Savard Fired

[KaniacFever]

Am I the only shocked one?

Despite a 4-1 win over the Phoenix Coyotes on Wednesday, Denis Savard's tenure as the coach of the Chicago Blackhawks has come to an end.

The Blackhawks made the move to let their coach of three years go, after the club got off to a slow 1-2-1 start.

Expectations are high in Chicago this season. The club added free agent defenceman Brian Campbell, and free agent goaltender Cristobal Huet in the off-season to add to the core group of Martin Havlat, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.

Sources say former Avalanche and Blues coach Joel Quenneville will take over behind the bench.

In 147 games as Blackhawks coach, Savard posted a 65-66-16 record.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=252791&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_main

[corylav]

holy crap ...

[caneshockeychick]

Wow!!!

Didn't I just read somewhere ( I think it was The Hockey News) that Joel Quenneville was arrested on suspicion of DUI in Denver? And his hearing is sometime this month?

[PennsylvaniaCanesFan]

^ That is correct.

I know expectations are high in Chi town, but firing the coach after only 4 games? This is still a young and developing team. I didn't think they were ready for a deep run yet. Playoffs, yes.

[Captain Slack]

I figured this was coming, but I'm shocked it happened so quickly. Figured he'd have at least made it through the month of October.

Quenneville is a good choice to replace him, DUI or not. He's been successful everywhere he's been & given the roster he has in Chi-town he should be successful again.

[puck_it]

im rather surprised...

[Jay]

My fan, a Chicago fan, absolutely called this last night. He said "You wait, in less than a month Savvy will be gone and Quientinville (sp?) will be in"...

I told him that Chicago deserved John Torts, haha

[SoCalcaniac]

Am I the only shocked one?

Completely stunned- I just got out of a meeting and saw this- then heard them talking about it with Panger on XM. Panger sounded a bit shellshocked. Unfreakingbelieveable.

Savard was doing a great job in CHI. He had to deal with alot and that's just a daggone shame. Pretty obvious they had a plan in play and they did what they did.

[puck_it]

LouLamorellosis

[KaniacFever]

After listening to everyone's response on XM the rest of the afternoon, it sure sounded like this was their plan for awhile. So if that's the case, why in the hell didn't they just do it over the summer. New management came in so would it have been that much to give Savard some respect and say "you know, we have a different plan, going a different direction and you aren't part of it". That org just lost some respect from me. Here I thought they were doing some really good things, then they go and do this.

Well I'm sure Savard won't be the last coach fired this year and whatever team grabs him will be damn lucky.

[SoCalcaniac]

Yeah 59, I had been hearing things about the lack of extension and all this stuff in the background, I just didn't expect they'd do the guy like this. It's a damn shame really.

I was rooting hard for the Hawks to make that turn into the 21st century after Mr. Wirtz died, and they got going with the TV deal at the end of last year, and the buzz and hoopla and all that stuff coming into this year, but Savard, is a "lifelong" Blackhawk, was the good soldier, paid his dues as an assistant coach before getting the gig three years ago; and frankly he seemed to be real good with all these young kids.

My take on it was when they hired Scotty Bowman over the summer, Savard's days were numbered. They are going to bow to Scotty and he's earned all that respect, but I'm with all the people who were saying what purpose did it serve to let him coach 4 games and then fire him? and Joel Quennville? He doesn't impress me. They might as well have brought Pat Quinn out of the cob webs.

The Hawks are one of my favorite West teams- they're ones to watch, I'm very much enamored with the Towes/Kane duo, and all those young kiddies over there including Ladd, who really has looked great for them. I'm very disappointed on how this went down; and wow is Savard a classy guy- I missed him on NHL Live, which was on at Noon EST/11 CT, and he had just been fired, what a couple hours prior? They replayed it on In the Slot, and he was so dignified, disappointed, but grateful for the opportunity.

