08-09' Blackhawks (46-24-12) 104 PTS - 4th Seed In The West!

[jersey cubs fan]

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/10/hawks-fire-head-coach-savard.html

 

The Chicago Blackhawks, one day after winning their first game of the season after three straight losses, have fired head coach Denis Savard and replaced him with Joel Quenneville, a veteran head coach who has previously coached the St. Louis Blues and

Colorado Avalanche.

 

"This was an extremely hard day for this organization and for me personally," Blackhawks General Manager Dale Tallon said in a release from the team. "Denis is forever a part of our organization. We made a tough decision that we strongly feel is the right one as we continue to evaluate our team and create a championship caliber organization that can sustain success. Joel brings us a wealth of experience and a winning track record that will have an immediate and lasting impact."

 

The 50-year-old Quenneville, the 37th coach in Blackhawk history, has a 438-283-118 record in his 11 years as an NHL head coach. Ten of his 11 teams made the playoffs; the best of those was the 2000-01 Blues, who lost in the conference finals. His last job was as the head coach of the Avalanche last season; that team finished 44-31-7 and lost in the second round of the playoffs.

[Drew Doughty]

a lot of my avs fans friends hated joel quenneville.

 

strange timing on the firing.

[Cynosure]

I am glad he's gone.

[rchap24]

I am glad he's gone.

 

Why? what he do wrong?

[Cynosure]

I am glad he's gone.

 

Why? what he do wrong?

 

Did you see how terrible he made the lines the first 3 games?

[jersey cubs fan]

I am glad he's gone.

 

Why? what he do wrong?

 

Did you see how terrible he made the lines the first 3 games?

 

I know nothing of hockey strategy or what makes a good coach. My feeling when he was hired was that they hired the name to appeal to fans emotions more so than hiring a coach. I get the feeling there isn't a team in the league dying to hire him and he was only the Blackhawks coach because he used to be a Blackhawk (similar to Tallon).

[Soul]

Should have done this in the offseason if they're going to do it at all, IMHO.

 

I'm guessing part of Savard's "evaluation" was whether he would have what McDonough considers a playoff-calibre team off to a fast start or not. I can't imagine Tallon will last much longer.

[RedFlash]

Should have done this in the offseason if they're going to do it at all, IMHO.

 

I'm guessing part of Savard's "evaluation" was whether he would have what McDonough considers a playoff-calibre team off to a fast start or not. I can't imagine Tallon will last much longer.

 

Tallon won't be here if the team doesn't improve quickly. I am surprise Tallon wasn't fired first, only because he's the one that signed two average goalies to above average contracts, traded a solid 2nd line centre and had to send down a young talented DMan to "clear cap" to fit Huet and Habby into the salary cap. The Hawks are still an immensely talented team, but it was Tallon he put the Hawks behind, not Savard. Look Savard isn't a great caoch, but for the org to "scapegoat" a Hawks legend like they just did reminds alot of the olds days of Wirtz/Pulford.

 

If the Hawks don' turned it around then Tallon will be gone.

[UMFan83]

I am glad he's gone.

 

Why? what he do wrong?

 

From someone who isn't a diehard hockey fan, I always thought his teams played better than his predecessor Trent Yawney. When he took over the team immediately played better IIRC. He got a young team that was carried by 2 rookies within 3 points on the playoffs last year. Certainly he deserved a better fate than what he got based on that. Makes me believe that he was not the coach that McDonough wanted.

[rchap24]

I am glad he's gone.

 

Why? what he do wrong?

 

Did you see how terrible he made the lines the first 3 games?

 

It was 3 games?

[Soul]

Should have done this in the offseason if they're going to do it at all, IMHO.

 

I'm guessing part of Savard's "evaluation" was whether he would have what McDonough considers a playoff-calibre team off to a fast start or not. I can't imagine Tallon will last much longer.

 

Tallon won't be here if the team doesn't improve quickly. I am surprise Tallon wasn't fired first, only because he's the one that signed two average goalies to above average contracts, traded a solid 2nd line centre and had to send down a young talented DMan to "clear cap" to fit Huet and Habby into the salary cap. The Hawks are still an immensely talented team, but it was Tallon he put the Hawks behind, not Savard. Look Savard isn't a great caoch, but for the org to "scapegoat" a Hawks legend like they just did reminds alot of the olds days of Wirtz/Pulford.

 

If the Hawks don' turned it around then Tallon will be gone.

 

I don't think it's really scapegoating, provided it is in the context of other personnel moves/firings. I think Tallon needs to go, and it would seem to me his head is on the chopping block. If not, then I would more tend to agree with you.

 

Heck, Bowman would make a better GM out of the box anyway, right?

[Cynosure]

I am glad he's gone.

 

Why? what he do wrong?

 

Did you see how terrible he made the lines the first 3 games?

 

It was 3 games?

 

And completely stupid line management.

[rchap24]

I am glad he's gone.

 

Why? what he do wrong?

 

Did you see how terrible he made the lines the first 3 games?

 

It was 3 games?

 

And completely stupid line management.

 

you would fire someone after 3 games? Football I'd understand because there season is way shorter, but hockey? really?

[YearofDaCubs]

Savard is gone. Is Quennville going to be a good coach though?

[Flames24Rulz]

I am glad he's gone.

 

Why? what he do wrong?

 

Did you see how terrible he made the lines the first 3 games?

 

It was 3 games?

 

And completely stupid line management.

 

Uh, did you really think it was completely stupid line managment before they actually lost those games? You were the one that was pleased with a 4-2 loss to the Rangers.

