from Frank Seravalli of TSN,

TSN: What's the secret to gaining that trust from sources, to get that information that you're not supposed to be getting?

McKenzie: "There's no secret, really. Anyone who is a reporter knows the importance of building relationships with people. The longer you're around, then the more people tend to trust you. I feel like in some situations, people will tell you something and say, 'But I don't want that out there.' And if you don't put it out there, they will begin to trust you.

"Now, some newspaper people would argue that you've always got to put it out there. I would argue you've got to sacrifice small fish for big fish, so you can prove that you're trustworthy. Down the road, you're going to understand more and get more.

"But I think it's mostly a function of just being around for a long time and growing up in the business with people. A lot of people who became executives or general managers in the NHL are guys who we all grew up together in the game - scouts, ex-players and whatever else.

"The other thing is, it runs in fits and starts, that people like to talk hockey. They like to gossip, they like to see what's going on. It's human nature to say, 'Hey, this is going on here, or that's going on there,' and take it from there."

much more