Blackhawks Fire Savard

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Oct 16, 2008 5:45PM

We're just one week into the NHL's regular season, and already the Blackhawks have made a change at the top. Following a sluggish 1-2-1 start to the season, Denis Savard was fired as head coach on Thursday. Savard's axing comes a day after the team won their first game of the young season, but it was too little, too late for GM Dale Tallon apparently. While many have high hopes for the team and they've been slow out of the gate, this change seems very premature.

In parts of three seasons with the 'Hawks, he tallied a 65-67-15 record. Savard originally took over on November 29, 2006 making the '07-'08 his only full campaign with the club. Taking over for Savard will be Joel Quenneville, who has previously behind the bench for the St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche. He led the Avs to a 44-31-7 record last season before they bowed out of the playoffs in the second round. The team has called a 4:30 p.m. press conference where Quenneville will presumably be introduced.

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh