In what may be an NHL record, the Chicago Blackhawks have fired head coach Denis Savard and replaced him with the well traveled Joel Quenneville four games into the 2008-09 season.

Quenneville has a winning record (438-283) as an NHL coach in stops in St. Louis and Colorado, but he's never made it out of the Conference finals. 

Meanwhile, there is a guy on the Hawks staff who they should have hired as head coach, but I'm sure Scotty Bowman didn't feel like it.

Savard, a well loved Hawks legend, had three unsuccessful years as head coach with a record of 64-66 after taking over for Trent Yawney.  Savard, a hall of famer as a player, once again proved one of the oldest theories in sports correct: Great players make lousy coaches. 

The Hawks were expected (and still are) to make the playoffs this year.  They started the season 1-3 with their first win coming last night against the Phoenix Coyotes, a team also coached by an NHL hall of famer who has had little success as a coach.

Savard's biggest accomplishment as head coach was coining the phrase "commit to the Indian."