Longtime Blackhawks executive Norm Maciver leaves for Seattle Kraken job after summer demotion

Six months after an unexpected demotion, longtime Blackhawks executive Norm Maciver has left the organization.

Maciver was named the Seattle Kraken’s director of player personnel Tuesday and will help Kraken general manager Ron Francis build the NHL’s newest franchise over the coming year.

“I am excited about the prospect of building something from the ground up,” Maciver said in a statement. “I’m so glad to be able to help meet the challenge of building a team in an ever-evolving league.”

The Kraken also hired former Sabres GM Jason Botterill as an assistant GM.

Once one of the most influential voices in the Hawks’ front office, Maciver was knocked out of his assistant GM position in July and made vice president of player personnel.

Hawks GM Stan Bowman spun Maciver’s move favorably at the time, saying that he had too much on his plate as the lone assistant GM and would be better suited to lead a more specialized, narrow department. Ryan Stewart, Mark Eaton and Kyle Davidson now equally share the assistant GM duties.

But the demotion signaled the writing on the wall for Maciver after 14 years with the Hawks. The switch to Seattle provides a fresh start in several regards.

“Norm was involved in Chicago’s recent Cup-winning teams and brings a lot of experience and knowledge,” Francis said in a statement. “I know him from our playing days and am pleased to reunite with him. He will do a fantastic job as we build out our team.”

The Hawks tweeted a Bowman statement after the announcement.

“Norm played an integral role in the construction of three championship teams and was an invaluable asset over the past 14 years in our Hockey Ops department,” Bowman said. “On behalf of the organization, we wish Norm the best of luck with Seattle.”

Suter on the ice for Day 2

Pius Suter made his Hawks practice debut Tuesday during the second day of training camp after only working out off the ice Monday.

The 24-year-old Swiss import centered a line with Dominik Kubalik and Andrew Shaw, and coach Jeremy Colliton said he was excited by the possibility of using Suter as a center regularly.

“It’s definitely not foreign to him,” Colliton said. “It would be really nice if we had the flexibility to put him there.”