Denis Savard accepts ambassador role with Chicago Blackhawks
2008-11-13 11:50:00
CHICAGO - Denis Savard is back with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Less than a month after getting fired as the team's head coach, Savard rejoined the organization Thursday as a Blackhawks ambassador. He joins Tony Esposito, Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita in a role that will see him represent the team in the community.
"It is important to our fans and organization that Denis remains a part of our family," president John McDonough said in a statement. "He is a very classy individual that embodies the spirit of the Chicago Blackhawks."
Savard is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and is one of seven Blackhawks players to have his jersey retired by the team. During 17 NHL seasons, Savard had 1,338 points (473-865) in 1,196 career games.
He also spent eight years as an assistant coach with the Blackhawks and parts of three seasons as the team's head coach before getting fired on Oct. 16.
"It means so much to me that Rocky Wirtz and John McDonough have given me this chance to continue to be a part of the Blackhawks family, something I have always wanted to do," said Savard. "I have been very fortunate to be a part of this organization, to wear these colours, for so long and this gives me the chance to continue to be a part of something I love.
"Today is a great day for me and my family."
Doug (Posted 2008-11-14 08:22:51)
Ah, Yes, Quennville has won how Many Cups?, and I am the ignorant One. It is not about Quennville's abilities, but about the fact that Savard could have done it! And if Mr. Bowman was such a genius, why did it always take a G.M. like Pollack or Holland to make him a winner? To my knowledge, he was never able to create a Stanley Cup champ as a G.M. SOOOO, I wonder, do you think that signing Huet to such a ridiculous contract was worth it, given your knowledge?
Andrew Homrok (Posted 2008-11-13 20:40:44)
As a Blackhawk season ticket holder, I disagree with your opinions. Savard is a Hall of Famer and a class act but he's not a very good head coach. Make no mistake about it, this was Scotty Bowman's decision and he didn't like what he saw on the ice. Dale Tallon will be next to go if the Hawks don't go far in the playoffs this year. The organization's stated goal is to win the Stanley Cup and as a season ticket holder you couldn't ask for better team management. This is big business and at the end of the day, if you have to fire your fan favourite head coach for the betterment of the franchise...those are the difficult decisions you have to make. I love Savvy, but Quennville is a much better NHL head coach. How can you say an organization is horrible, when they couldn't fill a high school gym at the start of last season and now you can't get a ticket? You guys are ignorant.
doug (Posted 2008-11-13 18:04:08)
Believe it or not, and I can't believe the class that Savard exudes, it is destined. If and when Quennville fails, Savard will be back in the drivers seat, and I guarantee you that Tallon will be nowhere to be seen. Make no mistake about this, other than the fact that the genious GM brought in not worthy of their salaries on board, this is Savard's team. I am no Hawk's fan but I thought that Savard did an incredible job, and I also believed that Tallon Did too, until his mismanagement of Savard. Savard has more class in his pinky than the rest of the Hawk organization put together, and Quennville, if you take the acclaim for this team's performance you are an individual with no morals at all!
Felix MacLean (Posted 2008-11-13 17:31:20)
While I admit that I don't know much about the day-to-day, behind-the-scenes operation of an NHL club, it seems to me that Savard the coach deserved better from the Blackhawks. Although Chicago is one of the stronger teams in the league this year, they did make some lineup changes -- not to mention that they are a young team playing under significant expectations for the first time. I would have been surprised if they came out of the gate like gangbusters. But they seem poised to give the Red Wings a run for the division title -- and I am a Wings fan!
Maxime (Posted 2008-11-13 16:58:42)
Savard did what he could with the team he had, and made it better. And once he delivered a product that was ready to win, they took it from him and gave it to someone else...Horrible organisation. I just can't believe Denis Savard accepted the offer...please someone offer him a coaching job...Ottawa might need one soon...but Savard may be too expensive and harder to control for Bryan Murray...just like Hartley...Anyway, best regards to Denis Savard, may a GM recognize your talent as a coach sooner than later.
Fredy B (Posted 2008-11-13 13:23:36)
I loved the spinorama master but he got backstab big time
he built that new impressive Chicago team he his the only
hawks icon from my generation and he come crawling back to
this no class organization. Denis I know you love your team
but come back to the Canadian and you know you will get the respect you deserve
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