Dumbass! I’ve almost kind of missed you, sorta, but not really! (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

It’s been a while since we’ve actually talked about Blackhawks hockey stuff on here, so there are some things you might have forgotten about. Let’s get everybody caught up!

• Daniel Carcillo is our dumbass for two more years.
• Ray Emery is here for another year.
• Jamal Mayers re-signed for another year, as well.
• Johnny Oduya re-signed for three years.
• Mike Haviland was fired from the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks hired Jamie Kompon, former assistant coach of the Los Angeles Kings, to replace him.
• The Blackhawks signed two free agents over the offseason, Sheldon Brookbank and Michal Rozsival.
• Sami Lepisto is gone, but other than that, last year’s team is intact. Whether this is a good or bad thing remains to be seen.

And that’s what you forgot — or tried to forget — over this extended offseason!

What the Blackhawks want Kane to do. I guess.

A team source told the Chicago-Sun Times yesterday that the Blackhawks were concerned by Patrick Kane‘s partying ways and have suggested he seek help:

“He’s obviously got some issues,” the source said. “How many more times can these things happen? It’s a much bigger thing than some photographs in a 48-hour window.”

Stan Bowman also commented on Kane’s partying for the first time on Tuesday:

“We are aware of that situation,” Bowman said when asked by the Sun-Times about Kane. “We followed it closely. It was one of those things where we’ve discussed it with Patrick. We’ve handled that internally.

“We’re obviously disappointed with how it played it out, and Patrick is aware of that fact. But at this point, it’s a private matter. I think, out of respect for Patrick, we’re not going to comment further. We’re going to look forward and try to focus on things in improving our team leading into the summer.”

Does this mean that Kane is most definitely going to rehab? I don’t know. And, really, is it any of our business? Let’s just hope he gets it together and comes back next season ready to win.

» Continue reading “Fresh Brew: The Blackhawks Want Kane To Seek Help. Maybe. Kinda. I Don’t Know.”

Guess this is what Joel Quenneville sent to the Blackhawks today.

In a startling turn of events, Mike Haviland was fired from the Blackhawks today. Here’s the entire statement from the Blackhawks:

The Chicago Blackhawks announced today the team has relieved Assistant Coach Mike Haviland of his duties.

Haviland spent four seasons as an Assistant Coach with the Blackhawks after being named to the coaching staff on July 23, 2008. He arrived in Chicago after spending three years as Head Coach of the organization’s American Hockey League affiliates Norfolk (2005-07) and Rockford (2007-08).

I don’t even know what’s going on right now. Let’s be real — the front office is a hot mess. I can’t wait for the “secret sources” to come out of the woodwork to tell the mainstream media how Haviland was an ineffective assistant coach.

A message for Winnipeg.

According to the Winnipeg Free Press, Mike Haviland will be interviewing with Kevin Cheveldayoff, the Winnipeg NHL team’s new general manager, for the vacant head coaching position today. He joins Manitoba Moose head coach Claude Noel, TSN analyst Craig McTavish, and Atlanta head coach Craig Ramsay in the interview pool.

As much as I would love to act like an adult and wish Haviland the best of luck — you know what? No. I would like this poaching of the Blackhawks’ talent to begin and end with Cheveldayoff, no matter how much Haviland deserves to be a head coach of an NHL team. Is it selfish? Hell yes, it’s selfish! I want Haviland to stay here and work his magic, okay? I don’t want to be stuck with only Mike Kitchen backing up Coach Q! I’ll cry!

…Er, sorry, Kitchen.

After the jump, Campoli talks about joining the Competition Committee (turns out he’s a bright guy with a keen interest in the union — who knew?):

» Continue reading “Your Daily Cup: Don’t Leave Us, Haviland!”