Craig Custance
@CraigCustance
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Head of Creative Development at @TheAthletic. Author of The Franchise: The Business of Building Winning Teams (Oct 15. release) Formerly @ESPN.
Detroit, MI
Joined January 2009
I love this time of year. Draft. UFAs. Trades. So it was really fun to spend the last 3 years behind the scenes with GMs, owners & others in the NHL to get strategies on team building & leadership for this book. Oct. release. Preorder links below. Huge thanks to all who helped.
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This is always such a fun read from Dom. Went behind-the-scenes with the front office of No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 6 and No. 9, among others while reporting The Franchise:
amazon.com
Why do some franchises consistently win, while others may never get to see their players’ names etched on the Cup? Why do some teams draft poorly and others draft all-star teams? Why do some teams...
From Florida to Buffalo, my annual look at how confident fans are with each team's front office.
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RT @DMRussini: Mike Vrabel’s attention to detail extends to being the unofficial parking lot police 🤣. My conversation with the Patriots’ h….
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RT @LGRWProspects: Some really good discussions in this. I’m sure everyone will be rational about it. #LGRW.
open.spotify.com
The Athletic Hockey Show · Episode
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Thanks Glen! . For anyone else looking for a read at the lake:
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RT @domluszczyszyn: From Jack Hughes to Tim Stützle, my annual look at the 10 best contracts in hockey. https://t.c….
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RT @seangentille: We’re at the courthouse in London, Ont., where verdicts are expected in the Hockey Canada trial. Our live updates are he….
nytimes.com
All five members of Canada's 2018 World Junior hockey team have been found not guilty of sexual assault
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Tack så mycket! Appreciate you reading and sharing, David!.
Unika inblickar bakom kulisserna inom sportens absoluta elitnivå. Spännande möten med de allra bästa NHL-ledarna som delar med sig av hur de byggt riktigt framgångsrika organisationer. Rekommenderas starkt – även för de som inte är superintresserade av just 🏒! 👏 📕 #nhlse
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Thank you Rob! Really appreciate that! For anyone looking for a summer read, The Franchise is 20 percent off here:
amazon.com
Why do some franchises consistently win, while others may never get to see their players’ names etched on the Cup? Why do some teams draft poorly and others draft all-star teams? Why do some teams...
@CraigCustance just finished your Teams book. One of the best sports (and business) books I've read. Thank you.
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RT @seangentille: 🎙️NEW TAHS with McIndoe and Corrado🎙️. - Yesterday was boring. Who won and who lost? What'll it mean moving forward?.- Di….
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The day after 121 deals were made, and $672 million was spent, Gentille, McIndoe and Frankie Corrado take a look at the winners and losers of NHL Free Agency 2025. The guys wonder where Nikolaj Ehl...
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RT @PierreVLeBrun: Hockey insider Bob McKenzie retires after 48 years: A tribute from those he inspired. From @TheAthletic ⤵️ https://t.c….
nytimes.com
In a flurry of free-agency moves on July 1, it was the deal that was — in McKenzie's own words — "one for none" that stole the show.
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RT @m_bultman: Our annual Athletic Hockey Show mock draft with @coreypronman, @scottcwheeler and @chrismpeters is live. Here it is in full….
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The 2025 NHL Draft is now just one week away and on today’s Prospect Series episode, the guys make all 32 first round selections, projecting where the game’s top prospects could actually end up...
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RT @RussoHockey: U.S. Olympic hockey: Projecting the men’s First 6, stock watch on the rest of the roster . My piece .
nytimes.com
Adam Fox's struggles at 4 Nations and in the 2024-25 NHL season opens a spot in the "First Six" ahead of those initial roster announcements.
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RT @m_bultman: New @TheAthleticNHL Show Prospect Series with @coreypronman and @scottcwheeler, talking final draft rankings, the difference….
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Max, Corey, and Scott discuss Corey’s annual NHL Draft Confidential piece where league evaluators give their thoughts on this year’s prospects. Plus, the guys talk about their final draft ranki...
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RT @RussoHockey: Nate Schmidt ‘found his fun again’ with Panthers en route to sensational playoffs run . The veteran defenseman turned down….
nytimes.com
It took a while for Schmidt to fully get settled in Florida, but he looks like a new player on the ice.
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RT @scottcwheeler: New: 2025 NHL Mock Draft 2.0 at @TheAthletic!. Here’s where I think everything stands after the Combine. Packed with n….
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RT @JasonPeattie: @CraigCustance @SimonSchusterCA @CraigCustance just finished your book recently and really enjoyed it. Thanks for the st….
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RT @thatgonzalez: Really interesting piece coming out of @TheAthletic’s Peak group. @CraigCustance, @JaysonJenks and their team are d….
nytimes.com
Dwayne Washington was a teacher at St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School, where Gilgeous-Alexander attended, and also his club coach.
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RT @scottcwheeler: A really fun The Athletic Hockey Show today. @coreypronman, @chrismpeters, @m_bultman and I built a joint top 10 list f….
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What’s it like inside an NHL Draft scouting meeting? On today’s special edition of the Prospect Series, the guys work to construct a consensus NHL Draft top 10 list, having the kinds of debates...
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RT @SportsSturm: Knocked this one out for No 12 in 2025. Loved it. Great chapter on Jim Nill that will make you love him even more. Strong….
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RT @nytimes: From @TheAthletic: The stereotype of the “angry Black man” or “angry Black woman” is very real. Which is why Draymond Green's….
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