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CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville opened the door for plenty of speculation when he said on Tuesday there was "dysfunction" among his coaching staff with regard to the firing of assistant Mike Haviland.

The picture emerging from West Madison Street is one of dysfunction that extends beyond just the coaching staff. Whispers and rumors of dissension beyond the normal back and forth of a team trying to achieve its goals have been rampant. And for good reason. The situation boils down to two camps: Quenneville's and the Bowmans (general manager Stan and senior advisor Scotty).

Each side lost an ally over the last week when Marc Bergevin (Quenneville) left for Montreal and Haviland (Bowman) was fired on Tuesday. With Haviland's firing -- by Quenneville -- a line was drawn in the sand: This is his team, his coaching staff and the results will be on them. He will choose who replaces Haviland and the power to do so is the first Quenneville has had with the Hawks.

"[Bowman] did offer me the opportunity for the first time since I've been here to look if I need [to make] a change to our coaching staff," Quenneville said in a conference call with reporters on Tuesday.

That's a far cry from this past season when the line between coaching and the front office was as muddled as it could get. Maybe it was inevitable given the set-up. When the younger Bowman was hired as a first-time general manager at age 37 he instantly became the boss of a seasoned veteran coach. To boot, Bowman's father was a senior advisor who was commonly known as the best hockey coach in the history of the game. Can it really come as a surprise, when things went south, dysfunction would reign?

It's exactly when things started to go bad on the ice that the rift between front office and coaching became noticeable. In the midst of a nine-game losing streak in February, Scotty Bowman accompanied the team on the road and saw first-hand the problems the Hawks were having on special teams. Not long afterward, director of player development Barry Smith was asked to help with some coaching duties. But not by Quenneville, according to multiple sources. Smith is a Bowman confidant and the unusual idea of helping a Stanley Cup-winning coach came from Scotty. Quenneville wasn't given a choice in the matter, according to the sources. In fact, it was at that point that assistant Mike Kitchen's job was in jeopardy. But Kitchen is a Quenneville confidant. So Kitchen stayed, and Smith was forced upon Quenneville, no matter the coach's public proclamations of his acceptance of help.

Smith took an active role talking to players and instructing the special teams. It prompted one member of the hockey community to say Smith's involvement was undermining Quenneville. "And the whole coaching fraternity knows it," a source said.

Smith kept the front office appraised of on-ice matters and while the special teams improved incrementally with Smith's involvement, they regressed as the regular season wound down. Things came to a head on the final day of the regular season in Detroit. Multiple sources said there was a loud argument between Quenneville and Smith during which loyalties were questioned. It was the last the team saw of Smith. He never again ran a practice, and his travel with the team was limited to Game 5 against Phoenix. Quenneville eventually won that battle and now has full control of the coaching staff, but he certainly doesn't have full control of personnel. It's assumed he has control of how that personnel is used, but even that is in question.

Kane at center

On purpose or not, a difference of opinions became apparent at the Hawks' end-of-year news conference. Stan Bowman said of Patrick Kane, "Having him in the middle, he's certainly better than any other center that's available." It wasn't even completely clear if Bowman meant on the market or on the Hawks, but does it matter? His views are clear: He likes Kane at center. It was Bowman's idea in the first place to play Kane in the middle when the team didn't acquire a second-line center last offseason.

Quenneville, on the other hand, was high on Marcus Kruger and the job he did in a role he was thrust into when Kane was moved back to wing. Quenneville praised Kane's work in the middle but left most of the accolades for Kruger, calling Kane "a nice option."

The difference of opinion came on the ice as well. If Kane was best for the team at center -- as Bowman said in the news conference -- then why was he ever moved from the middle?

Kane played the entire middle portion of the season back at wing. He returned to center when Jonathan Toews went down with a concussion, playing well there the final month of the season. But at the most important point of the year -- the postseason -- Kane was back at wing. He moved back to center again only when Kruger faltered early in the series against the Coyotes.

The bottom line is it appears Quenneville does not believe the Hawks can win a championship with Kane at center. On top of it, other NHL head coaches have expressed privately their satisfaction with Kane playing center, according to sources. Opposing teams want him to have to play a 200-foot game. Common thinking is, any moment of attention or energy on the defensive end takes away from his offensive prowess. If Quenneville has truly been given full power for all on-ice personnel decisions moving forward, then don't expect Kane at center unless under dire circumstances.

Special Teams

Stan Bowman put the Hawks special teams problems squarely on Quenneville. He was asked if he was satisfied with the coaching with regard to the power play.

