BLACKHAWKS GM TALLON FIRED DUE TO PAPERWORK SNAFU

The Chicago Blackhawks returned to the playoffs for the first time in years this season, and advanced all the way to the Conference Finals before losing to the eventual Stanley Cup runner up Detroit Red Wings.  Having built a talented young team and landed a big veteran free agent signing, you would think that Hawks GM Dale Tallon would have some degree of job security.  Think again—on Tuesday the Blackhawks fired Tallon primarily due to an overblown paperwork snafu.

At the focal point of the situation was a missed deadline by the team to send qualifying offers to restricted free agents.  This prompted the NHL Players Association to fire a grievance against the team.  While team president John McDonough took ultimate responsibility, Tallon took the brunt of the blame which reportedly cost him his job despite the team’s stellar performance this season and rosy outlook for the future. McDonough issued a vaguely worded statement to explain the decision:

"I believe we could have done a better job.  Ultimately when a mistake like that is made that is on me.  But it is also on me to make sure that mistake does not happen again or that we have the proper channels in place to make sure it doesn't happen again."

In further comments, however, McDonough’s verbiage suggested something of a ‘personality’ conflict over differing work styles:

"I have great respect for Dale and what he has done for this organization. I would say there has been some style differences. ... Dale is as every bit as effective, just a different approach."

Tallon was replaced by Stan Bowman, son of Montreal Canadiens’ coaching legend Scotty Bowman.  Team owner Rocky Wirtz may have set himself up for an age discrimination lawsuit as he rationalized the firing of Tallon and hiring of Bowman:

"He's 36, Dale is 58. We always want younger people. What he brings is a system in place to get better.”

Bowman has been with the Blackhawks for 9 years in several roles, most recently Director of Hockey Operations.  In his comments to the media Bowman praised Tallon, calling him a ‘mentor’ and spoke of what a great resource he had in his legendary father:

"He's just a great resource for me to bounce ideas off of. He's been through every situation you could imagine.”

Tallon has said little publicly about the situation, though did release this statement through the team:

"I have been with this organization in several different capacities since coming over as a player in 1973 and although my position has changed, my goals have not. I've seen Stan come up through our ranks and I'm confident he is the right person to step in. This is what is best for the Chicago Blackhawks."

Although he’s out as GM, Tallon did sign a two year contract extension to stay on in the nebulous capacity of ‘Advisor’.  This was likely a face saving gesture by the team, who has been harshly criticized by the hockey media for what they term a ‘callous and inexplicable’ dismissal of Tallon.