Hawks players know importance of Tallon's contributions

SAN JOSE, Calif. - It was clear by the reaction of Blackhawks players on Monday to the news of Dale Tallon's hiring as Florida's new general manager that this still is the ex-Hawks GM's team.

Captain Jonathan Toews was asked directly if Tallon has received enough credit for putting together a team that is just 7 victories from winning the organization's first Stanley Cup in 49 years.

"Maybe not," Toews said. "That's why when I talk to him I always remind him we're in here thinking about him and we don't forget the contributions he's made to this team and this locker room.

"Knowing where we are right now he would love to be here, but unfortunately it doesn't always work that way. I think it's always a good thing for him to be reminded that the boys haven't forgotten about him yet."

Tallon is the architect of perhaps the quickest and most skilled team in the NHL thanks largely to his shrewd trades for Patrick Sharp, Kris Versteeg and Andrew Ladd; his drafting of Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Troy Brouwer, Dave Bolland and Adam Burish; and his signing of free agents Brian Campbell, Antti Niemi and Marian Hossa.

"His words and everything he's done are still in this locker room," Campbell said. "He's very important to a lot of players in here."

Tallon should be best remembered as the GM who drafted franchise cornerstones Toews third overall in 2006 and Kane first overall in 2007.

"I think he did a great job for our team and did a lot of great things," Kane said. "You've got to be happy for a guy like that, especially a guy that drafted you first overall and had the guts to pick me back then.

"He had a really good relationship with a lot of the guys, but I'll always remember the draft and him picking me first overall. You never really saw a guy that size go at that point in the draft, so I'll always remember that, to have that courage and sense to pick a guy like myself."

Tallon was fired last summer after four years as Hawks GM and replaced by Stan Bowman because of personal differences with president John McDonough.

Tallon took the hit for Bowman and others who were responsible with him for the organization's failure to tender qualifying contract offers on time to restricted free agents Versteeg, Brouwer and Cam Barker - a mistake that cost the team millions more to re-sign them.

McDonough admitted at a news conference after the firing that Tallon probably wouldn't have lost his job had the contract offers gone out on time. The Hawks president released a statement Monday wishing Tallon well with the Panthers.

"I'm very happy Dale has this opportunity, and we wish him well," McDonough said. "Additionally, I'd like to thank him for the significant role he played in the development and success of our hockey operations."

Bowman, who spoke with Tallon on Monday, said he learned a lot from his former boss in his previous role as assistant GM and credited Tallon with building the present team.

"He was a big part of it, no doubt about it," Bowman said. "There's a lot of things you have to do to reach the level we're at and certainly Dale is a big contributor.

"He really has a good eye for talent, and working with him for all those years it was good for me to get that side of the business."

Tallon also hired Joel Quenneville to coach after firing Denis Savard four games into last season.

"Dale did a tremendous job here and built a special team," Quenneville said. "I feel fortunate to be a part of it, and I appreciate that Dale hired me as coach. He's got a lot of pieces in place here.

"We're the beneficiary of a lot of Dale's work here and hopefully we can continue on."

The 59-year-old Tallon was retained after his firing as GM and served as a senior adviser, but he kept a low profile.

"He's been a good behind-the-scenes guy for me to talk to about different things," Bowman said.

Tallon will be formally named Panthers GM today at a news conference.

"I'm excited," Tallon said. "I look forward to getting to work and evaluating and preparing for the draft and free agency.

"I'm not bitter at all (at the Hawks). There's no hard feelings at all. I'm rooting really hard for them to win the Stanley Cup."