Chicago Blackhawks gamble on post-Savard era
Chicago Blackhawks gamble on post-Savard era
Firing head coach Denis Savard just four games into the 2008-09 NHL season was a bold move by Chicago Blackhawks GM Dale Tallon. One of the teams greatest players on the ice, Savard helped play a huge role in the franchise's turnaround from the Bill Wirtz years. However, the team has responded so far under Joel Quenneville going 1-0-1 in the two games, but the question is how long will it last?
The Chicago Blackhawks have an image problem.
The Blackhawks were one of the worst teams in the NHL for much of Bill Wirtz’ four decades in charge. Wirtz became so hated in Chicago that when he died in 2007, Hawks fans booed during his moment of silence at the team’s home opener. The Blackhawks have done much better as a team ever since.
The turnaround really began with the NHL lockout and the installation of a salary floor as well as a salary cap. Wirtz’ miserly ways were rendered moot; new GM Dale Tallon has been given the money he needs to make Chicago competitive again. The Blackhawks jumped from 20 wins in 2003-04 to 40 wins last season, a reversal of fortune that has made Chicago a fashionable pick against the betting odds:
With both Chicago baseball teams losing in the playoffs and the Bulls coming off a lousy NBA season, the Blackhawks have the opportunity to become the center of attention in town. So it’s understandable from a public relations perspective that the Hawks front office fired coach Denis Savard on Thursday after a 1-2-1 start; it’s now or never for this franchise.
There are two problems with that. One is the potential PR nightmare the Blackhawks have on their hands after firing one of the greatest players ever to wear their uniform. Replacing Savard with Joel Quenneville, a man the Hawks hired just last month as a scout, gives the whole affair a whiff of betrayal.
The other problem, and more important to the bottom line, is that the coaching change is very risky from a hockey perspective. No knock on Quenneville, who enjoyed success during his previous coaching stops in St. Louis and Colorado. But the Hawks were on the rise with Savard behind the bench. His players looked up to him. Patrick Kane cried the day after Savard was fired. That’s a tough act to follow for a coach.
The risk has paid off so far. Chicago has picked up three points out of four since Quenneville took over: a 4-3 shootout loss at St. Louis (-112) and a 4-2 win at home against Vancouver (-115). Kane scored twice on the Blues and once on the power play against the Canucks. But this highly emotional situation could still blow up in Chicago’s faces; the Hawks play eight of their next 10 at home, so they’ll be under the microscope.
Meanwhile on the ice tonight...
Florida at Ottawa
Wednesday, Oct 22, 7:00 p.m. (ET) TSN in Canada
The Senators (2-2-1) are on my personal “fade” list. This franchise started falling apart in the middle of last year after an incredible 29-10-4 start. Ottawa finished the year 29-53 against the puckline, easily the worst in the NHL. Goaltender Ray Emery played his way out of a job, defensemen Wade Redden and Andrej Meszaros are gone, and new coach Craig Hartsburg has already torn a strip off his players for their lack of effort. The Sens have dropped two of three since making the long trip back from Stockholm.
Florida (2-3) has hovered just out of playoff range in the three seasons since the Mike Keenan-Jacques Martin ticket came to Miami. It’s now Martin as GM and Peter DeBoer as coach; DeBoer is a former two-time OHL Coach of the Year and has a good mix of veterans and youngsters to work with. But he might not have defensemen Bryan Allen (knee) and Bryan McCabe (back), both of whom are day-to-day.
Ottawa’s a -180 favorite with a total of 5½ goals. The over is 3-2 for the Sens on the season and 2-1 since the two-game series with the Penguins in Sweden. However, a slow offensive start has the under at 3-2 for the Panthers. They have 12 goals in five contests; Ottawa has 16, and the Sens have scored on the man advantage in every game.
Firing head coach Denis Savard just four games into the 2008-09 NHL season was a bold move by Chicago Blackhawks GM Dale Tallon. One of the teams greatest players on the ice, Savard helped play a huge role in the franchise's turnaround from the Bill Wirtz years. However, the team has responded so far under Joel Quenneville going 1-0-1 in the two games, but the question is how long will it last?
The Chicago Blackhawks have an image problem.
The Blackhawks were one of the worst teams in the NHL for much of Bill Wirtz’ four decades in charge. Wirtz became so hated in Chicago that when he died in 2007, Hawks fans booed during his moment of silence at the team’s home opener. The Blackhawks have done much better as a team ever since.
The turnaround really began with the NHL lockout and the installation of a salary floor as well as a salary cap. Wirtz’ miserly ways were rendered moot; new GM Dale Tallon has been given the money he needs to make Chicago competitive again. The Blackhawks jumped from 20 wins in 2003-04 to 40 wins last season, a reversal of fortune that has made Chicago a fashionable pick against the betting odds:
- 2005-06: 42-40 ATS
- 2006-07: 47-35 ATS
- 2007-08: 44-38 ATS
With both Chicago baseball teams losing in the playoffs and the Bulls coming off a lousy NBA season, the Blackhawks have the opportunity to become the center of attention in town. So it’s understandable from a public relations perspective that the Hawks front office fired coach Denis Savard on Thursday after a 1-2-1 start; it’s now or never for this franchise.
There are two problems with that. One is the potential PR nightmare the Blackhawks have on their hands after firing one of the greatest players ever to wear their uniform. Replacing Savard with Joel Quenneville, a man the Hawks hired just last month as a scout, gives the whole affair a whiff of betrayal.
The other problem, and more important to the bottom line, is that the coaching change is very risky from a hockey perspective. No knock on Quenneville, who enjoyed success during his previous coaching stops in St. Louis and Colorado. But the Hawks were on the rise with Savard behind the bench. His players looked up to him. Patrick Kane cried the day after Savard was fired. That’s a tough act to follow for a coach.
The risk has paid off so far. Chicago has picked up three points out of four since Quenneville took over: a 4-3 shootout loss at St. Louis (-112) and a 4-2 win at home against Vancouver (-115). Kane scored twice on the Blues and once on the power play against the Canucks. But this highly emotional situation could still blow up in Chicago’s faces; the Hawks play eight of their next 10 at home, so they’ll be under the microscope.
Meanwhile on the ice tonight...
Florida at Ottawa
Wednesday, Oct 22, 7:00 p.m. (ET) TSN in Canada
The Senators (2-2-1) are on my personal “fade” list. This franchise started falling apart in the middle of last year after an incredible 29-10-4 start. Ottawa finished the year 29-53 against the puckline, easily the worst in the NHL. Goaltender Ray Emery played his way out of a job, defensemen Wade Redden and Andrej Meszaros are gone, and new coach Craig Hartsburg has already torn a strip off his players for their lack of effort. The Sens have dropped two of three since making the long trip back from Stockholm.
Florida (2-3) has hovered just out of playoff range in the three seasons since the Mike Keenan-Jacques Martin ticket came to Miami. It’s now Martin as GM and Peter DeBoer as coach; DeBoer is a former two-time OHL Coach of the Year and has a good mix of veterans and youngsters to work with. But he might not have defensemen Bryan Allen (knee) and Bryan McCabe (back), both of whom are day-to-day.
Ottawa’s a -180 favorite with a total of 5½ goals. The over is 3-2 for the Sens on the season and 2-1 since the two-game series with the Penguins in Sweden. However, a slow offensive start has the under at 3-2 for the Panthers. They have 12 goals in five contests; Ottawa has 16, and the Sens have scored on the man advantage in every game.