He's working with what he has as far as personnel. That's not his job to make trades and sign free agents. It's no secret the team has needed more size up front and another go-to faceoff guy which they haven't had since John Madden skipped town. As I said yesterday (and you say I can't read?), I put the power play partially on his shoulders whether its scheme or hiring Kompon. But a crappy PP is no reason to fire Q. It's by and large a personnel issue too. No quality net front presence and no PP QB.
- golfbard

Every PP starts in the offensive zone. If nobody can win a faceoff, you go back and pick up the puck behind your own net. (Isn't that what happens on just about every Hawk PP?) After that, if zone entry is denied/screwed up or one player tries to skate thru 4 defenders, nothing can be set up to work the puck into a high % scoring area.

Coaches don't win faceoffs or stand in front of the net or execute passes. Last night, the Hawks had enough opportunities to score at least 2 goals from close in but didn't make the plays. Boston did - example the feed from Jagr to Bergeron.

I watched game 7 versus Toronto
Leafs up 4-1. with 10 minutes to go and up 2 goals with a Minute 20 left and the net empty
Bruins looked horrible
Hard to believe 3 weeks later they look this good
What an amazing turn around

Isn't that mostly Kompon's job? I know Q has the final say, but if Kompon's running the PP, he has to pick the specific players to teach it to.
- jmatchett383

There comes a time, after 3 years of failure and 3 different PP coaches working on the same scheme with the same personnel (meaning PP personnel, not TEAM personnel), when it becomes Q's job to intervene ... unless, of course, he already has and the decisions are in fact his, which I am truly suspecting, since this has gone on for so long.

Every PP starts in the offensive zone. If nobody can win a faceoff, you go back and pick up the puck behind your own net. (Isn't that what happens on just about every Hawk PP?) After that, if zone entry is denied/screwed up or one player tries to skate thru 4 defenders, nothing can be set up to work the puck into a high % scoring area.

Coaches don't win faceoffs or stand in front of the net or execute passes. Last night, the Hawks had enough opportunities to score at least 2 goals from close in but didn't make the plays. Boston did - example the feed from Jagr to Bergeron.
- RickJ

While I agree with what you are saying, the fact remains that when they DO set up and they DO execute passes, they STILL don't score on the PP.

Honestly, I see so much of Lovie in Q that it makes me want to Barf. The comparisons are innumerable.
- Q...argh

I get what you are saying but let's not forget Q did win the Stanley Cup here.


Q is in the finals for the 2nd time in 4 years with a squirt AA team.

When the Hawks won in 2010 and like a lot of teams that win the Center position is the key forward position. The Hawks are negligent at the Center Position. This will likely doom them, when a puck possession team doesn't have the puck they are in big trouble.

Hey, fellas. Anyone else think the Hawks PP looks like a mens league team playing an NHL team? Haha. Hate to dog them out, but this has been going on for far too long.

Every PP starts in the offensive zone. If nobody can win a faceoff, you go back and pick up the puck behind your own net. (Isn't that what happens on just about every Hawk PP?) After that, if zone entry is denied/screwed up or one player tries to skate thru 4 defenders, nothing can be set up to work the puck into a high % scoring area.

Coaches don't win faceoffs or stand in front of the net or execute passes. Last night, the Hawks had enough opportunities to score at least 2 goals from close in but didn't make the plays. Boston did - example the feed from Jagr to Bergeron.
- RickJ

I agree with this though any opps the Hawks had in close missed the net. Their shot chart shows how their shots were far outside the circles.

Hey, fellas. Anyone else think the Hawks PP looks like a mens league team playing an NHL team? Haha. Hate to dog them out, but this has been going on for far too long.
- Hank3Henshaw

The stickhandling's too good. ECHL at worst.

That's true. But if he's playing like a 3rd line center, maybe your 2nd line center becomes your new first line center, and your 3rd liner becomes your 2nd liner.
- jmatchett383

Except that we don't really HAVE a second line center ... haven't for years.

