Havlat: Talk to us first

Martin Havlat insisted Monday there are no problems between him and Blackhawks coach Denis Savard.

And when asked about Savard's biting criticism of his team following Thursday's 1-0 loss to Columbus when Havlat was clearly one of the prime targets, the Hawks' $6 million man claimed he hadn't heard about any of it until Monday.

What Havlat did make clear was that if Savard didn't like how he or the team performed against the Blue Jackets, he wished the stinging comments would have been made in the dressing room to the players and not to the media.

"He wasn't talking to us after the game, so if he had something to say he should talk to us first," Havlat said after practice Monday, the first following the three-day all-star break.

"I just heard some stuff, but I don't really know everything. I know he wasn't happy, that's all I know. I don't think anybody was happy. We all want to win."

Savard on Monday said he wasn't talking specifically about Havlat in his postgame comments from Thursday, even though Savard mentioned players who were signed to big contracts two and three years ago.

Havlat signed a three-year, $18 million contract in 2006 after being acquired in a trade from Ottawa.

"He never mentioned names, and he never talked to us after the game," Havlat said. "If he had something to tell us, or what he told you guys, he should tell us after the game.

"If you guys want the answer, you have to ask him who are the names. Like I said, he should talk to us. I think it would be better."

Savard wasn't any happier with his team Monday but insisted he wasn't singling out Havlat.

"He's played well in most games the last little while here," Savard said. "I said money because we commit as an organization, not just to him, but to other players.

"I've explained to our guys, whether you're up here making whatever money at a pro salary or in the AHL, we commit to you and you have to give us that commitment back.

"Do I say those guys (Havlat, Robert Lang, Tuomo Ruutu and others), yeah, somewhat, but they're not (the only ones). We're all in this together."

Havlat said he had several meetings with Savard last week and that they were positive talks.

"I had a few meetings with him last week before that and I know what he was telling me there, so you have to ask him who he meant," Havlat said. "All he was telling me was he was happy with the way things were going, that I'm doing everything they ask and to keep doing what I can. He was only positive in the meetings with me."

Havlat did have a good three-game road trip before the Columbus game, when the Hawks won two of three.

"Havvy has played good, I'll give him that. He has played good five of the last six games, but it's still not good enough," Savard said. "For us as a group we need to be better, everybody needs to be better from goaltender on out. It's as simple as that."

Several other Hawks thought the team deserved Savard's wrath following the Columbus loss.

"Sometimes things have to be said. Maybe it was something we needed," Brent Seabrook said.

"You have to be professional about it and take it like a man," Martin Lapointe said.

The Hawks responded with a spirited practice Monday that was both physical and fast-paced.

"We're all pros in here and we all get paid a lot of money," Patrick Sharp said. "This was a Hall of Fame player and our leader talking (last Thursday), and I thought the way we responded today in practice was great."

The Hawks will practice in suburban Denver today, then start their seven-game road trip Wednesday night against the Avalanche at the Pepsi Center.

"I think everyone wants to forget about (Thursday) night and focus on the next game," Havlat said.