How long has coach Q been behind the bench now? Must be close to 10 years? All coaches have a shelf life at some point. Even ones that have been highly successful as Q.
- NewfieStud

This is his 10th year, and agreed.

@MarkLazerus

A little perspective for Blackhawks fans: Penguins have lost 10-1 to the Blackhawks, 7-1 to the Lightning, and now 7-1 to the Jets. #october

I don't think they would hesitate to pull the trigger on a deal if one becomes available. And the good thing about it is that there are some desperate teams out there who would trade - Montreal, NYR, Buffalo, Florida, Arizona. But the contract numbers have to make sense to both sides.

I'd have no problem with a guy like Evander Kane if he sticks to hockey - but who do you offer in exchange that causes the Sabres to do a deal?
- RickJ

Debrincat+ is a good starting point. Hawks don't need a guy like him, they have Patrick Kane. Other teams might see the potential in Debrincat as a pure offensive winger. I'm with Matt, go all in. Idc if they have another 2nd round pick for the next decade. Would be nice to hold onto 1st rounders but if the acquired player is under 27 then Im ok with it. Prospects and multiple picks can get legitimate NHLers to fill a hole or two and change the slotting of young players who may be playing too high in the lineup right now.

I'm excited about Sikura. I have not seen him too much, but making Team Canada bodes well for his NHL Future.

Debrincat+ is a good starting point. Hawks don't need a guy like him, they have Patrick Kane. Other teams might see the potential in Debrincat as a pure offensive winger. I'm with Matt, go all in. Idc if they have another 2nd round pick for the next decade. Would be nice to hold onto 1st rounders but if the acquired player is under 27 then Im ok with it. Prospects and multiple picks can get legitimate NHLers to fill a hole or two and change the slotting of young players who may be playing too high in the lineup right now.

I'm excited about Sikura. I have not seen him too much, but making Team Canada bodes well for his NHL Future.
- EnzoD

Sorry Enzo but I don't get too excited over 170 lb college boys who play 30 game schedules with full face shields. And that includes guys like Jimmy Vesey, Colin White, Dylan Larkin, Tyler Motte, or even Johnny Hockey and Clayton Keller. I need to see what they can do at the big league level over time, especially when the NHL teams really start to play the game for keeps after Christmas. But I hope they do have a keeper in Sikura, just seems to me it's a long way off.

And Debrincat essentially falls into the same bracket except that he is used to playing 100 game seasons. He's not a trade chip that brings back much, at least not until he's proven he can score consistently (and survive) in the NHL. I expect he is going to get a taste of Rockford sooner than later if he doesn't break out on the scoreboard soon.

The team has a habit of looking unprepared to start the game. The Hawks seldom score first. They looked like world beaters in the first 2 games, and I like many thought they got their game back, plus some.
But they now are who we thought they were. I don't see a replacement for any of the core talent in the system. This is the price paid for no and low 1st rounders. As compared to days past, there isn't a lot of bottom six scoring. The pipeline isn't going to rescue this team anytime soon.
Defensive zone face offs lost are killing this team. Trade 19 and they might never be above 50% for the rest of the year.
Net presence is sporadic, but shots on goal from the point, especially on the PP, you can count on one hand every game. The rest of the league would really have to suck to allow this group to win anything.
Q may need to go but this team lost it's heart, and is just playing the string out.

The team has a habit of looking unprepared to start the game. The Hawks seldom score first. They looked like world beaters in the first 2 games, and I like many thought they got their game back, plus some.
But they now are who we thought they were. I don't see a replacement for any of the core talent in the system. This is the price paid for no and low 1st rounders. As compared to days past, there isn't a lot of bottom six scoring. The pipeline isn't going to rescue this team anytime soon.
Defensive zone face offs lost are killing this team. Trade 19 and they might never be above 50% for the rest of the year.
Net presence is sporadic, but shots on goal from the point, especially on the PP, you can count on one hand every game. The rest of the league would really have to suck to allow this group to win anything.
Q may need to go but this team lost it's heart, and is just playing the string out.
- weakglovehand

A realist wrote this. No sugar coating. The team is what the eye test shows it is. Unnecessarily high dollars doled out in Seabrook contract. Age yet more so wear & tear trasform Seabrook and Toews into much less capable players. Hossa the back checking maven would have still.meant a lot to the team. Keith has an attitude which probably needs a winning team and a challenge, personally, to alter.

We do not know if Q has an impact upon Samuelson teaching. We see poor defensive support, structure or it is reported players are confused. The power play remains poorly orchestrated. Although firing Q may not be the 100% correct decision, nonetheless, the head coach is charged with motivating his players. While the support from secondary players to the top, core players is worse than previous seasons, part of that performance is in the coaching.

You can hope that this listless bunch of players would care more or just try harder and more often show up. This might be expecting too much. Trades of any significance is not easily constructed nor completed. The young defense will improve. But drafting well and development of previous drafts is what Bowman has to do.

