Dale Tallon named Panthers GM

Today, the Florida Panthers will formally announce Dale Tallon as their new General Manager. Recall that a year ago, Tallon was demoted from Blackhawks GM to Senior Hockey Advisor. Apparently--and not surprisingly--that didn't sit well with Tallon, who is leaving the team after 33 years of service as a player, broadcaster and executive.

Tallon was well liked by Blackhawks fans. Many grew up listening to him as the team's color commentator for 'Hawks games in the 1980s and 1990s. And while he made a lot of questionable moves as GM (Adrian Aucoin? Cristobal Huet?), Tallon made some great ones too (Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Kris Versteeg, Patrick Sharp). When Tallon was replaced by Stan Bowman as the team's GM, 'Hawks fans were disappointed in the move.

Blackhawks' players also liked Tallon. Remember when the team chose to attended the funeral for Tallon's father? Or how pissed Martin Havlat was when Tallon got canned?

And if the Blackhawks do win the Stanley Cup this year, it will be kind of sad that Tallon won't get a ring or recognition as the man who built the team. Sure, we'll all know, but the engraving on The Cup will say otherwise...

The Panthers' organization made a smart move in signing Tallon. Florida gets someone who built a championship-caliber team and is hungry to do so again.

Tallon's got a lot of work ahead of him rebuilding the Panthers, who finished dead last in the Eastern Conference, and had the 3rd-worst record overall. But he'll probably have a lot of golf ahead of him too. To quote from his bio from the 1988-89 Chicago Blackhawks Yearbook:

If time would permit it, Dale would commute from Southeast Florida to do the 'Hawks broadcasts. The climate and golf in that area are part of his lifeblood these days and he spends as much free time as possible enjoying both.

Fortunately, the Panthers just so happen to play in Southeast Florida.

It's a win-win situation for everyone.