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MAJOR SHAKE-UP IN CHICAGO: TALLON OUT AS GM, STAN BOWMAN IN (e5) |
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I have it from several sources this evening that the Hawks will announce on Tuesday that Dale Tallon, whose keen drafting and moves brought Chicago back to the playoffs, is out as GM and Stan Bowman, son of Scotty Bowman, will be announced as the new GM of the Chicago Blackhawks.
Dale Tallon is beloved in hockey circles and is an outstanding person who I really feel is getting the short end of the stick here. BIG TIME. The Hossa signing, the letters that didn't go out...the current cap issues were not Tallon's issues.
I have talked to quite a few people this evening about this decision and I can tell you the players love Dale Tallon and are none too happy about this decision.
Make no mistake about this...the Hawks are John McDonough's team, and John McDonough's guy is Stan Bowman. While I don't know Stan personally I have heard much about him-some good. But really he is known as a capologist, more than a GM. Now, he will have his chance as GM to shine and prove himself.
His father certainly is perhaps the most respected and innovative coach in NHL history. We will now see what Stan can do.
As for Dale, I certainly expect him to be back in the NHL in short order. Looking at the endless supply of young talent coming through the Hawks system right now, most teams would love to have the talent that Dale has attended. Rumor has it that Dale also got blocked on several occasions from making deals that would have made the Hawks a better team. Especially last season.
Truth is in the results however and when a GM gets relieved after taking a non-playoff team to the conference finals there is something else to this story.
enough said.
more in the morning.