#Blackhawks working on the power play. Keith-Rundblad, Hossa-Saad-Richards on one unit.

As sexy as the Stan vs. Q strife is, I think there are some serious locker room issues that are hindering this team a lot more than that one. Something isn't right and hasn't been for a couple of months. Something stinks in that room, and its more than just sweaty gloves and compression shorts.
- PhatJoeSki

No doubt. I don't think this is the 86 Oilers here, but the Hawks are playing like a bottom feeder team. The "eye test" shows them to be barely more competent than Edmonton at this point. And that's not a true indication of how good this team can be.

I think there are serious issues inside the room...I can only guess what they are and many good theories have been speculated.

Seabrook, Kane, Toews, Sharp, Shaw on the other power-play unit. #Blackhawks

And if they trade Keith they'll need to try to find a replacement, any idea how they do that?
- paulr

They aren't trading 2. However, 2, 19, 10 all better stare at themselves in the mirror and realize that the reason this team is mediocre right now is because of their poor play and lack of consistent production.

There are a few guys who show up nightly.....Hossa, Hammer, Saad, Kane, and the rest go through the motions and take shifts off.

This team is in full blown panic move case in point by that scripted GM is coming down move yesterday post game, and closed door rah-rah crap. Please .Talk is cheap. Not talking, and prove it on the ice.

I bet we will see a minor trade very shortly as those 2 send downs were more about cap savings them fixing the problem. Raanta and Hartman are NOT why this team is losing games. Lets be clear there.

Now.....I laugh thinking about how this team has to roll out 3 turds on D until oduya recovers. Not only Rozsival, but now Rundblad AND Exirron or Cumiskey. Dear god.

I also just laughed out how badly the radio team in the 3rd period was talking up Rundblad. Talk about talking points......and a blatant spin job. Lost a lot of credibility to me with that crap. Especially Troy Murray who is usually a straight shooter.

This was bound to happen. Yeah, Bolland is a guy who got way overpaid by Tallon, but he's typical of the guys they've lost who played with grit. No, I'm not saying we bring him back, but he's the type of guy they're missing. How many big plays did he make during the '13 playoffs. Took Richards out, sprung Seabs to pot the winner vs Detroit on a check, and put the winner in vs Boston by being in the right place.

There was no way they could pay everybody, but seriously, way too many StanBo apologists out there. How would have an experienced GM handled the rebuilds?

Would you rather have Clendening on the 3rd pair or Rozy/Runblad? IMO, Clen showed some good offensive skills, and would have been a nice option on the PP.

Both Hayes never got a shot, and the never wasn't coming. Much of that blame lays with Q, as he doesn't seem to care for young guys learning on the job.

Bottom line, I don't expect the Hawks to do any of any significance at the deadline, and to expect a sudden wakeup by this team and another Cup run based on past performance is dreaming.

St Louis doesn't scare me, Nashville is who there are, LA. is built for the playoffs, SJ is SJ, but actually a team like the Avalanche would knock the Hawks out fast this season. Not saying they're winning it all, but they're certainly playing much better with Mac back, and the Hawks have issues playing them.

I believe the Clif death is an issue, but not the major one. If one of your good friends killed himself, you're probably feel it for awhile too. But the chemistry is not good, and their depth is not what it's been. They need to make a decision. Go for it, and make a big move, or play for the cap issues this Summer, and hope the team wakes up, with a smaller move. I'd be on the latter.

#Blackhawks working on the power play. Keith-Rundblad, Hossa-Saad-Richards on one unit.
- mrpaulish

WHY KEITH! That is a big problem.

There are other issues, but the entire key to this run of the Hawks (last 4 years) has been Johnny Oduya. Team improved dramatically when they acquired him. He was great from that point through the '13 Cup run and into last season. His play dipped in last year's playoffs a bit and the team suffered. Gets injured in Game 7, clearly isn't 100 percent throughout this season, and the team's defensive play varies wildly.

With Oduya not at his best, you lose your advantage over most teams in the league - that being two #1 d pairs, one (Keith/Seabrook) that drives the offense and the other (Hjalmarsson/Oduya) that shuts down the opposing teams' top lines.

Oduya isn't at his best so you fell like you have to play Roszival more - predicatbly, his body can't handle it and he breaks down/is exposed. Now, you only have 3 defensemen that you trust. If even one of them has an off night, you are screwed.

Not sure how many of you guys get the exclusive articles on Chicago Tribune or even follow/respect Steve Rosenbloom, but he had a great piece in the Trib today about the state of the team.