There comes a time, after 3 years of failure and 3 different PP coaches working on the same scheme with the same personnel (meaning PP personnel, not TEAM personnel), when it becomes Q's job to intervene ... unless, of course, he already has and the decisions are in fact his, which I am truly suspecting, since this has gone on for so long.
- Q...argh

It's very hard to implement a new system when you're playing a game ever other day in the playoffs. The players need the off days to rest and recuperate, not to drill new guys to death on a new PP scheme. Coming into these playoffs, no one expected Bickell to warrant PP thought, and no one expected Toews to go so cold.

No, actually he is MISUSING what he has as far as personnel. His line combinations and constant juggling are a joke, and when he finally DID hit on combinations that worked in the last 2 games of the WCF, he inexplicably abandoned them and reverted to his juggling act for the SCF. The man is quite simply irrational, IMO.
- Q...argh

How is he misusing personnel? Nothing is working. They're not winning faceoffs. That's not on Q. They're not shooting. What do you think Q is telling them not to shoot? Let's not forget. He's taken a team that is more built for the regular season than the postseason and coached them tot he Cup finals. Plus he has a Cup on his resume with a team that was much bigger and more equipped to handle the playoff grind. As I said he gets some blame for the PP, not all and it is not a reason to fire him. He's line juggling because nothing is working. You can't make a guy go to the net. It's on the player too. He doesn't have a team like Boston that will do that every play.

The stickhandling's too good. ECHL at worst.
- jmatchett383

No doubt. Obviously not serious with the mens league comparison, just using that as an extreme example for how poor it is. How can you play worse when having a man advantage?

Would you care to explain, then, why he is correct in giving PP time to Bolland, Saad and Hammer while sitting Bickell during the PP???
- Q...argh

So he should trot out the same guys every time and hope it works? Sure I agree about giving Bickell more PP time. But is that a reason to fire a guy that's been to two finals in four years and 3 conf finals in five years?

BB-JT-PK
PS-MH-MH
BS-DB-AS
MF-MK-VS

These lines paid off huge against LA, and Q just inexplicably stopped playing them to begin this series. Success slapped Q in the face, and Q responded with "Huh?"
- Q...argh

19-10-88 Kane plays more inspired with Toews, Sharpie needs a playmaker and should take the draws

26-29-81? This line dispensed Detroit, Don't know the status of Hossa tho

65-25-20

36-16-67 is your shutdown line

Face offs, guys - worse than the PP (well, almost).

Can't possess the puck if you keep letting the other team start with it.

- StLBravesFan

I think the simple explanation is exactly this. And of course the FO sets the pace of the PP too. Boston, when on the PP wins it and immediately creates attacking zone pressure, whereas the Hawks lose it and are scrambling to retrieve after the puck is cleared. 5 on 5 is essentially the same. FO wins allow the Bruins to set the pace, with the Hawks are scrambling to react rather than positioned to dictate the flow of the game.

I posted before the series started that the two teams' respective FO numbers were very worrisome for the Blackhawks' chances, and the games are bearing this out. The inability to win at the dot is a much bigger story than who the 12th winger happens to be.

No doubt. Obviously not serious with the mens league comparison, just using that as an extreme example for how poor it is. How can you play worse when having a man advantage?
- Hank3Henshaw

I don't know why it's so bad. There's really no reason. If, like people are saying, Toews is injured, he may actually be a deterrent out there. If he can't win a faceoff, put Zeus out there and tell him to win the faceoff then just stand in front.

How is he misusing personnel? Nothing is working. They're not winning faceoffs. That's not on Q. They're not shooting. What do you think Q is telling them not to shoot? Let's not forget. He's taken a team that is more built for the regular season than the postseason and coached them tot he Cup finals. Plus he has a Cup on his resume with a team that was much bigger and more equipped to handle the playoff grind. As I said he gets some blame for the PP, not all and it is not a reason to fire him. He's line juggling because nothing is working. You can't make a guy go to the net. It's on the player too. He doesn't have a team like Boston that will do that every play.
- golfbard

Read my above post at 8:44, which is what I've been saying forever, as have MANY others here:

BB-JT-PK
PS-MH-MH
BS-DB-AS
MF-MK-VS

These lines paid off huge against LA, and Q just inexplicably stopped playing them to begin this series. Success slapped Q in the face, and Q responded with "Huh?"

