Coach Q: Plenty of interest in Blackhawks assistant opening

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PITTSBURGHThe Chicago Blackhawks have been looking for a new assistant coach since firing Mike Haviland in early May. But coach Joel Quenneville said the search may be over in the near future.

Quenneville said finding a new assistant coach will get done soon as he joined the Blackhawks brass at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft in Pittsburgh on Friday night. Quenneville said hes talked to a few guys about the position already, but didnt want to get specific on who. Interest, however, is there.

There are a lot of guys interested, Quenneville said. Its a long list, and thats where were at. Its amazing how many guys, how many outstanding candidates (there are).

As far as whether the next Blackhawks assistant will be a power play andor penalty kill aficionado, Quenneville said, I dont want to say itll be a PP or a PK guy. Well share a lot of responsibilities.

Haviland was fired on May 8, about two weeks after the Blackhawks lost their first-round matchup to the Phoenix Coyotes. Quenneville said there was dysfunction on the staff that needed to be addressed, and Haviland was apparently a casualty of that.

Haviland has yet to respond publicly to the firing. A finalist for last years Winnipeg head coaching job, Haviland is once again drawing interest; CSN Washingtons Chuck Gormley reported earlier this week that Haviland interviewed for the Capitals head coaching job.

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