Sorry Enzo but I don't get too excited over 170 lb college boys who play 30 game schedules with full face shields. And that includes guys like Jimmy Vesey, Colin White, Dylan Larkin, Tyler Motte, or even Johnny Hockey and Clayton Keller. I need to see what they can do at the big league level over time, especially when the NHL teams really start to play the game for keeps after Christmas. But I hope they do have a keeper in Sikura, just seems to me it's a long way off.

And Debrincat essentially falls into the same bracket except that he is used to playing 100 game seasons. He's not a trade chip that brings back much, at least not until he's proven he can score consistently (and survive) in the NHL. I expect he is going to get a taste of Rockford sooner than later if he doesn't break out on the scoreboard soon.


- RickJ

Enzo did say it was a starting point... and DCat would be that to a lot of GMs.

He wouldnt bring back a fix all by himself, but when developing a package, a playing with his scoring talent would likely be apart of said package.

The team has a habit of looking unprepared to start the game. The Hawks seldom score first. They looked like world beaters in the first 2 games, and I like many thought they got their game back, plus some.
But they now are who we thought they were. I don't see a replacement for any of the core talent in the system. This is the price paid for no and low 1st rounders. As compared to days past, there isn't a lot of bottom six scoring. The pipeline isn't going to rescue this team anytime soon.
Defensive zone face offs lost are killing this team. Trade 19 and they might never be above 50% for the rest of the year.
Net presence is sporadic, but shots on goal from the point, especially on the PP, you can count on one hand every game. The rest of the league would really have to suck to allow this group to win anything.
Q may need to go but this team lost it's heart, and is just playing the string out.
- weakglovehand

Funny you say this, because i basically said the same thing about FSU football and it holds true for the Hawks right now too. They often look unprepared, or at least "out-prepared" by the other team. There is talent there, but not enough to get by on talent alone. They can look like world beaters at times, and look like a team on life support the next moment. No Heart.

Sorry Enzo but I don't get too excited over 170 lb college boys who play 30 game schedules with full face shields. And that includes guys like Jimmy Vesey, Colin White, Dylan Larkin, Tyler Motte, or even Johnny Hockey and Clayton Keller. I need to see what they can do at the big league level over time, especially when the NHL teams really start to play the game for keeps after Christmas. But I hope they do have a keeper in Sikura, just seems to me it's a long way off.

And Debrincat essentially falls into the same bracket except that he is used to playing 100 game seasons. He's not a trade chip that brings back much, at least not until he's proven he can score consistently (and survive) in the NHL. I expect he is going to get a taste of Rockford sooner than later if he doesn't break out on the scoreboard soon.


- RickJ

Have you lost your mind?
Johnny Hockey & Clayton Keller are both great players.

I agree with your point somewhat but you are wrong on those 2 players.

Have you lost your mind?
Johnny Hockey & Clayton Keller are both great players.

I agree with your point somewhat but you are wrong on those 2 players.
- Goalie-33

He was saying he doesn't get excited about them until they do it in the NHL as a reference to Sikura being the savior at the end of the year.

Have you lost your mind?
Johnny Hockey & Clayton Keller are both great players.

I agree with your point somewhat but you are wrong on those 2 players.
- Goalie-33

By what standard is Clayton Keller a great NHL player now - by virtue of scoring 8 goals so far this season or leading his team to an 0-10 start, which by the end of the season will probably conclude as one of the worst win/loss records in NHL history? And you just have to know Keller is getting more room to operate on the ice right now because the opposition just doesn't take the Coyotes any more seriously than they would if they were playing an AHL team, which is what they are comparable to.

So tell me Keller is great after he accomplishes some or all of the things Patrick Kane has over several long NHL seasons and playoffs, not when he is a 25 game NHL veteran. Same with Gaudreau. If Debrincat scores 8 goals in the next dozen games are you going to start calling him great too?

By what standard is Clayton Keller a great NHL player now - by virtue of scoring 8 goals so far this season or leading his team to an 0-10 start, which by the end of the season will probably conclude as one of the worst win/loss records in NHL history? And you just have to know Keller is getting more room to operate on the ice right now because the opposition just doesn't take the Coyotes any more seriously than they would if they were playing an AHL team, which is what they are comparable to.

So tell me Keller is great after he accomplishes some or all of the things Patrick Kane has over several long NHL seasons and playoffs, not when he is a 25 game NHL veteran. Same with Gaudreau. If Debrincat scores 8 goals in the next dozen games are you going to start calling him great too?
- RickJ

He's damn fun to watch, and you could say he's dominant in the o-zone, unlike, say Schmaltz. Not saying he's a superstar but for a rookie he's plenty good.

He's damn fun to watch, and you could say he's dominant in the o-zone, unlike, say Schmaltz. Not saying he's a superstar but for a rookie he's plenty good.
- kinigitt

I didn't discredit him or say he wasn't good or fun to watch. But the term 'great' to me means near HOF calibre which is achieved over a longer period of time and based on more than some scoring statistics.

So it's not a one or two player thing. Trading for Duchene or other doesn't automatically make them better.

