Blackhawks fire president/CEO John McDonough

The Chicago Blackhawks made a stunning front-office decision Monday, releasing John McDonough from his role as president and CEO, the organization announced.

McDonough was with the club for 13 years, including three Stanley Cups. He was originally hired as president before CEO was added to his title in 2011.

"Thirteen years ago, I recruited John to the Blackhawks because of his leadership, direction, and vision," Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz said. "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."

Wirtz added, "As difficult as this is, we believe it was the right decision for the future of the organization and its fans."

McDonough, who specializes in marketing, overtook a team that ranked second-last in the NHL in attendance, averaging 12,727 fans per game in 2006-07, according to ESPN. Before the 2019-20 campaign was suspended, the Blackhawks had a 531-game sell-out streak despite sitting last in the Central Division this season.

In 2009, before Chicago's first Stanley Cup, Forbes called the organization "the greatest sports-business turnaround ever," giving McDonough a large chunk of the credit, even though he had only been on the job for two years.

Prior to his tenure with the Blackhawks, McDonough worked for the Chicago Cubs for 24 years.

In March, Wirtz said that McDonough, general manager Stan Bowman, and head coach Jeremy Colliton would all return next season.

The search for McDonough's successor is underway. Danny Wirtz, Rocky's son and current vice president of the team, will fill the role on an interim basis.