Chicago Blackhawks Fire Assistant Coach Mike Haviland, Cite ‘Dysfunction’ On Coaching Staff

Quenneville continued by saying that the firing of assistant coach Mike Haviland was his decision, citing “dysfunction” on the coaching staff that led to the ultimate decision to let Haviland go. Haviland was a member of the coaching staff before Quenneville’s 2008 hire, and that’s led to some speculation from Blackhawks blog Second City Hockey.

Quenneville, for what it’s worth, claimed that his friendly relationship with Mike Kitchen had nothing to do with the decision to fire Haviland.

We’ll see if anything interesting comes out of the press conference on the Quenneville front, and if it’s at all related to Haviland’s departure. Haviland has been a member of the Chicago organization since taking the head-coaching job with their AHL affiliate in Norfolk in 2005. He moved to Rockford, Ill., when the team changed affiliates in 2007, and he made the leap to the NHL in 2008. Haviland was on the bench when Chicago won the Stanley Cup in 2010.

For more on the Blackhawks, check in with Second City Hockey.