Yep. It's over. Last night's game officially eliminated the Blackhawks from playoff contention. Awful team. Hopefully they win the McDavid sweepstakes.
- BreakoutHockey

Nope you are right. They are great.

10-10-3 is just fantastic hockey.

you are nutz....stanbow has his balls in a vice grip with no leverage...other GM's know it. Sharps performance has fallen off the cliff since his big push to make the olympics last year. The hawks have huge cap issues this year and into next year. Sorry no GM is going to the give the hawks a huge return for the sharp of previous years...its over.

so please inform us a scenario where the hawks get a huge return for #10 in the next week...
- bogiedoc

while I agree that the return would not be huge, if SB let other GM's know he was serious about moving Sharp there would be interest from a handful of teams and SB could use that as a means to increase the return...not all is lost for a Sharp trade...he is less then a year removed from his best season ever.

Don't post this. Some posters would think it's a good trade proposal! A few good games and a few wins should quell the panic and hopefully sanity will be restored.
- paulr

Fan 590 reporting the Leafs shopping Lupul hard.

So it could become Lupul and Phaneuf for Sharp and Keith.

Lupul gets injured immediately and goes on LTIR freeing up cap space for Stanbo to go out and get Glencross and Vermette.

The possibilities for improving the Hawks are limitless.

This was bound to happen. Yeah, Bolland is a guy who got way overpaid by Tallon, but he's typical of the guys they've lost who played with grit. No, I'm not saying we bring him back, but he's the type of guy they're missing. How many big plays did he make during the '13 playoffs. Took Richards out, sprung Seabs to pot the winner vs Detroit on a check, and put the winner in vs Boston by being in the right place.

There was no way they could pay everybody, but seriously, way too many StanBo apologists out there. How would have an experienced GM handled the rebuilds?

Would you rather have Clendening on the 3rd pair or Rozy/Runblad? IMO, Clen showed some good offensive skills, and would have been a nice option on the PP.

Both Hayes never got a shot, and the never wasn't coming. Much of that blame lays with Q, as he doesn't seem to care for young guys learning on the job.

Bottom line, I don't expect the Hawks to do any of any significance at the deadline, and to expect a sudden wakeup by this team and another Cup run based on past performance is dreaming.

St Louis doesn't scare me, Nashville is who there are, but actually a team like the Avalanche would knock the Hawks out fast this season. Not saying they're winning it all, but they're certainly playing much better with Mac back, and the Hawks have issues playing them.
- howiehandles

How original.

How original.
- CBHawks88

How enlightening a response.

They aren't trading 2. However, 2, 19, 10 all better stare at themselves in the mirror and realize that the reason this team is mediocre right now is because of their poor play and lack of consistent production.

There are a few guys who show up nightly.....Hossa, Hammer, Saad, Kane, and the rest go through the motions and take shifts off.

This team is in full blown panic move case in point by that scripted GM is coming down move yesterday post game, and closed door rah-rah crap. Please .Talk is cheap. Not talking, and prove it on the ice.

I bet we will see a minor trade very shortly as those 2 send downs were more about cap savings them fixing the problem. Raanta and Hartman are NOT why this team is losing games. Lets be clear there.

Now.....I laugh thinking about how this team has to roll out 3 turds on D until oduya recovers. Not only Rozsival, but now Rundblad AND Exirron or Cumiskey. Dear god.

I also just laughed out how badly the radio team in the 3rd period was talking up Rundblad. Talk about talking points......and a blatant spin job. Lost a lot of credibility to me with that crap. Especially Troy Murray who is usually a straight shooter.
- SteveRain

The problem with the team is the best players not playing their best. They have all been playing inconsistant hockey for the last two months. Someone has to figure out why an fix it. Any trade they make will not make a difference until the best players regain their consistancy.

Fan 590 reporting the Leafs shopping Lupul hard.

So it could become Lupul and Phaneuf for Sharp and Keith.

Lupul gets injured immediately and goes on LTIR freeing up cap space for Stanbo to go out and get Glencross and Vermette.

The possibilities for improving the Hawks are limitless.
- RickJ

Stan should be fired if he makes this trade. Phaneuf is garbage

I looked up some stats earlier. Mainly because I've been involved in several debates regarding Crawford mainly but also Sharp, Bickell, anyone else on the roster aside from infallible Toews.

Um. Number one. Patrick Kane is the MVP of this team and Crawford is a close second. Those guys have hidden a lot this year (and the other goaltenders and the 1st line killing for fun until Christmas).