59 is right, someone will snatch him up somewhere. I feel bad that when the Hawks do get back into the playoff hunt, someone else will get the glory- when it was Savard who laid the groundwork for their success. This would be the part of hockey/sports in general that stinks.

[Convert]

I'm wondering about the organization now too. they did a lot of good things last year, but seem to be doing their best to go from "more fan friendly" to "talking out of both sides of their mouths".

This firing is one example---as was said--if this is the plan, do it early.

Another example - Kevyn Adams. In all his summer interviews, Kevyn talked like he had a commitment from the organization to sign him once they had cap room. Well, they had enough after the Lang trade. And then they released him at the end of camp.

What if Kevyn chose to not focus on any other options because he wanted to be part of the Blackhawks and work with guys like Toews and Kane as they continue to mature--based on a commitment from an organization.

Yes, hockey's a business, but it seems like the new mgmt is going beyond business decisions to just treat people wrong. First Kevyn (yes, some of this is conjecture) now Savard.

The feel good story of the Blackhawks resurgence doesn't feel so good anymore.

[livinthedream]

Wow, I don't follow the Hawks as closely as some of you do, but to fire a guy only four games into the season is just bizarre.

[SoCalcaniac]

So I'm listening to the presser from CHI - after they canned Savard. What a freaking crock. Someone tell me when Dale Tallon's gig is up? He's made some serious blunders and continues to still have the job- including the current 10 million dollars tied up in two-goalies.

The new Hawks prez, John Mcdonough and Tallon are talking about how "it's never a good time" and did a better job than the politicians of dodging the "Why now" quesiton from the CHI media.

Tallon: "We're trying to be positive and not look in the past" (when asked what the reasoning is for canning him)

He just fired Savard, it wasn't 10 years ago, why can't you answer that simple question. A day later, this still stinks. I mean stinks worse than a skunk.

Convert- I completely agree with your post. The whole KAds thing, was bad when it happened the way it did, and now you kinda say - it's just not cool.

Oh, and this'll be fantastic- my "favorite" little weasel/talking head Pierre Maguire will be on live with the 204 guys in a few minutes; apparently to enlighten us on this. Oh this should be a doozy.

[livinthedream]

I saw this posted on another board, isn't it odd how things can change so much in just three weeks?

http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/darren_dreger/?id=250762

DREGER: QUENNEVILLE FINDS SPOT WITH BLACKHAWKS
DARREN DREGER
9/26/2008 10:44:05 AM

The Chicago Blackhawks are once again an organization players want to play for and coaches and managers want to work for.

The most recent example finds Joel Quenneville hired as a pro scout.

The former Colorado Avalanche head coach will spend most of his time keeping tabs on college hockey, primarily the Univeristy of Denver and Colorado College, both close to Quenneville's home.

With Scotty Bowman hired by Chicago this summer to act as a Senior Advisor, Quenneville's addition brings another respected hockey mind into the Blackhawks organization, although some see his new part-time job as a nice insurance policy for Chicago in the event the team struggles and a coaching change is required.

If the Blackhawks lose four out of five games, will Denis Savard be looking over his shoulder?

Hawks general manager Dale Tallon scoffs at the suggestion.

"That's not it at all," Tallon told TSN.

"That's not why we brought him in. Joel is here to help me more than anything," Tallon added.

Tallon says Quenneville and Savard have talked and there are no issues or concerns.

Tallon is far more focused on the promise he sees in his team and the excitement that continues to build in Chicago.

The Blackhawks have sold roughly 14,000 season tickets, compared to approximately 3,500 last year.

On Tuesday, just under 19,000 fans paid to watch the Blackhawks and the Columbus Blue Jackets in an exhibition game. A number Tallon jokingly points out may have taken four games to hit in the preseason last year.

There's excitement in Chicago, but there's also expectation.

Ownership and the Blackhawks fan base see the promise, however staying patient and allowing this young team to grow under current management and the existing coaching staff may be Chicago's toughest challenge.