Then Leiweke recalled getting to see, first-hand, Brown play while both were part of the Tampa Bay Lightning organization (Leiweke in charge and Brown fitting into the roster).
"His story is so inspiring, growing up a kid whose dad [then a Minnesota Vikings running back], said, hey, play [football]. But JT chose hockey instead and won a national championship. He was the player of the tournament and fought his way to the NHL."
Olczyk was audibly chuckling watching his newest boss, Leiweke, leave the Zoom screen to reappear with Forslund and Brown smiling and seated in front of the CEO's lean-in. After some weeks of finalizing Olczyk's commitments to Turner Sports as TNT analyst for national games along with Kraken duties, that bit of comic relief was appropriate.
"[The Olczyk announcement] shows our ownership's commitment to building out a world-class franchise," said Leiweke. "We've had a prolific summer. We've added coaches. We're thrilled with our draft. We're thrilled with free agency and trades. This is what it was supposed to be with this franchise. We will never rest ... never stop trying to grow, never stop the pursuit of being the best. Today is another great step forward. Welcome, Eddie, my friend, for a heck of ride together."
"For me, I know I have to build respect and trust from the fans," said Olczyk. "John talks about that trust with the fan base and be able to teach the game ... and we will entertain the fans I can tell you that."
Forslund said, Olczyk, his long-time partner on national telecasts for NBC and, before that, Versus, is equally if not more gifted as a team broadcaster who can be "on the journey with fans over 82 games." He said he and Brown were "overjoyed" to have Olczyk be part of the new season and beyond, pointing out that Brown and his recent seven NHL seasons builds a bridge from Olczyk's playing days. "JT has played against a lot of these players," agreed Olczyk.
For his part, Brown was smiling as much as Forslund and Olczyk (who was most of all grateful).
"Especially going into my second year [as a broadcaster], I'm always trying to get better," said Brown. "I try to learn, whether it's watching practice or re-watching games. Or to [now] be able to sit down and talk with 'Edzo,' to pick his brain on certain situations or things that I see.
"I do it with John as well ... just having another person who is at the top of their craft and be able to talk or whether it's looking at how they do their notes, how do they prepare a game? Little things like that I can pick up on, maybe make a little modification that fits myself better.
Olczyk said he wouldn't have joined the Kraken without a heart-to-heart-to-heart phone call with Forslund and Brown. He said he wants to be "one of the guys and not THE guy." He allowed he doesn't yet know his national schedule but a best guess is he works a "high 40s, low 50s" range of Kraken games on ROOT SPORTS in the 82-game regular-season schedule.
"We've had a lot of dreams here," said Leiweke, embracing the final words of the Zoom call that is just the start of much fan entertainment to come. "This is another day of a dream coming true, adding Eddie [to build out the best local broadcast in the NHL. ...We're pretty good builders. Having Eddie join us is just awesome. But one of the great things that came out of this was the evidence of a great friendship [and first-season chemistry] between John Forslund and JT Brown. It's just been a fantastic thing to see these two guys. They truly have love and affection for one another."