"The results speak for themselves," he said. "They were a huge disappointment this year. It's unacceptable to have the caliber of players we have and not have it work. That's a question Joel is probably better able to answer. That's more of a coaching thing than anything. ... For whatever reason ours didn't work. We need to be better in that area. There is no doubt about that."

And to answer that remark, Quenneville eventually fired Haviland but not Kitchen. Haviland was part of the coaching staff that won a Stanley Cup in 2010. Kitchen has been part of one that has overseen two first-round exits. Quenneville has been purposely able to deflect blame for the special teams woes on all coaches, and it's extremely hard to discern who was at fault where, so he has plausible deniability when it comes to explaining why Haviland and not Kitchen was let go. All were seen using the chalkboard in practice and players said all were involved instructing them. Quenneville denied his friendship played a part in Kitchen staying on but the fact remains the coach that Quenneville inherited is gone and his good friend is still here.

2011-2012

Why is all this important?

All along, the younger Bowman was telling his bosses the Hawks had enough personnel to win, and when things didn't go their way in the second half of the season the elder Bowman took steps -- in the form of Smith -- to prove it was on coaching and not personnel. Those steps undermined the authority of Quenneville. And that's something players pick up on immediately. It wouldn't be a surprise if more than one wondered who was in charge.

Maybe a compromise has been struck. No more front office meddling and now the blame -- or credit -- can fall squarely on Quenneville's shoulders. Unfortunately, coaching and personnel are always intertwined. Look at the Kane situation as evidence. The question is can the two sides coexist to bring another championship to Chicago?

CEO John McDonough is an obvious supporter of Scotty Bowman and Quenneville. If he has to choose it's still not clear who would win out. With more defined battle lines, it should become much clearer over the next 12 months.

Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said Tuesday that despite speculation he has no plans to head to the Montreal Canadiens, where friend and former Hawks assistant general manager Marc Bergevin is now the GM.

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The Chicago Blackhawks fired assistant coach Mike Haviland on Tuesday, the team announced.

Haviland spent four years with the Hawks, and he shared duties coaching the disappointing power play and penalty kill.

He formerly coached the team's AHL affiliates in Norfolk and Rockford.

CHICAGO -- Former Blackhawks director of player personnel Norm Maciver has been promoted to assistant general manager, the team announced Monday.

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Thursday’s surprising news that Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres was appealing his 25-game suspension for hitting Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa in the head last month had a tinge of irony in that it came on the same day Hossa spoke publicly about the hit for the first time.

If commissioner Gary Bettman -- who will hear the appeal -- is going to take into account Hossa’s current health it’s even more doubtful he’ll reduce the suspension. Not surprisingly, Hossa didn’t sound his normal self in talking about one of the worst moments, if not the worst, of his great career.

While there is no reason to believe he won’t recover enough to play, by now everyone knows the longer-term dangers and uncertainty of head injuries. After such a devastating hit, will he be the same player? We won’t know until next season begins.

Torres appeal

Many hockey fans are probably confused by the appeals process. It’s rarely used and rarely results in a reduction of a suspension. Bettman was undoubtedly informed of -- if not in on -- the original punishment, so what would prompt him to change his decision?

The Torres camp and the NHLPA are already on record saying they want to know why the suspension was so severe. According to a source, one thing they would like to do is present evidence of similar hits by similar repeat offenders that resulted in substantially less severe punishments. They were not able to present such evidence in the original hearing with Brendan Shanahan. They’re hopeful they can do so with the commissioner, according the source.

The other notion they are interested in exploring is the idea that suspensions in the playoffs are normally smaller due to the importance one game in a series has -- as opposed to one of 82 regular-season contests. How many games, the source says, would Torres have received if this had been a regular season game and does the current punishment fit any past pattern?

The league can automatically turn down the appeal, ask for another in-person hearing or talk to Torres on the phone. Torres would undoubtedly like another face-to-face meeting, this time with the commissioner, to present his evidence and ask a broader range of questions.

Whatever the outcome it doesn’t help Hossa heal any quicker and that’s the most important part of the equation.

CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa is feeling better but still hasn't recovered from a head injury suffered last month when Phoenix Coyotes winger Raffi Torres hit him in the head in the first round of the playoffs.

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CHICAGO -- The loss of former Chicago Blackhawks assistant general manager Marc Bergevin could have some far-reaching effects.

Bergevin was named the general manager of the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday, which means coach Joel Quenneville has lost a front office ally.