THAT is how he is misusing personnel. Those lines came through big and won the WCF for them. Instead of going with something PROVEN to work, he went back to the Bozoputer for the SCF. I mean, honestly ... are you DEFENDING his line combinations for last night? How do you respond to his failure to even TRY the above line combinations again, when they NEVER failed???

I agree with this though any opps the Hawks had in close missed the net. Their shot chart shows how their shots were far outside the circles.
- golfbard

Remember the play in the first period where Keith was 15 feet in front with the puck and Toews and someone else were on the doorstep and he slid the puck in between both of their sticks - that's totally sh$tty execution. That very play in the scoring zone has to be made for a goal - because the Bruins aren't going to give up many goals from the wing or the point unless they are screened or deflected.

Score on that play and its 1-0 and who knows how the game unfolds from there.

So he should trot out the same guys every time and hope it works? Sure I agree about giving Bickell more PP time. But is that a reason to fire a guy that's been to two finals in four years and 3 conf finals in five years?
- golfbard

No one is getting outright fired - not with his record, INCLUDING a second finals appearance this year.

If they want him gone, they'll offer him an extension they know he wouldn't accept, and he'll wind up leaving.

But Bowman / McD have to e careful it doesn't come back on them: Q has some pretty good popularity here, and with his record, they can't let themselves be seen as pushing him out.

Remember the play in the first period where Keith was 15 feet in front with the puck and Toews and someone else were on the doorstep and he slid the puck in between both of their sticks - that's totally sh$tty execution. That very play in the scoring zone has to be made for a goal - because the Bruins aren't going to give up many goals from the wing or the point unless they are screened or deflected.

Score on that play and its 1-0 and who knows how the game unfolds from there.
- RickJ

100% agree and I may have nightmares for weeks on that. He almost came in too close to shoot and Rask cut off the angle. For a change there was traffic but shoot it towards Rask's left pad and get a rebound.

Read my above post at 8:44, which is what I've been saying forever, as have MANY others here:

BB-JT-PK
PS-MH-MH
BS-DB-AS
MF-MK-VS

- Q...argh

MH, MH? TWO Marian Hossas would be great! (But I guess you mean Zeus. Bummer...)

Latest word on Hoss? This series is NOT over, but if he can't play, this is very, very bad...

No one is getting outright fired - not with his record, INCLUDING a second finals appearance this year.

If they want him gone, they'll offer him an extension they know he wouldn't accept, and he'll wind up leaving.

But Bowman / McD have to e careful it doesn't come back on them: Q has some pretty good popularity here, and with his record, they can't let themselves be seen as pushing him out.
- StLBravesFan

I agree. Only guy getting fired perhaps is Kompon. I can't see him staying.

My Dad flew in for the game, spent a bundle on a flight and tickets. Took three hours of verbal abuse in the 300 level, which was to be expected but still felt terrible.

Only to have the Hawks not show up was the biggest disappointment I have ever had as a fan. I'm not sure how you can take a night off in the Stanley Cup finals, but that was a disgrace.

No one is getting outright fired - not with his record, INCLUDING a second finals appearance this year.

If they want him gone, they'll offer him an extension they know he wouldn't accept, and he'll wind up leaving.

But Bowman / McD have to e careful it doesn't come back on them: Q has some pretty good popularity here, and with his record, they can't let themselves be seen as pushing him out.
- StLBravesFan

and the Chicago Blackhawks could quickly become one of the less desirable teams to work for.

If they fire Q, who will voluntarily jump into the chaos?

I don't know why it's so bad. There's really no reason. If, like people are saying, Toews is injured, he may actually be a deterrent out there. If he can't win a faceoff, put Zeus out there and tell him to win the faceoff then just stand in front.
- jmatchett383

Yea, def. I wouldn't mind seeing Zeus out there on the PP.