OK, so it's not quite that dramatic a parting, but certainly a surprise given the timing. Four games into the 08-09 campaign and we're changing coaches, but nobody has really said why. Rick Telander's Sun-Times column of Friday 10-17 cites club President John McDonough's outrage at the blown lead and eventual overtime loss at Washington, but I think something else may be afoot.
President McD is not a 'hockey man' in the traditional sense. He's had a great deal of success keeping Wrigley Field packed during some miserable Cubs seasons, and is known for his marketing acumen, but he knows relatively little about coaching or playing the game of hockey. Enter Scottie Bowman as a special assistant to the GM this past summer. Scottie's son Stan is the Assistant GM and I would say the odds on favorite to move into the GM role if/when the time comes. When the winningest coach in NHL history has the ear of the club president, and said coach is your dad... All I can say is: Mr. Tallon, I would keep your resume up to date. The writing is starting to appear on the wall. I've also read a few reports (not confirmed by the Hawks) that would suggest Coach Q was the choice for 08-09 the whole time but his DUI situation made it hard for the Hawks to bring him in before camp (instead he was brought in as a scout with little fanfare) and we've got what almost amounts to a Polaroid that's starting to develop.
I can't say I was a die-hard Savard supporter (though he did a tremendous job last season), nor am I anti-Quennville (though I hated him as part and parcel of the Colorado Avalanche). I just want what's best for the team, and the timing of all this doesn't seem to take that into account. For all of el Presidente's smarts as a marketer, is firing the coach who has a jersey hanging in the UC rafters an awesome move? And how about the risk of your young players blaming themselves for Savard's dismissal (Patrick Kane was literally in tears over this, bless his heart) and playing distraught mistake-filled hockey? That's playing a little fast and loose.
