EP 24 Building it Back up with Keith Jones

Neil Smith and Vic Morren are joined by Philadelphia Flyers’ President of Hockey Operations, Keith Jones, and championship team-building expert, Lee Elias, to discuss team building and culture in the NHL. Jones shares his experiences with the Flyers and emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive team culture. The episode also features insights from Lee Elias, CEO of Hockey Wraparound, on the significance of team dynamics and leadership. The hosts explore how effective team building and thoughtful management strategies can lead to success in the NHL.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:37] Hosts Catch Up on Summer Activities
[01:22] Interview with Keith Jones of the Philadelphia Flyers
[03:29] Keith Jones on Becoming a Grandfather
[04:51] Challenges and Strategies for the Flyers
[08:14] Expectations for Matvei Michkov
[12:30] Flyers’ Goaltending Situation
[17:59] Keith Jones’ Broadcasting Career and Advice
[20:29] Introduction to Lee Elias Game 7 Group
[29:19] Collaborative Leadership in Hockey Operations
[29:40] Building a Competitive Team Without Hitting Rock Bottom
[30:05] The Importance of Communication and Analytics
[31:16] Recognizing and Balancing Noise vs. News
[32:06] Identifying Red Flags and Key Indicators in Team Culture
[32:43] The Role of Leadership in Building Team Culture
[36:16] The Impact of Ownership on Team Culture
[39:42] Youth Hockey and Emphasizing Team and Culture Building
[43:33] Philadelphia Sports Fans
[50:48] Building a Stanley Cup Winning Team

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Keith Jones emphasizes the importance of working closely with all members of the team, from the coaching staff to the players, ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard in the decision-making process.
Both Keith and Lee stress that a winning culture is a living entity that needs constant attention. Success in professional sports often starts with a strong, positive culture that resonates throughout the organization.
Keith highlights how crucial it is to develop not just skilled hockey players, but also strong, well-rounded individuals, starting from youth hockey programs.
The discussion touches on the demanding yet passionate nature of Philadelphia sports fans and how their expectations influence the way the Flyers operate.

RESOURCE LINKS
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBj1LV0-DMfBhcRPSJZLjA
X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound
Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil
Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/
NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/
NHL Wraparound Tik Tok:https://www.tiktok.com/@nhlwraparound
NHL Wraparound Facebook::https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555451139787

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GAME 7 GROUP- www.gamesevengroup.com/nhlwraparound
At Game Seven Group, we specialize in transforming individuals into cohesive teams through our team-building events, coaching, and speaking. We believe every team has the potential to achieve extraordinary results.

BIO:
Keith Jones is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He was a hockey studio analyst for NBC/NBCSN from 2005–2021 and TNT from 2021-2023. He currently works as the President of Hockey Operations for the Philadelphia Flyers. In 491 NHL games, Jones produced a total of 258 points between 1992 and 2000

Lee M.J. Elias is a championship coach who has worked at the international, professional, collegiate, and youth levels. He is an award-winning author, podcast host, and speaker and is the founder and CEO of Hockey Wraparound and Game Seven Group. Lee is passionate about his mission to turn individuals into teams through his coaching, speaking, and consulting work.