After announcing they were removing interim general manager Kyle Davidson’s tag, the Chicago Blackhawks continued to reshape their staff on Friday.
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Assistant general manager Ryan Stewart and vice president of amateur recruiting Mark Kelley have both been removed from their positions, according to the Sportsnet network. They had been with the organization for 15 years, winning three Stanley Cups with the Hawks.
“I’m very grateful for my time with the Blackhawks,” Kelley said. I’m very proud of the work we did in the repechage. I only have fond memories of my time in Chicago.”
According to the specialized site DailyFaceoff, director of player personnel Mike Doneghey will replace Kelley as head of amateur recruiting.
Good words for Davidson
After the Blackhawks’ 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night, captain Jonathan Toews praised Davidson at a press conference.
“He’s the kind of guy who knows how to make pragmatic decisions,” praised Toews, whose comments were picked up by the daily “Chicago Sun-Times”. It’s exciting to know that this team will take a clear direction.”
These remarks can be perceived as compliments for Davidson, but also as arrows towards the place of the former CEO Stan Bowman, relieved of his functions at the beginning of the season in the wake of the Brad Aldrich affair.
“I believe Kyle is the right person for this position,” he continued. He is a calm guy who will surround himself with people who have all kinds of experiences.
Pointing to the penultimate rank of the Central Division, the formation of Chicago is already unofficially excluded from the playoffs. A wind of renewal – and who knows, of reconstruction – is blowing over the “Hawks”, whose golden age ended a few seasons ago.
“Obviously, it was a very disappointing year, confided the Franco-Manitoban. I don’t know yet what [une reconstruction] consists. We know we are much better than what we showed.