They still wouldn't be able to exit the zone, forecheck as a unit or hold the blue line on occasion.

It looks more like a system and players not understanding how to play problem. Which is either because guys are too nervous, genuinely are confused or don't care. We've seen this with new players on the Hawks over the years. They don't acclimate quickly.

This team may look better closer to February if they start to get it. Otherwise, they need to adjust the way they play and that needs to come from Q or from a new coach.

Also totally valid to say Toews is a poor example of a 10 million dollar player. He's not even the ultra effective shut down guy anymore. And that Seabrook has been atrocious. Lotta dollars that could have filled a lot of holes there.

@MarkLazerus

A little perspective for Blackhawks fans: Penguins have lost 10-1 to the Blackhawks, 7-1 to the Lightning, and now 7-1 to the Jets. #october
- DarthKane

Hey Mark,

Penguins have won last 2 stanley cups, not been out after a round. Talk about apples to oranges....

So it's not a one or two player thing. Trading for Duchene or other doesn't automatically make them better.

They still wouldn't be able to exit the zone, forecheck as a unit or hold the blue line on occasion.

It looks more like a system and players not understanding how to play problem. Which is either because guys are too nervous, genuinely are confused or don't care. We've seen this with new players on the Hawks over the years. They don't acclimate quickly.

This team may look better closer to February if they start to get it. Otherwise, they need to adjust the way they play and that needs to come from Q or from a new coach.

Also totally valid to say Toews is a poor example of a 10 million dollar player. He's not even the ultra effective shut down guy anymore. And that Seabrook has been atrocious. Lotta dollars that could have filled a lot of holes there.
- fattybeef

Good points, I am of the mind that before you give up on your Core/HOF crew, you change coaches. It is far more efficient.

Good points, I am of the mind that before you give up on your Core/HOF crew, you change coaches. It is far more efficient.
- TrueGrit

Same here.

I didn't discredit him or say he wasn't good or fun to watch. But the term 'great' to me means near HOF calibre which is achieved over a longer period of time and based on more than some scoring statistics.
- RickJ

Ok that's fair.

The Johnny Gaudreau example is good too. He got annhihilated in the post season, can you imagine him staying healthy through 4 rounds?

Ok that's fair.

The Johnny Gaudreau example is good too. He got annhihilated in the post season, can you imagine him staying healthy through 4 rounds?
- kinigitt

If the refs eat their whistles, no. If the slashing and interference is called then ya. I know it's been the case forever, but it's bullpoop.

By what standard is Clayton Keller a great NHL player now - by virtue of scoring 8 goals so far this season or leading his team to an 0-10 start, which by the end of the season will probably conclude as one of the worst win/loss records in NHL history? And you just have to know Keller is getting more room to operate on the ice right now because the opposition just doesn't take the Coyotes any more seriously than they would if they were playing an AHL team, which is what they are comparable to.

So tell me Keller is great after he accomplishes some or all of the things Patrick Kane has over several long NHL seasons and playoffs, not when he is a 25 game NHL veteran. Same with Gaudreau. If Debrincat scores 8 goals in the next dozen games are you going to start calling him great too?
- RickJ

Put Keller on a team with better players around him & he might be an ALL STAR rookie year.

Johnny Hockey is another version of Kane. Again the team around him is below average.

You might be right on the 35-40 games of College schedule but you are wrong on these 2 players.

Not 1 team would not want both these players. They will be stars for years & years.

Agree to disagree I guess.

Good points, I am of the mind that before you give up on your Core/HOF crew, you change coaches. It is far more efficient.
- TrueGrit

Yes I agree , Q just seems unable to adapt to a younger faster game . And will keep throwing out the same players to do the same thing . Lot of coaches on the hot seat right now .

Yes I agree , Q just seems unable to adapt to a younger faster game . And will keep throwing out the same players to do the same thing . Lot of coaches on the hot seat right now .
- oldduffman

So lets say Q decides to "retire" and become an ambassador... Who replaces Q short term?

Put Keller on a team with better players around him & he might be an ALL STAR rookie year.

Johnny Hockey is another version of Kane. Again the team around him is below average.

You might be right on the 35-40 games of College schedule but you are wrong on these 2 players.

Not 1 team would not want both these players. They will be stars for years & years.

Agree to disagree I guess.
- Goalie-33

You called them great, I said not yet; show me more than some highlight reel plays. Difference makers win championships and Hart or Norris Trophies and that's why they are called 'great' and eventually go to the HOF.

So yes, agree to disagree.

So lets say Q decides to "retire" and become an ambassador... Who replaces Q short term?
- riozzo

Dineen

How long has coach Q been behind the bench now? Must be close to 10 years? All coaches have a shelf life at some point. Even ones that have been highly successful as Q.
- NewfieStud

Unless your name is Scotty Bowman you do not get to go out on your own terms. 10 years is more than twice the average tenure of a coach. The simplest fix (or attempt to fix) is to fire Q and Dineen. Ulf is too new to blame for this mess.