Quenneville gets three-year deal

It wasn't finalized until Wednesday, but new Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville has signed a three-year contract, according to general manager Dale Tallon.

Quenneville's deal is through the 2010-11 season and he celebrated by watching his team go out and dominate the Edmonton Oilers 3-0 at the United Center.

The Hawks are 2-0-1 since Quenneville took over for Denis Savard.

"I thought we've had three good games and I thought this was our best," Quenneville said. "In all areas we were strong and our special teams were really good. Our puck possession, our speed, our pressure, making plays, every part of our game we were happy with."

The Hawks got a power-play goal from Patrick Sharp and a short-handed goal from Brent Seabrook.

Big Keith fan: The Duncan Keith fan club is growing.

Last weekend it was St. Louis Blues coach Andy Murray singing Keith's praises, and on Wednesday it was Edmonton Oilers coach Craig MacTavish's turn to say how impressed he is by the Blackhawks' 25-year-old defenseman.

MacTavish got a close look at what Keith can do last spring when he was an assistant coach for Team Canada at the World Championships as Keith was logging his usual big minutes.

"Big fan, like (his) game a lot," MacTavish said. "I love that style of defensemen. He really thinks himself around the ice very well and he moves the puck exceptionally well. He was plus-30 last year on a team that didn't make the playoffs, so you don't need to add much more than that."

Winging it? While it's likely not to happen, Hawks coach Joel Quenneville didn't rule out the possibility of giving Dustin Byfuglien another shot to play on defense when asked Wednesday.

"At some point, I think we'll probably look at all options," Quenneville said. "But it's certainly a nice asset to have and consider."

So does Quenneville see Byfuglien as a winger?

"Too early to tell for me," he said. "I know we love that versatility in all players." Byfuglien is off to a slow start at minus-3 with just 2 assists in the first seven games and skated down on the third forward line against Edmonton. "He missed some time in camp there (with a groin injury) and I think the speed of the game, the quickness and the conditioning, you're a little behind it," Quenneville said.

Winter Classic update: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman attended Wednesday's game and said there still was no timetable for public sale of tickets to the Jan. 1 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field.

"Most of the tickets are going to go to season-ticket holders so we won't have a massive public sale like in Buffalo," Bettman said.