Blackhawks Release President and CEO John McDonough

The Blackhawks dropped a bombshell late Monday afternoon.

"Thirteen years ago, I recruited John to the Blackhawks because of his leadership, direction and vision. John brought all of that to the table and more. His contributions went well beyond leading the team to three Stanley Cup Championships. He rebuilt the front office and helped guide the organization toward a winning vision," said Wirtz. "As difficult as this is, we believe it was the right decision for the future of the organization and its fans," Wirtz added.

The release also states that the COVID-19 crisis and the league suspension as an opportunity to reassess the team's future and set a new direction for the organization.

This seems to have come as a surprise to even the most plugged-in Blackhawk insiders.

The team indicated no planned successor to Mcdonough.