Bergevin and Quenenville are tight, the former having played for the latter. And Bergevin helped bring Quenneville into the organization where he was a scout for one month before being named head coach.

Quenneville and general manager Stan Bowman may not have seen eye to eye on all matters this past season, which might not be that unusual during a year that saw unexpected turmoil on the ice.

At one point, Director of Player Development Barry Smith was asked to help with some coaching -- but not by Quenneville, according to multiple sources. That directive came from above. And at the team’s year-end press conference last week, Quenneville talked highly of Marcus Kruger’s job as the team’s second line center while Bowman said that Kane might be the best candidate for that position moving forward.

No two people are going to feel the same about personnel decisions but without Bergevin in the front office Quenneville won’t have as strong a voice. Of course, if there is ever a coaching change within the Blackhawks, Quenneville could find an easy landing spot in Montreal.

Jesse Rogers enters the Blackhawks chat room at 12 CT.

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Chicago Blackhawks assistant general manager Marc Bergevin has been named general manager of the Montreal Canadiens.

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The Chicago Blackhawks cleaned out their lockers on Wednesday and several players met the media for the final time this season. Much has already been written about Patrick Kane playing center and goalie Corey Crawford's season. Here are some other news and notes from eight players, in order of their appearance at the microphone:

Andrew Brunette

He's not sure what the future holds, but he's doubtful it's in Chicago.

"I think they are going to go in a different direction, so I'm not holding my breath thinking they are going to call or hang around the phone," Brunette said. "Who knows what's going to happen."

Brunette played with an injured foot he hurt near the end of the regular season.

"It wasn't that much fun. No excuse, it was sore."

It was one of his least productive years producing just 12 goals, his lowest total since 1998-'99.

"It was a tough year. You don't want to leave this way. But there are times the game tells you when to leave."

(Read full post)

CHICAGO -- Is there any chance the Chicago Blackhawks would be interested in trading for Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo?

Luongo said he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause, and it sounds like the Canucks might accommodate him.

A source told ESPN.com's Pierre Lebrun that Chicago could be on the short list of teams Luongo would be willing to be traded to.

Coincidentally, Luongo and Hawks starter Corey Crawford share the same agent in Gilles Lupien.

But does Luongo make any sense for the Blackhawks?

(Read full post)

CHICAGO -- There will be more hockey this season for several Chicago Blackhawks, though it won’t be in North America. Getting knocked out in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs is allowing some of them to play in the World Championships being held in Finland and Sweden next month.

Patrick Sharp and Duncan Keith will play for Team Canada while Viktor Stalberg will suit up for Sweden.
Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane declined invitations from their respective countries.

“I think there is that element of uncertainty,” Toews said about a late season concussion. “The smart play is to rest and make sure everything is clear and it’s behind me. Obviously, I’d like to go and represent Canada every chance I get but right now it’s not the smartest thing to do.”

Kane sighted fitness and health as well. Kane had wrist surgery late in the offseason last summer limiting his ability to get in the best condition for the regular season.

“I think I’m just going to take the summer to rest and get excited about next season,” Kane said. “I’m healthy right now, I don’t want to risk that. I saw the difference it could make…I don’t think I was fully prepared for the season due to that.”

Sharp, Keith and Stalberg will leave very soon for Europe. The Championships conclude on May 20.

CHICAGO -- If there was one topic that came up over and over again as the Blackhawks met the media and cleaned out their lockers on Wednesday it was the subpar play of their special teams.

It prevented them from earning more points in the regular season and helped derail their playoff series with the Phoenix Coyotes. The power-play unit scored once in 19 tries in the postseason after finishing ranked 26th during the regular season. The penalty kill gave up four goals to the worst power-play team entering the playoffs on the same 19 chances. It was ranked 27th in the regular season.

“I’m going to absorb the responsibility for its ineffectiveness for the most part,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “Going forward as a staff we have to absorb some responsibility but the players have to as well. …Sharing that going forward has to be important.”

Of course it’s ultimately going to be on the players, but you can’t fire 23 players. You can change assistants though. Special teams and goaltending are usually handled by the lieutenants. Quenneville was asked if there would be any changes to his staff, especially due to the porous nature of their special teams play.

“All year long both coaches [Mike Haviland and Mike Kitchen] had a chance to be on both units, stints on the power play and penalty kill,” Quenneville responded. “At the end of the day we’re all sharing and talking in personnel options as far as execution as well. The power play was a sore point this year. Our penalty kill wasn’t much better when you look at the standings at the end of the year. Special teams can be a differential in games, it was in the last series. We have to be better.”

