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Savard passes Spin-o-Rama torch to Patrick Kane

Florida Panthers v Chicago Blackhawks

CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 23: Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks skates against the Florida Panthers at the United Center on March 23, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Blackhawks defeated the Panthers 4-0. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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Nearly 48 hours later, the Windy City is still abuzz over Patrick Kane’s spin-o-rama pass to Marian Hossa in Tuesday’s 3-2 win over Anaheim. Fans, teammates and pundits have been talking non-stop about one of the prettier setups from this young NHL season -- and now a Blackhawks legend is getting in on the love.

Chicago Tribune reporter Chris Kuc caught up with Hockey Hall of Famer Denis Savard, who during his 13 years in Chicago treated fans to his patented move: The Savardian Spin-o-Rama.

During his playing career from 1980-97, Savard scored 473 goals, 377 while wearing a Hawks sweater. He added 719 assists and ranks third in Hawks history with 1,096 points. The move he perfected while with the Hawks and Canadiens, in particular, has worked its way into the lexicon of hockey as the spin-o-rama.

“I just kind of ad-libbed it when I played,” Savard said. “At one point for me it was when the opposite defenseman was going to come across the ice and kill me so I had no choice but to spin out the other way. I spun out and there was nobody around me.”


If you’ve never seen a Savardian Spin-o-Rama before, here ya go.

Spinning isn’t the only thing linking Kane and Savard. Savard served as Kane’s first head coach in the NHL and briefly toyed with the idea of moving him from wing to center -- something current Chicago coach Joel Quenneville has done, putting Kane between Hossa and Daniel Carcillo. To great effect, we might add.

“I did it for a game or two,” Savard said. “I was called upstairs (by upper management) and they said that was probably not a good idea and I kind of said, ‘Yeah, you’re probably right because he’s a young kid and has played right wing most of his life. I don’t want to screw him up.’

“Now, I think the timing is good. Joel has made a great decision.”

Yeah, that’s a pretty fair assessment.