CHICAGO - Trent Yawney was fired Monday as coach of the Chicago Blackhawks, who have lost 12 of their last 15 games. He was replaced by assistant Denis Savard.

Chicago Blackhawks head coach Trent Yawney talks to his team during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Chicago, in this April 16, 2006 file photo. Trent Yawney was fired Monday Nov. 27, 2006 as coach of the Chicago Blackhawks, who have lost 12 of their last 15 games. He was replaced by assistant Denis Savard. (AP Photo/Brian Kersey)

Yawney, in his second season coaching the Blackhawks, had a record of 33-55-15. Chicago has 16 points this season — only Columbus has fewer — and could be on the way to missing the playoffs for the eighth time in nine years.

"The bottom line is wins and losses, and we need to win more," general manager Dale Tallon said on the team's Web site. "We've had some injuries, but in spite of that we're a better team than our record shows."

Savard is a Hall of Fame player who joined the Blackhawks in 1997 as an assistant coach. His first game in charge will be at home Wednesday against Dallas.

"I've always wanted to be a head coach," Savard said. "The circumstances are not the greatest because when you take over for somebody midseason it means things did not go as well as we all expected."

Savard played 17 years with Chicago, Montreal and Tampa Bay. The 44-year-old coach said the players must share the responsibility, but "we're looking to move forward and go in a new direction."

Tallon, who expects to add a second assistant coach, said he anticipates the team playing at a faster tempo.

The GM revamped the roster after the Blackhawks finished at 26-43-13 and with the third-worst record in the 30-team NHL last season. During preseason, the team appeared faster, quicker and more skilled than the one in 2005-06, but the Blackhawks clearly have not met expectations.

The team went through an 0-7-1 slide this season and has been hurt by injuries to forwards Martin Havlat and Michal Handzus and goalie Nikolai Khabibulin.

Khabibulin was signed before last season to a four-year, $27 million contract but has struggled with injuries and last year had trouble stopping the puck.

Havlat, who was leading the NHL in scoring when he sprained an ankle Oct. 20, has played in just seven games. Considered one of the NHL's rising stars, he signed a three-year, $18 million deal before the season, even though he was limited to just 18 games last season with Ottawa because of injury.

Yawney coached the Blackhawks' minor league affiliate in Norfolk, Va., for five seasons, taking the Admirals to the playoffs five straight times.

He made his NHL debut as a player with Chicago in 1988 and played with the Blackawks until traded to Calgary in 1991. He spent parts of five seasons with the Flames.

He then joined the St. Louis Blues before returning to the Blackhawks in 1997 as a free agent. After breaking his arm the following season, he assisted the coaching staff and in 1999 was hired as an assistant coach for Chicago under then head coach Lorne Molleken.

Savard began his coaching career as an assistant in Chicago after retiring from the National Hockey League in June 1997. During his playing career, Savard scored 473 goals and 865 assists in 1,196 games.