What's with constantly putting their sticks into the opponents skates all night. Just dumb penalty after dumb penalty.

I respectfully disagree about Keith and Stone, Stone let's a guy get past him several times and Corey bailed him out at least twice, bad penalty by Keith and getting caught in no mans land that first goal even had his stick out of position to block a pass oire shot. This team right now is a poop show. Q looks like he's so far up Stones head he doesn't know what to do, thanks Q.

The forwards did a nice job in the first period, but then the Blues got a few PP and two uncontested goals and then it became a grind and they just don't grind well

Ok... so this is coming from a guy who just watches hockey, and has never played except in the street with his buddies in middle school...

But there is something the Hawks have been doing for about a few years now that is just killing me when I see it. In both the offensive and defensive zone, they do this "whack the puck along" thing. I know the game comes fast, and you dont always have time to think about what is the "best play" and sometime you just need to react, but they will tap the puck along to the next guy (or to an area where they expect the next guy to be) but either a) no one is there or b) that guy is in no position to make a play other than also "whack the puck along". and they do this until someone is in a position to make an actual hockey play, but more often than not it leads to no SOG, and eventually a turnover.

Now when you had Keith, Seabs, Hammer, Kane, Toews, Hossa, 1st rendition of Saad and Sharp, Pre-injury Shaw, Frolik, etc the list goes on... all 3 years younger than they are now... this worked. Toews Kane and Hossa were top 10 players in the world at that point, and you could sling the puck around the ice and wait for something good to happen and most of the time it worked.

Now, you have a Rookies like DeBrincat and Forsling, 4 dmen with little NHL experience, a young but still learning Hartman, Kane and Toews @ step slower, No Hossa, .... you get the point.... but they still deploy this "tactic".

We want to "Blame" people like Forsling and Seabs for turnovers and such, but when it seems the direction of the coaching to take these "whacks" at the puck, it doesnt seem the scheme is doing much to help them either...

Ok... off my soapbox... and maybe Im uninformed here and Im way off (And if so, please elaborate because i do like reading about strategy and stuff)... but it just erks me when I see it.

so which is the aberration: the first 2 games or the games vs wild and blues...

CC was sporting a .960 save% and 1.25 GA and seeing 35 sog's per game....

sorry that can't be sustained..last night was a correction game...sadly his mates got assists on 3 of those goals...

https://windycitychronicl...blackhawks-loss-to-blues/

My take on that hot mess of a game last night.

Glad it is early in the season, will give Stan Bowman plenty of time to see what he needs, I am still hoping they are talking to Colorado about Matt Duchenne and possibly Barrie,And for those I may have offended in my last post with my choice of words towards Nick schmaltz, I apologize, but after seeing a little more than a year of this kid I have had enough, this is professional hockey, I’m not telling you to be a caveman but this kid has no interest in engaging whatsoever, if Stan Bowman is smart he will sell high while he can and include him in any trade of significance, like Eddie O says! “Eeeeemediately!!””

Honestly as much as i respect Q for everything he has done, i think it's time to move on.

I think everyone is actually being overly generous. They played like horse $h*t!!! What happened to the speed, forecheck, hitting and crashing of the net that we saw in the first two games? They have regressed to the slow it down perimeter game. Is this what the core is comfortable with? Nothing is quick and crisp. They receive a pass and dance and play for way too long before moving the puck. It was like a playground group of kids playing against an NHL team. This is ridiculous!!! If they are playing like this 20 games from now, I say we need to be sellers at the trade deadline...I am talking about blowing up and moving the core (if we find takers for any of them).

What's with constantly putting their sticks into the opponents skates all night. Just dumb penalty after dumb penalty.

I respectfully disagree about Keith and Stone, Stone let's a guy get past him several times and Corey bailed him out at least twice, bad penalty by Keith and getting caught in no mans land that first goal even had his stick out of position to block a pass oire shot. This team right now is a poop show. Q looks like he's so far up Stones head he doesn't know what to do, thanks Q.

The forwards did a nice job in the first period, but then the Blues got a few PP and two uncontested goals and then it became a grind and they just don't grind well
- BetweenTheDots

I meant Murphy, this is when you know your getting old, i keep thinking his name is Stone.

(frank) the blows...don't see them again ungtil 3/18....maybe they will really suck by then

Murphy had some good moments and bad. He has some pretty good OFF upside but still needs to work on positioning on D. Please do not learn from SEABS. I know the 4th line was bad last night but at least wingels and hayden is see around the Puck is Bouma invisible.

listen 2 of those goals with seabs on the ice had nothing to do with him: 15 brain farts and forgets the puck for one of the best snipers in the game to snap it home; and allen makes a helluva bank pass to schwartz as seabs jumps on the ice for a sit bad line change

Honestly as much as i respect Q for everything he has done, i think it's time to move on.
- BetweenTheDots

If this keeps up you might be on to something.

