Chicago
Blackhawks

Blackhawks Team Report

Updated: May 29, 2012 06:17 EST

It's never a good thing when the word "dysfunction" is used to describe what is going on within your organization. But that's what general manager Stan Bowman told Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville. So change came and even more turmoil surfaced for a team that won the Stanley Cup just two seasons ago.

"At the end of the year, Stan, about a couple of days after the season ended, visited with me and we talked about a lot things about this season and our team," Quenneville said. "The one thing that we talked about was our coaching staff. In his eyes and the organization's eyes, how people viewed our coaching staff, I think he looked at it like there was some dysfunction to it.

"I took a look back at the situation and I had my own reflection on the job I did. I know I can be better in certain areas. I watch other playoff games, I know there are areas where I can be a better coach. At the same time, I had an assessment that there is some dysfunction to our coaching staff and we need a change."

So Quenneville fired assistant coach Mike Haviland, who is considered a favorite of the players. Quenneville decided to retain Mike Kitchen, who was taking the brunt of the criticism for the Hawks' floundering power play.

Haviland's replacement has yet to be named. It wasn't a surprise that Haviland was let go over Kitchen, who is close to Quenneville. But it was clear that the team's brass wanted a shakeup on the bench. Quenneville said his friendship with Kitchen had little to do with his decision.

"It was my decision and I'm moving forward," Quenneville said. "I know some people look at it like I chose to keep a friend or a buddy or a guy that had an acquaintance with me in the past. But I don't look at people like that if you got opportunities to coach in our league. I've got a lot of respect for how challenging the requirements (are) that make a successful coach."

Haviland's firing came at a time when there was serious speculation that Quenneville may be willing to leave the Hawks for the Montreal Canadiens, where friend Marc Bergevin took over as GM after spending several years in Chicago, the last season as the assistant GM.

Quenneville's contentious relationship with team brass, which reached a boiling point after director of player development Barry Smith was sent onto the ice to help the power play, was seen as a reason for Quenneville to leave. Smith was a longtime assistant of Hawks senior adviser Scotty Bowman during his Hall of Fame coaching career. Quenneville, though, reaffirmed his love for Chicago when announcing Haviland's firing.

"Over the last days, there were some other things that were going on about here in Chicago and me being somewhere else, but first and foremost, I'm excited about being here in Chicago," Quenneville said. "I love the opportunity. I love the organization. I love where we're heading in the future. That's something I want to put to bed right from the outset."

SEASON HIGHLIGHT: The Hawks were the first team to reach 50 points, which was helped by a 10-2-1 record in December. The Hawks were outscoring teams at will as Toews, Sharp and Hossa all had great first halves of the season. That strong start helped them stay ahead of teams when they hit a rough patch.

TURNING POINT: Starting just before the All-Star break, the Hawks went on a nine-game losing streak that raised many questions about them. It started on Jan. 21 against the Predators and ended Feb. 16 with a win over the Rangers. There was even talk about whether Quenneville deserved to be fired. The Hawks plummeted from the top spot in the West to sixth, where they finished.

--RW Patrick Kane already has made headlines this summer. And it's not for something the Hawks want. Kane, who has a reputation as a partier, was photographed several times in Madison, Wis., during the Mifflin Street Block Party for Cinco de Mayo. In one photo, Kane was passed out at a bar. There were anonymous allegations made, too, including one that alleged that Kane choked a female student. The Hawks have declined to comment about the situation and charges have been filed, according to Madison police. Kane has a history of less than flattering behavior. He was arrested in August 2009 after he and his cousin allegedly punched a cab driver while in his hometown of Buffalo, N.Y. Kane was cleared of any felonies but did plead guilty to a non-criminal charge of disorderly conduct. In 2010, Kane was photographed with his shirt off in a Vancouver limo. That photo was displayed on the back of his shirt for his trip to Madison. Police said they encountered Kane in Madison during an argument, but he did nothing to warrant an arrest.

--Coach Joel Quenneville has adamantly defended assistant Mike Kitchen, who handled the power play for most of the season. The Hawks' power play ranked 26th with a 15.2 percent success rate. It was then one of the main reasons why they were eliminated in the first round against the Coyotes, finishing with an awful 5.3 percent success rate. "It's almost like our whole team, our problem was Kitch," Quenneville said. "And it's not about Kitch. It's about us as a team making our power play all better collectively. This is not blaming (fired assistant coach Mike Haviland) either. This is just the way it is and that's part of the decision. ... One of the most loyal guys around is Kitch. That's where he's at."