No one is questioning that but Quenneville never answered the question if changes to his coaching staff were imminent. Bowman left it up to him.

Some of Bowman’s harshest comments of the day were directed at the special teams.

“The results speak for themselves,” Bowman said. “They were a huge disappointment this year. It’s unacceptable to have the caliber of players we have and not have it work. Ultimately we have to improve that.”

And Quenneville was just as straightforward about his thinking for next year.

“Going forward it will be a point of emphasis,” Quenneville said. “Don’t expect to be on the power play, earn your right to be on the power play.”

The same should go for the Hawks’ penalty killing. Quenneville admitted his stars might not be the right ones to be killing penalties.

“Maybe the guys we do use on special teams ... you might say we work them up too much or they get too much ice time,” he said. “Committed to blocking shots or denying lanes makes you more effective as team…You can get guys to do whatever it takes to kill a penalty however we want to kill it and if guys aren’t willing to commit to doing what we want to do I think going forward someone else will get a chance. Whether it’s blocking a shot or denying a shot or laying down in front of a shot, that’s what it’s all about.”

The only question is why did it take 88 games for Quenneville and even Bowman to talk this tough about the special teams? Maybe they were doing it privately but players don’t really feel the heat until a coach is calling them out publicly. Hawks’ fans can only hope next year will be different because when it comes to the Hawks’ power play and penalty killing units, it can’t get much worse.

CHICAGO – With the Hawks entering an offseason of uncertainty, the team’s situation at second-line center looms as one of its biggest question marks.

A hole since last summer, the Hawks never really filled it to anyone’s liking.

Two in-house players emerged as possible candidates moving forward, Patrick Kane and Marcus Kruger. Kane was a first time center and Kruger is just 21 years old, so there is room for improvement for both.

Kruger did his best playing in a position he might not be ready for until a year or two from now. The Hawks asked too much of him, yet he did more than an admirable job. But it wasn’t long into the playoff series against the Phoenix Coyotes that he was replaced by Kane, who also had some good moments during the season.

“I like playing center,” Kane said as the team cleaned out its lockers on Wednesday. “You come up the ice with a lot of speed in the middle. It’s kind of natural for me to do that anyway. When I was playing wing I was kind of playing like a center anyway, coming back and getting the puck and trying to come up the ice. I’m fine with it. Sometimes it’s exciting to play some new positions whether it’s wing or center. You look at it, this year the team was successful when I was at center.”

The Hawks did get off to a good start with Kane in the middle, surprising many observers with his play. He finished the season there as well after Jonathan Toews went down with a concussion.

“Our team’s best record, and it coincided with Patrick’s best performance, was when he was in the middle,” general manager Stan Bowman explained. “Patrick carried our team the last month or five weeks of the season. He kind of put us on his back and got us into the playoffs. He stepped up and was our No.1 center for all those weeks…I think the notion that he can’t play center or isn’t good at center has been dispelled. Not only did our team play well when he was in the middle he played well. He had his most productive time when he was there.”

Both Kane and Bowman are forgetting about the middle portion of the season. Why was Kane ever moved back to wing if his time at center was so productive? In November, when the Hawks hit the road both before and during the annual circus trip, Kane was moved out from the middle. He struggled with road matchups in which opposing coaches can match up a bigger, stronger player against Kane. And his face-off percentage wasn’t very good. But it takes nothing away from how he finished the season without Toews in the lineup. Except he went back to wing when the playoffs started, until Kruger faltered. So which is better for him?

Joel Quenneville’s highest praise came for Kruger.

“Kane started off the year and did a nice job for us,” Quenneville said. “He did again at the end of the year but I think Kruger came in and did a real strong job as far as filling that need or that void or that niche…Is he qualified to put up the numbers a second line center would produce at? Hopefully he continues to get better. You like his upside as a player, you like his competitiveness, you think he has great instincts, intelligence as well. Offensively gifted, I don’t know if its high end second line center, but as an organization, you have some young centers.”

So Bowman likes Kane there and Quenneville kind of likes Kruger. The question for the Hawks is , are either qualified for that position on a championship caliber team? It sounds like Bowman already believes he knows the answer.

“Having him in the middle, he’s [Kane] certainly better than any other center that’s available,” Bowman declared.

That statement might be one of those defining ones for Bowman. If he’s right, the Hawks can allocate their resources elsewhere, possibly to improve an under-sized defense. If he’s wrong, they might end up back at square one a year from now. Or else an improving Kruger might have to give it a try again.