Honestly as much as i respect Q for everything he has done, i think it's time to move on.
- BetweenTheDots

Pro coaches definitely cannot stay in one spot overly long anymore. Q has probably been in one place for too long. The 21st Century athlete starts to tune out the same voice after awhile. I do feel Q has been arguably the best coach in the history of the Blackhawks, and at this stage you probably won't be able to fill his position with anybody better. I do think it probably is time for Q to be done as the head coach of the Hawks, and a new voice leads the Hawks.

Honestly as much as i respect Q for everything he has done, i think it's time to move on.
- BetweenTheDots

What concerns me is you watch the Blues take away the Hawks D first option out of the zone and then younger D have no clue what to do. What are the Hawks doing during practice? Blues send two guys on the forecheck and its lights out.


That falls on the coaching staff. The Hawks are too easy to game plan against.

Kane looks to be in a serious funk and not very happy. Why? Something in the room? Or is it stuff the coaching staff is doing?

I honestly don't like the lines either. There is no checking line. The 4th line is being used as a normal 4th line. You can't have 12 15 10 be your checking line.

For those defending Toews that he is the same old guy.... no. He is not cancelling out other teams top lines nor does he look dangerous with the puck. Most noticeable player last night was Tarasenko and it wasn't just b/c of his offense. Toews is supposed to be the face of the franchise and one of the elite players in the NHL. He looks like an good 2 way center right now. Taking Toews and Keith of the PP might actually make it useful.

Pro coaches definitely cannot stay in one spot overly long anymore. Q has probably been in one place for too long. The 21st Century athlete starts to tune out the same voice after awhile. I do feel Q has been arguably the best coach in the history of the Blackhawks, and at this stage you probably won't be able to fill his position with anybody better. I do think it probably is time for Q to be done as the head coach of the Hawks, and a new voice leads the Hawks.
- ChicagoHope

I don't know, i just think the league has caught up and know exactly how to play the Hawks, 3rd year in a row pretty much the same, Kings under new management have become more aggressive, and the Pens had a good team but being used wrong, Sullivan steps in... we have talent

Was saying it last night, I think this is a situation where Q will typically shake up the D pairs. It is a stretch to say that say that any dman had a good game. Keith at least broke up a number of plays and was pretty solid in his own end, but made a couple awful plays himself. It is hard to attack the net or get any chances when you don't exit your zone without giving back the puck. I think the stat keeper was a bit light on the giveaways credited last night.

Murphy was ok, but he did let a guy (Schwartz I think) get behind him and thankfully Schwartz failed to execute on the breakaway.

I don't fault Seabrook on the goal by Tarasenko, I think AA needed to protect that puck and not be stripped so easily. The whole play was part of the issue. What options did Seabrook have?

Pass to AA
Bank/Chip it out and pretty much give it back to St Louis
Attempt a long risky pass to Sharp or DeBrincat

Tarasenko easily read the play and victimized AA.

Well, hopefully we can wash our hands of that stinking turd last night and get moving against a good, young, fast team tonight. If the same team effort comes out tonight, they are gonna get killed.

If this keeps up you might be on to something.
- Beaver-Warrior

I've been a very big Q defender, but what happens if this team loses 10 of the next 15? It's just been one really bad game, so I won't get a head of myself... but that could be dangerous for a coaching staff.

Pro coaches definitely cannot stay in one spot overly long anymore. Q has probably been in one place for too long. The 21st Century athlete starts to tune out the same voice after awhile. I do feel Q has been arguably the best coach in the history of the Blackhawks, and at this stage you probably won't be able to fill his position with anybody better. I do think it probably is time for Q to be done as the head coach of the Hawks, and a new voice leads the Hawks.
- ChicagoHope

I would include Q in my explosion of the core... This is the 3rd season since the last cup win and they look to be getting more and more distant from competing for the next cup. Rather than continuing this mediocrity, I'd rather suffer through some terrible seasons & reload through the draft. Get rid of everyone and load up on draft picks via those trades and some bad records. I'd rather see a young team gel then be hopeful that something miraculous happens and our core generates more magic.

What concerns me is you watch the Blues take away the Hawks D first option out of the zone and then younger D have no clue what to do. What are the Hawks doing during practice? Blues send two guys on the forecheck and its lights out.


That falls on the coaching staff. The Hawks are too easy to game plan against.

Kane looks to be in a serious funk and not very happy. Why? Something in the room? Or is it stuff the coaching staff is doing?