In terms of systemic issues. Still, stretch pass is 100% gone and they refuse to adjust. I don't care who you put on the third pairing, no one can make that pass right now. Seabrook cant make that pass right now and he is typically good at hitting that home run. Next the exit up the boards is gone so the center and off wing flying the zone are killing the 3 players left back.

That is just what I see watching the games.

Next. Fun fact time. All at evens because that usually predicts playoff performance more better.
Last year:
-Shots against\60: 4th in the league
-Fenwick against\60: 2nd in the league
-Scoring Chances Against\60: 7th in the league
This year:
-Shots against\60: 23rd in the league (gasp!)
-Fenwick against\60: 13th in the league
-Scoring Chances Against\60: 17th

Ummm this is a dramatically different team with basically the same roster and a clear upgrade at the 2C spot. Say what you want about Richards but he's a big improvement, and the PK is light years ahead of last year. At a minimum these guys should be able to suppress the same amount shots they did last year.

Soooo IMO there is incompetence or stubbornness from the coaching staff not making the appropriate adjustments to get out the zone and keep the puck away from the other team. OR the players DGAF and you're in a whole new ballpark.

Amazing how different this team looks when Kane is denied the puck and Crawford has a few average outings. Yikes.

Stan should be fired if he makes this trade. Phaneuf is garbage
- DarthKane

Believe me I'm just kidding. Not even Mike Milbury would make that trade.

Fan 590 reporting the Leafs shopping Lupul hard.

So it could become Lupul and Phaneuf for Sharp and Keith.

Lupul gets injured immediately and goes on LTIR freeing up cap space for Stanbo to go out and get Glencross and Vermette.

The possibilities for improving the Hawks are limitless.
- RickJ

LOL

I would almost want to see this trade to hear from Hawk posters just how good Keith and Sharp were and why Bowman was an idiot to have let them go!

Believe me I'm just kidding. Not even Mike Milbury would make that trade.
- RickJ

I wouldn't bet on that

Right now I would talk to Edm for Nurse. That may be a start..... (but would Keith go there, that is the hurdle)
- powerenforcer

You need to relax with the trade Keith malarky. Keith is coasting around and has been for most of the year. He got his 2nd norris and decided that he'd rather save his body (my guess) than pile up regular season statistics. Keith has been a main culprit with the lack of intensity across the lineup, but no sane person is trading keith unless its for Ekblad, Subban, Weber or Doughty.

How enlightening a response.
- howiehandles

You essentially regurgitated every sentiment that has been said here the last 5 years about "grit," Stan being a terrible GM, and Q hating young guys.

BTW, the Avs aren't making the playoffs so I guess we have nothing to worry about.

Don't post this. Some posters would think it's a good trade proposal! A few good games and a few wins should quell the panic and hopefully sanity will be restored.
- paulr

I kinda liked that post.

No doubt. I don't think this is the 86 Oilers here, but the Hawks are playing like a bottom feeder team. The "eye test" shows them to be barely more competent than Edmonton at this point. And that's not a true indication of how good this team can be.

I think there are serious issues inside the room...I can only guess what they are and many good theories have been speculated.
- kwolf68

Agreed. I think that team is still in there somewhere but they need a come to Jesus moment. Maybe yesterday was rock bottom. Can only hope so. Just hard to watch these days.

They aren't dead yet. I know we are always harder on our own teams but the vaunted Kings have played worse stretches than this current Hawks funk and they are still everyone's darling. Put up or shut up time for a lot of guys.

LOL

I would almost want to see this trade to hear from Hawk posters just how good Keith and Sharp were and why Bowman was an idiot to have let them go!
- paulr

There is panic in River City right now.

Almost as bad as when the last place Boston Bruins walked into Maple Leaf Gardens on a Saturday night and shut out the Loafs 11-0.

McD is dictating angry messages to all employees. Solutions must be found immediately.

You essentially regurgitated every sentiment that has been said here the last 5 years about "grit," Stan being a terrible GM, and Q hating young guys.

BTW, the Avs aren't making the playoffs so I guess we have nothing to worry about.
- CBHawks88

What's your point. Do you see any other reason why the Hawks blow? Pretty obvious.

Colorado is 6 pts out of final WC spot, and the Hawks are barely holding on vs Winnipeg and Minnesota. Which team is trending up, and which has played like garbage for about 2 months?

Maybe obvious, but enjoy the descent into mediocrity.