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BLACKHAWKS FIRE SAVARD, MAKE QUENNEVILLE NEW COACH

Despite a 4-1 win over the Phoenix Coyotes on Wednesday, Denis Savard's tenure as the coach of the Chicago Blackhawks has come to an end.

"This was an extremely hard day for this organization and for me personally," said general manager Dale Tallon in a statement on Thursday. "Denis is forever a part of our organization. We made a tough decision that we strongly feel is the right one as we continue to evaluate our team and create a championship-calibre organization that can sustain success."

The team announced former Avalanche and Blues coach Joel Quenneville will take over behind the bench. Chicago will hold a news conference at 5:30pm et on Thursday.

"Joel brings us a wealth of experience and a winning track record that will have an immediate and lasting impact," explained Tallon in the statement.

Quenneville was added to Chicago's scouting department in September.

The Blackhawks made the move to let their coach of three years go, after the club got off to a slow 1-2-1 start. It is tied with Pittsburgh in 2001 (Ivan Hlinka - 0-4-0) and Montreal in 1995 (Jacques Demers - 0-4-0) as the quickest coach firing in the NHL over the last 20-years. The NHL record for fewest games into season for a coaching change is two. The most recent team to replace a coach after two games was Detroit in 1969 (Bill Gadsby - 2-0).

"I'm disappointed but I guess it's the nature of the business," Savard told ESPN when contacted on Thursday.

"I know I was doing a good job, I'm dedicated to my work. Obviously they felt they had to make a change, so what can you do."

Expectations are high in Chicago this season. The club added free agent defenceman Brian Campbell, and free agent goaltender Cristobal Huet in the off-season to add to the core group of Martin Havlat, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.

"The only thing I can say is that last year I thought I did a heck of a job with our young kids," added Savard. "Eight to 10 rookies in our lineup. We had a bit of a slow start this year but I thought the team was on the right track. I guess it goes with the territory. As a coach you're judged on wins and losses."

In 147 games as Blackhawks coach, Savard posted a 65-66-16 record.

The Blackhawks have only made one playoffs appearence in the last 10 seasons. They lost in five games to the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the 2001-02 playoffs.