I honestly don't like the lines either. There is no checking line. The 4th line is being used as a normal 4th line. You can't have 12 15 10 be your checking line.

For those defending Toews that he is the same old guy.... no. He is not cancelling out other teams top lines nor does he look dangerous with the puck. Most noticeable player last night was Tarasenko and it wasn't just b/c of his offense. Toews is supposed to be the face of the franchise and one of the elite players in the NHL. He looks like an good 2 way center right now. Taking Toews and Keith of the PP might actually make it useful.
- bhawks2241

And that's exactly why NHL coaches really want no part of young/rookie defenceman who haven't gone thru the wars at the AHL level at least. Forsling for one wouldn't be on this team were it not for the salary cap.

>You touched every base, JJ
>And, have to agree with Rick, too -- whole team stunk -- team play structure is missing
>Lack of structure shows up in two very specific ways -- team passing -- which has not been good and team defending -- night after night -- too many Hawks "on the wrong side of the puck" when defending
>When was the last time a Hawk forward cut off an opponent puck-carrier in the neutral zone and created a turnover? (Game 2?)
>As far as passing -- those without the puck have to work much harder to be a real passing option -- those with the puck have to stop telegraphing every pass they make and take pride in making a good pass
>Everyone is on the "Hawk D-train of doom" -- I blame the center play
>#19 has yet to make a significant defensive contribution and his passing has been brutal all year
>#8 -- gets a pass due to injury
>#15 -- is he headed to Line 4?
>Line 4 -- somebody step up and be the Center needed there

I've been a very big Q defender, but what happens if this team loses 10 of the next 15? It's just been one really bad game, so I won't get a head of myself... but that could be dangerous for a coaching staff.
- JRoenick97

2 out of 3

Still holding out analysis until at least 10 games maybe even 15-20, but this team is going to go as far as their D takes them. Have to have some concerns on EVERY guy back there right now.

12 is going to need time to develop and I don't know if that means up here or over in Rockford, but before he does go.....I would put him with 88. I'm sure I know what 38 brings, he's a try hard/energy player, but I just dont' think he has the skill to last long term playing with 88.

hawks D better be VERY careful tonight when/if they pinch because the Oilers will fly by them.....

What concerns me is you watch the Blues take away the Hawks D first option out of the zone and then younger D have no clue what to do. What are the Hawks doing during practice? Blues send two guys on the forecheck and its lights out.


That falls on the coaching staff. The Hawks are too easy to game plan against.

Kane looks to be in a serious funk and not very happy. Why? Something in the room? Or is it stuff the coaching staff is doing?

I honestly don't like the lines either. There is no checking line. The 4th line is being used as a normal 4th line. You can't have 12 15 10 be your checking line.

For those defending Toews that he is the same old guy.... no. He is not cancelling out other teams top lines nor does he look dangerous with the puck. Most noticeable player last night was Tarasenko and it wasn't just b/c of his offense. Toews is supposed to be the face of the franchise and one of the elite players in the NHL. He looks like an good 2 way center right now. Taking Toews and Keith of the PP might actually make it useful.
- bhawks2241

Yet nobody can offer any real evidence that Toews has somehow declined.

Here is some information from the small sample size of this season. Most important factors are in line with expectation as far as Toews is concerned. That is saying something considering Saad+Panik is at the level of Saad + Hossa in terms of two way play and elite skill. Not saying Panik isn't doing his job, but he isn't a future hall of famer.

1) His line is putting a ton of pressure on the opposition when they are on the ice and that is with all 3 forwards taking their turns attacking. This is clearly visible when you watch him play.

2) His point production is normal for him

3) His possession relative to his teammates is right on par.

4) His line has only given up 2 goals at even strength

5) In terms of dangerous scoring chances, his line is generating them at a pace that would be a career high, in terms of chances per game and his ratio of high danger chances for to against is at a level similar to his best seasons.

6) He is on pace to take his lowest amount of offensive zone draws 5v5 and a career high in defensive zone draws. (This is a trend for the whole team)

Toews is Toews, but the team in general is not effective. It is clear as day when you watch the game and really only 4 or 5 guys are being effective all game.

I've been a very big Q defender, but what happens if this team loses 10 of the next 15? It's just been one really bad game, so I won't get a head of myself... but that could be dangerous for a coaching staff.
- JRoenick97

I believe this quote sum's it up...

“Bill Walsh said that after 10 years in any position that’s stressful, it’s probably best to seek a new landscape and different challenges,” Epstein said, referring to the Hall of Fame football coach who guided the San Francisco 49ers to three Super Bowl titles in 10 seasons.