After nearly three decades, how?s it feel starting a new job?
Tim Speltz: It?s going to be different in a lot of ways. It?s interesting. Lou Lamoriello, when he presented the job opportunity to me, said, ?you?re not looking for a change, you don?t think you need a change, but believe me because I?ve been through it ? you?ll be better with a change. It will be challenging, and it will be very invigorating and rewarding.? So far it has been exciting. I?m definitely looking forward to it. I can honestly say that I wasn?t thinking a month ago that I was going to be doing anything but [be the Chiefs? GM]. I was 100% satisfied, but when the opportunity was presented to me, it was exciting. Probably just as exciting was the support and enthusiasm from my family and also the Chiefs organization led by Bobby Brett. That was special, and it made it a lot easier for me to feel that this was the right thing to do.
I know that you?ve had chances and turned them down to do other things. Why this chance? Why now? Why did you say yes this time?
Speltz: Honestly, and I?m not trying to downplay anything, but let?s clarify the other chances. The other chances were to throw your hat in the ring to be a candidate. Rightly or wrongly, I honestly believed that the job I had was a very, very special job. It was a job that I revered very highly and respected very much. I really felt that I didn?t want to look for another job and I wasn?t interested in being another candidate. Maybe that was my insecurity. I didn?t need Bobby Brett thinking I was looking or to let the organization down that way. I just looked at it, I didn?t think anything was right, and I was never looking for a job. Maybe the best opportunity I would?ve had was in 2008 after we won the Memorial Cup. I had a team contact me about an opportunity and I said, ?yes, I would be interested in being a candidate, but I want you to know that, if I do get offered the job, I still might not take it. I?m very satisfied with what I?m doing and where I?m at.? I wanted to be honest. NHL teams aren?t interested in you saying no to their jobs. I was no longer a candidate, which I understood totally. It would be no different if I was trying to hire someone here and they said, ?yeah, I?d interview, but if I got the job I still might say no.? I probably wouldn?t have any interest. But that?s how much respect and how much regard I had for this opportunity.
This one, they came and offered me the job. It was the Toronto Maple Leafs, it was Mark Hunter, it was Lou Lamoriello, with the support and endorsement from Mike Babcock. I think the interesting thing is Mark came first and then he went to Mike. I got a strong endorsement there. This just seemed different, this just seemed special; once in the lifetime. As Bobby so eloquently put it, ?if you don?t take this, you?re an idiot. What job are you waiting for?? That put it into perspective a little bit as well.
