Trent Yawney was hired to be the new coach of the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday, replacing Brian Sutter who was let go last month.
Yawney, 39, coached the Blackhawks' minor American Hockey League affiliate in Virginia the past five years and led the Admirals to five straight playoff appearances.
The Blackhawks were 91-37-118 in three seasons under Sutter, and made the playoffs only once, in 2002. Chicago missed the playoffs in six of seven years before the lockout that wiped out the entire 2004-05 NHL season.
Sutter's contract was not renewed when general manager Dale Tallon took over the Blackhawks last month.
"Trent is innovative, creative and will bring a fresh approach, this is another step in the right direction," Tallon said.
"We plan to have a young team, and we feel that Trent fits the Blackhawks like a match made in heaven because he will have coached many of our players for two or three years," team owner William Wirtz said.
Yawney played 12 years in the NHL, including six seasons as a defenseman for the Blackhawks. He also was an assistant coach in Chicago for the 1999-2000 season.
Mike Babcock rejected an offer to remain coach of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, and could be headed to Detroit as coach of the Red Wings.
"I received a call from Mike Babcock last night and he told me he was not going to accept the offer of a one-year extension that I had tendered to him and that he was taking another opportunity," Mighty Ducks general manager Brian Burke said on Thursday on a conference call.
Babcock's original deal with the Mighty Ducks, a two-year contract with a one-year extension, expired on June 30.
Burke, hired by new Mighty Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli last month, met with Babcock shortly after taking the job, and made the one-year offer last week, giving Babcock a week to decide.
Burke said the Ducks were asked if they could "sweeten the pot" or extend the deadline, and firmly declined.
"I said, `No.' I was not going to add a penny, extend the deadline a day," Burke said.
Babcock led the Ducks to the Stanley Cup finals two years ago during his first season in Anaheim. They didn't make the playoffs in 2003-2004.
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