Blackhawks hire Tallon, who Fires Sutter

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Jun 22, 2005 3:14PM

In a move that seems akin to re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, the Blackhawks hired Dale Tallon as their new General Manager today, who fired Hawks Head Coach Brian Sutter within 10 minutes of beginning his new position.

Tallon, who had served as former GM Bob Pulford's assistant since Pulford retruned to the GM job for the third time in 2003, had been groomed for this promotion. Director of Player Personnel for the Hawks from 1998-2002 before a short stint in the broadcast booth, Tallon was a favorite of team president and owner Bill Wirtz. Pulford will remain as the club's senior vice president.

However, Pulford's remaining within the organization didn't mean that Tallon followed his suggestion to retain Brian Sutter. He immediately dismissed the Hawks coach, and current Norfolk Admirals(American Hockey League) coach Trent Yawney is the frontrunner to replace him. As coach for the Blackhawks' minor league team, his teams went 189-144-42-25, won two division titles and made the playoffs all five years.

So now that the Blackhawks have begun to shuffle the front office, does that mean that the resumption of hockey is coming? While there have been some rumors the two sides are getting close there has been no announcement ending the NHL lockout yet. While it is thought that an agreement will allow for a full 2005-2006 season, will anyone even care anymore? Will Chicago's sports fans go from passionately hating Wirtz for what he's done to damage the Blackhawks, to complete indifference that the NHL even exists? The Hawks might be getting their house in order just a little too late for it to matter.

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