--The Hawks named Norm Maciver their assistant GM, replacing Marc Bergevin, who left to run the Montreal Canadiens. Maciver spent the last five seasons with the Hawks, the last as director of player personnel. Before that, he was the Hawks' director of player development. Maciver, a former defenseman, spent 12 seasons in the NHL and also was an assistant coach with the Bruins. "Norm has proven to be a valuable asset to our hockey operations over the past five years, so we are excited to be able to elevate him to this role," general manager Stan Bowman said. "He has an excellent handle on the players within our organization, from recent draft picks to veterans, and a great eye for talent evaluating."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I probably could have been better as far as delegating ice time as far as what was merited or warranted. When I see the effectiveness of it, whether you're watching the Rangers playing or Washington playing, that's where I think our team can be better and more competitive come playoff time, where you earn it, you get it, you deserve it. Going forward, that's for sure a mistake I made, and I'm going to learn from that." -- Coach Joel Quenneville on what he could have done better last season as a coach

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Patrick Sharp led the Hawks with 33 goals and a career-best plus-28 rating. Sharp, a versatile player, spent the entire season at left wing and missed time with a broken bone in his wrist, but he caught fire down the stretch. His 33 goals were three shy of his career high and one shy of his total from last season.

MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: Michael Frolik got a three-year deal in the offseason to provide scoring depth. A former two-time 21-goal scorer, Frolik fell well short of expectations. He was often scratched the second half of the year and finished with five goals, 15 points and a minus-10 rating, the worst numbers of his four-year career.

BIGGEST NEEDS: The Hawks haven't decided whether Patrick Kane is truly capable of being the team's No. 2 center or whether a better, more experienced option is available via a trade. The Hawks also need help on defense, specifically a blue-liner who is adept at handling the point on the power play. Gritty forwards who can skate well also should be targeted.

FREE AGENT FOCUS: The Hawks will have money to spend again this offseason, but it wouldn't be a shock if they weren't as active as they were last summer, when they brought in several players. Rookie Andrew Shaw and Jimmy Hayes look ready to be full-time players, and touted prospect Brandon Saad should get a chance. The Hawks will look at defensemen, however. Their lack of depth on the blue line was exposed during the playoffs.

PLAYER NOTES:

--RW Marian Hossa is slowly recovering from his concussion, which he suffered when he was knocked out by an illegal head hit by Coyotes forward Raffi Torres in the playoffs. Torres was suspended 25 games for the hit. Hossa doesn't remember much from the hit, barely recalling that he was carried off on a stretcher. "I woke up in the hospital," Hossa said. He said Torres reached out to him, but their conversation was short. Hossa was upset that he jumped to make the hit. Hossa hopes to ready by training camp. "It's going to take some time," Hossa said.

--C Marcus Kruger made another big step in his development this season. But is he truly capable of being the team's No. 2 center? That's to be determined. Coach Joel Quenneville thinks his production needs to increase to be that after spending ample time there this season. Kruger, though, has proved to be reliable defensively, and a checking role might suit him better. He averaged 1:20 in shorthanded time per game. The Hawks allowed only 12 power play goals this season when Kruger was on the penalty kill.

--D Duncan Keith had a standout performance for Team Canada during the World Championships in Finland. After an up-and-down regular season and playoff run, Keith had a goal, 10 assists and a plus-7 in eight games for Canada. The fast-skating puck-mover led the team in points and was ranked ninth overall.

MEDICAL WATCH:

--RW Marian Hossa (concussion) hopes to be ready for training camp after suffering a concussion when he was checked in the head by Coyotes forward Raffi Torres in the playoffs. Hossa played in 81 regular-season games, his most since playing in all 82 for the Thrashers in 2006-07. His 77 points this year were also the most since that season.

--D Steve Montador (concussion) missed 27 games with a concussion. The hope is that he'll be ready for training camp. Montador spent most of his time as the No. 5 defenseman. He had five goals and 14 points and even gave the power play an unexpected boost at one point.

--LW Daniel Carcillo (torn ACL) missed 35 games after tearing his ACL. He still did enough in his time, though, to get a two-year extension from the Hawks. He's on track with his recovery. He had two goals, 11 points and a plus-10 rating in 28 games this season.