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The Chicago Blackhawks named Dale Tallon the 8th General Manager in the team's storied history on June 21, 2005.
"I was thrilled when Dale Tallon accepted our offer to become Assistant General Manager," said Blackhawks President William W. Wirtz. "I asked Dale to work under the tutelage of Bob Pulford and to learn from his experience. Bob Pulford came to me and said he felt that Dale has completed his education and has recommended that he take over the reigns as General Manager of the Blackhawks."
"Dale has shown me over that he is an extremely hard worker," said Blackhawks Senior Vice President Bob Pulford. "He has proven to not only myself but to the Blackhawks organization that he is ready to take over as the team's General Manager."
"I am truly humbled knowing that I am one of only eight people to have ever held the position of General Manager of the Chicago Blackhawks," said Tallon. "It is an honor and a privilege to be the General Manager of one of the National Hockey League's original six teams. I feel very comfortable with the challenges that lie ahead and I feel that I am prepared to meet those challenges head on. I have been looking forward to this for a long, long time. I plan to surround myself with quality people who have the same goal in mind, namely bringing a Stanley Cup back to Chicago."
Tallon, in his second stint with the Blackhawks front office, was named Assistant General Manager on November 5, 2003. He served four years (1998-2002) as the Blackhawks Director of Player Personnel before he returned to the radio and television booth prior to the 2002-03 season as color analyst for Blackhawk hockey.
Tallon, 55, is a native of Noranda, Quebec. He was the Vancouver Canucks' first-round selection and the second player chosen overall (behind Gilbert Perreault, Buffalo) in the 1970 NHL Entry Draft. Tallon, a defenseman, immediately jumped into the NHL with the Canucks in the 1970-71 season, scoring 14-42=56 points as a rookie. Tallon recorded a career-high 17 goals in 69 games with Vancouver during the 1971-72 season and appeared in the 1971 and 1972 NHL All- Star Games.
Tallon was traded to the Blackhawks for Jerry Korab and Gary Smith on May 14, 1973. He had his best season as a professional with the Blackhawks in 1975-76, scoring a careerhigh 47 assists and 62 points in 80 games. During his five year Blackhawk career (1973- 78), Tallon scored 44 goals and added 112 assists for 156 points with 296 penalty minutes. Tallon was dealt to Pittsburgh on October 9, 1978 for a second-round choice (Ken Solheim) in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. He finished his playing career by playing two seasons with the Penguins, where he scored 10-33=43 points in 95 games.
During his 10-year NHL career, Tallon scored 98 goals and added 238 assists for 336 points in 642 games with Vancouver, Chicago and Pittsburgh. After retiring from the NHL following the 1979-80 season, Tallon served as the Blackhawks color analyst for radio and television broadcasts for 16 seasons.
At the start of the 1998-99 season, Tallon joined the Blackhawk front office as Director of Player Personnel. As he traveled the world scouting hockey, Tallon's knowledge and expertise of the game were honed while aiding in selecting and developing the Blackhawks' young prospects.
Dale and his wife, Meg, have two daughters, Lauren and Kristen, and reside in the northern suburbs. | 