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Ex-Blackhawk Havlat rips McDonough

Former Blackhawks winger Martin Havlat, who failed to reach an agreement with the team during free agency before signing with the Minnesota Wild, took some verbal shots at his former employers Wednesday.

Havlat told Darren Dreger of TSN.ca that he was unable to come to an agreement to re-sign with the Hawks because of friction between then-general manager Dale Tallon and Team President John McDonough. Tallon was re-assigned Tuesday within the organization and replaced by Stan Bowman.

"My negotiation with Chicago was not between Dale and my agent [Allan Walsh], it was between Dale and McDonough," Havlat told TSN.ca. "Why? Because McDonough couldn't stand that Dale was so successful and getting the credit for building the Hawks from a last place team to making the Conference Final in three short years. Remember, we were also the youngest team in the NHL last year.

"I was too closely identified with Dale. McDonough knew long ago he was going to fire Dale. He wanted someone he could claim as his own He wanted to stand up at the convention and claim credit for signing this guy or that guy."

McDonough said Tuesday that he and Tallon were "polar opposites" and there were some "style differences" in the way they handled things, but the main reasons for Tallon's firing were his misfiling of paperwork to the Hawks' restricted free agents and a gap in communication between the GM and McDonough.

"Dale and I were very close and I stand for loyalty," Havlat continued to TSN.ca. "The players loved Dale and they are with him. Every single player on that team is with Dale. I still talk to the guys all the time, hockey players know a phony when they see one."

"I was part of a very special team but that team doesn't exist anymore. I am really disappointed that [team Chairman] Rocky Wirtz would let something like this happen."

McDonough appeared on WSCR-AM 670's "The Danny Mac Show" on Wednesday and took the high road.

"I am a big fan of Marty Havlat," McDonough said on WSCR. "Unfortunately, things didn't work out here to extend him and I really wish him well in Minnesota--except when he's playing the Blackhawks. He's a classy guy. Where that came from, I have no idea. I have never talked to Marty Havlat or his agent about a contract extension. I empower people to make those decisions.

"I don't know really what Marty was told because I haven't spoken to him. It was a hockey operations decision. Marty certainly is entitled to write whatever he writes. I respect him. I like him a great deal. He's a classy guy and he may be misinformed."

agreed.....other than the favorite player part at least, always thought he was kind of a pussy, had a great season last year though