watching.
im not sure y’all were expecting him to say. this is how CL has been from day one yet there seems to be shock.
G*, i just think it’s a shock to find out how he says he’s the #1 fan, which we all knew, but he’s so out of touch with the rest of us…feelings toward the team, toward DR and his ‘issues’ in not being able to resolve contract. but it’s not like we can do anything about it anyway. our opinions don’t matter to them. we just put money in their pockets.
Wow, way to alienate yourself from one of the most loyal fan bases in hockey Mr. Leipold. I guess it just goes to show that money can buy you a lot of things but it can’t buy you hockey sense. I’ve lived in Minnesota for over 20 yrs now and this is the first year I have not shelled out big bucks to see the boys play (other than the years no team was here). And after that interview I don’t see much hope that I will be going to any games any time soon. I truely feel for the season ticket holders, shelling out thousands of dollars year after year to help support Doug’s habit and now he’s got leipold smoking the same stuff. If you were Lemaire would you want to keep coaching here? Knowing he’s not going to get any help from the front office?
The problem with keeping your season tickets and selling them for every game is that it sends the message that YOU are satisfied with the way this franchise is being run, because its your name on the renewel bill. Don’t be so sure that the fans in line are gonna hop on those tickets with the economic pinch and the poor product management is satisfied with on the ice.
I have come to the conclusion that Craig Leipold is a complete moron.
