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Tallon had just signed Hossa, who’s No. 81 has been retired by the Blackhawks, as a free agent on July 1, 2009. It was a front-loaded 12-year deal that paid an average of $5.233 million a year, and put Chicago right on the then-$56.8 million salary cap. But the deal paid off big-time as Hossa played a pivotal role for eight seasons in Chicago before retiring due to a recurring skin disorder.
Drafted No. 2 overall by the Vancouver Canucks in 1970, Tallon wasn’t ousted for his inability to scout and acquire talent or lack of knowledge of the game. The former defenseman did have a reputation, however, for not being particularly fond of administrative chores in the NHL’s salary cap era, which started in 2005-05.
When Hossa was signed, the Blackhawks failed to tender qualifying offers to eight restricted free agents before the July 1, 2009 deadline. That created the possibility those players could become unrestricted.
Every prominent RFA on the team signed with Chicago, but not before the NHLPA filed a grievance. https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/
Tallon took responsibility for the snafu and said it would not happen again. The Blackhawks ended up paying more than they otherwise would have for forward Kris Versteeg and defenseman Cam Barker.
Backed by his father, Scotty, and then-Blackhawks president John McDonough, Stan Bowman was elevated to GM. Tallon became a lame-duck senior advisor with Chicago for one year, then GM of the Florida Panthers from 2010 to 2020. He’s now a senior advisor and pro scout for the Canucks.
Post-Aldrich Fallout
Bowman is the first former Blackhawks executive re-hired by an NHL team since the team’s 2010 sexual assault scandal came to light in 2021. The league reinstated Bowman, coach Joel Quenneville and Al MacIsaac, who also worked in Chicago’s front office, earlier this month.
Bowman stepped down as Chicago’s GM on Oct. 26, 2021 after an independent investigation found the organization mishandled allegations made by prospect Kyle Beach that he was sexually abused by then-video coach Brad Aldrich. Bowman was in a May 2010 meeting led by McDonough when McDonough said he “would take care of” Beach’s complaint, and intentionally delayed doing so during the team’s championship run.
Aldrich, who later was convicted of assaulting a high school player in Houghton, Michigan, also was accused of sexual assault by a second former Blackhawks player as well as a front office intern. The civil case from the second player against the team is still in the works.
Related: Law Firm Provides Details on Suit by Second Former Blackhawks Player in Brad Aldrich Sexual Abuse Affair
The arrogant McDonough was fired in 2020 by late Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz and replaced by Rocky’s son, Danny. After Rocky Wirtz died in July 2023, Danny became the team’s chairman and CEO.
But the Aldrich affair isn’t the biggest issue here
Bowman Was A Tepid GM
But the bigger complaint with Bowman may be how he handled the Blackhawks player personnel. Although often strapped by the salary cap, he did a sketchy job at bringing in new talent and traded away draft picks and young players who went on to prosper with other teams. Florida defenseman Gustav Forsling might top the list.
Related: Bowman’s Blackhawks Blunders: Draft Picks That Shouldn’t Have Been Traded
The Blackhawks’ inability so maintain a flow of quality talent is the main reason the team slid to the bottom of the NHL. Bowman’s draft classes from 2010 through 2021 were lukewarm, producing only a handful of impact players so far such as Brandon Saad (2011), Teuvo Teravainen (2012), Ryan Hartman (2013), Nick Schmalz (2014), Alex DeBrincat (2016) and Alex Vlasic (2019).
All except Vlasic, who had a terrific breakout season on defense in 2023-24, were traded. Teravainen has returned to Chicago as a free agent, signing on July 1.
Related: Blackhawks Sign Defenseman Alex Vlasic to Six-Year, $27.6 Million Deal
The jury is still out on some prospects drafted under Bowman’s regime. They include Wyatt Kaiser (2020), Lukas Reichel (2020) Drew Commesso (2020), Nolan Allan (2021), Colton Dach (2021) and Ethan Del Mastro (2021).
One of Bowman’s first priorities with the Oilers will be to get Leon Draisaitl, who is now less than a year out from unrestricted free agency, signed long-term. Connor McDavid’s current deal expires July 1, 2026.