 

The timing was weird, but I wasn't really all that impressed with Savard. My biggest problem with him was that the Hawks (for the past year and half since I've really started watching) have always played real conservative with leads, especially in the 3rd period. If you're leading in the 3rd period, sure you expect to be outshot in the final frame. But there were some games where the opposing team outshot us by something ridiculous like a 4 or even a 5 to 1 margin. We lost the Capitals game and the Predators game because of being too conservative. That has to change.

 

There's no question the talent is there this year to be a top team in the West. I think Tallon made this move because he knows he has to change something to keep his job because right now, he's on the hot seat.

[Flames24Rulz]

Savard has been fired.

 

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3646685

 

Wow? That's really really weird. Not that he was fired, but 4 games into the season. I don't think this is a good move. This will put more pressure on a young team.

 

Hawks fans who no more about hockey than me (which is most of them) seem to think that this is a planned move to end up with Scotty Bowman as GM and Joe Quenneville (sp?) as head coach. GM Dale Tallon has the sword of Damocles hanging over his head.

 

Weird, weird, weird.

 

Yeah, that's exactly what my lone hockey friend down here said as well.

[Soul]

Savard is gone. Is Quennville going to be a good coach though?

 

I have no idea whatever.

[Wilson A2000]

Should have done this in the offseason if they're going to do it at all, IMHO.

 

I'm guessing part of Savard's "evaluation" was whether he would have what McDonough considers a playoff-calibre team off to a fast start or not. I can't imagine Tallon will last much longer.

 

Tallon won't be here if the team doesn't improve quickly. I am surprise Tallon wasn't fired first, only because he's the one that signed two average goalies to above average contracts, traded a solid 2nd line centre and had to send down a young talented DMan to "clear cap" to fit Huet and Habby into the salary cap. The Hawks are still an immensely talented team, but it was Tallon he put the Hawks behind, not Savard. Look Savard isn't a great caoch, but for the org to "scapegoat" a Hawks legend like they just did reminds alot of the olds days of Wirtz/Pulford.

 

If the Hawks don' turned it around then Tallon will be gone.

 

When the Hawks signed Khabi he was not average. Hadn't he just won the Stanley Cup and had a great season? Huet was one of the best goalies last year wasn't he?

[YearofDaCubs]

Should have done this in the offseason if they're going to do it at all, IMHO.

 

I'm guessing part of Savard's "evaluation" was whether he would have what McDonough considers a playoff-calibre team off to a fast start or not. I can't imagine Tallon will last much longer.

 

Tallon won't be here if the team doesn't improve quickly. I am surprise Tallon wasn't fired first, only because he's the one that signed two average goalies to above average contracts, traded a solid 2nd line centre and had to send down a young talented DMan to "clear cap" to fit Huet and Habby into the salary cap. The Hawks are still an immensely talented team, but it was Tallon he put the Hawks behind, not Savard. Look Savard isn't a great caoch, but for the org to "scapegoat" a Hawks legend like they just did reminds alot of the olds days of Wirtz/Pulford.

 

If the Hawks don' turned it around then Tallon will be gone.

 

When the Hawks signed Khabi he was not average. Hadn't he just won the Stanley Cup and had a great season? Huet was one of the best goalies last year wasn't he?

Both goalies were good for a short period of time. There's no ways around it both signings were bad.

[jaydee]

how can you call the huet signing bad? he has played a few games. it is not like the guy suddenly got terrible in 4 months. he was fine, he just got bunched for price b/c montreal fans have no grasp on reality and thought price was the next patrick roy.

 

savard was a pretty bad coach. his powerplays always underachieved. i have never seen a man be able to do less with more on the pp than him.

 

and lang was terrible. give it a rest.

[Drew Doughty]

Should have done this in the offseason if they're going to do it at all, IMHO.

 

I'm guessing part of Savard's "evaluation" was whether he would have what McDonough considers a playoff-calibre team off to a fast start or not. I can't imagine Tallon will last much longer.

 

Tallon won't be here if the team doesn't improve quickly. I am surprise Tallon wasn't fired first, only because he's the one that signed two average goalies to above average contracts, traded a solid 2nd line centre and had to send down a young talented DMan to "clear cap" to fit Huet and Habby into the salary cap. The Hawks are still an immensely talented team, but it was Tallon he put the Hawks behind, not Savard. Look Savard isn't a great caoch, but for the org to "scapegoat" a Hawks legend like they just did reminds alot of the olds days of Wirtz/Pulford.

 

If the Hawks don' turned it around then Tallon will be gone.

 

When the Hawks signed Khabi he was not average. Hadn't he just won the Stanley Cup and had a great season? Huet was one of the best goalies last year wasn't he?

Both goalies were good for a short period of time. There's no ways around it both signings were bad.

 

huet has been very good for the last 2 years. i don't see how that's a bad signing (the only argument is that you already have a 5m+ goalie, but if he's not good enough you have to do something else). khabi had a good playoff run in 03-04, but he's always been known as an underachiever.

[NewUserName]

 

There's no question the talent is there this year to be a top team in the West.

 

I strongly disagree with this. I think the talent is there for them to make the playoffs in the West. They are not a top team though.

[Cynosure]

 

There's no question the talent is there this year to be a top team in the West.

 

I strongly disagree with this. I think the talent is there for them to make the playoffs in the West. They are not a top team though.

 

The Wings are STILL the best team in the west.

[Balsa]

From a purely non-hockey sentiment, I'll miss you Denny!!!!

 

That guy had the best accent ever.

 

But seriously how crazy is that timing? If you know you're gonna do this, either do it before training camp, or you know, give the man more than four games.

 

I feel like he got the shaft.

[Flames24Rulz]

 

There's no question the talent is there this year to be a top team in the West.

 

I strongly disagree with this. I think the talent is there for them to make the playoffs in the West. They are not a top team though.

 

In the West? I really think they should be a top 4 team in the conference.