the drop off then cliff that is the play of #10 from last years playoffs and through this year is the biggest mystery of the year looking for a solution.

the "missed the finals by a bounce mantra" by management and many others was pure propaganda BS to be consumed for marketing reasons....many of us never bought it.

teams need surprises on the upside and need secondary roster players to take the next step. They got a couple surprises in TVR and versteeg but the bottom six moving parts have mostly been about the same (carcillo, bicks who is always a season no show) or regressed (krugs, smith, shaw) or have been shipped out (Morin, Clendening).

My speculation there is something internally (player conflict, personal issues) that has really messed with this team emotionally and morale wise.
- bogiedoc

This is on Bowman and the front office who knew there were needs last spring after the loss to the Kings and chose to ignore them. Heck even Stan's dad said the Hawks lost because they were too small down the middle. As far as holding onto prospects isn't the mantra of McD et all ONE GOAL...this team should be doing everything it can to win a Cup this season not next year, not two years down the road.

One can only hope they're not counting on TVR to rescue the defensive corps. The defense needed to add a veteran last spring instead we got the Leddy salary dump to go along with the less than stellar acquisitions of Runblad and Erixon who both can't cut it. Meantime you're pairs are split up trying to help cover up for these two as well as Rosy and to some extent Oduya. Oduya seemed like he was finally playing a bit better of late and now he's out.

We'll see if Stan can get something done here...

Interesting. http://www.secondcityhock...s-glencross-andrej-sekera

Has to be somewhere he wants to go: NMC or NTC or something, right?
- StLBravesFan

Keep in mind if he goes to either FLA team he would get a raise of sorts...with no sate income tax in FLA that would generate about $500K of income to him over the remainder of his contract...

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.
- paulr

Well.....are these guys HURT, possibly but all guys get hurt in the season. This has been going on for just more then a stretch of games.

Have the high minutes finally caught up to them? Possible. However, that also points out what I have been hammering for awhile now...the depth on this team is NOT pulling it's weight. Ben Smith is the new whipping boy but Kruger, Shaw, Bickell, and the bottom D men have been just as bad.

Again, there is NO quick fix. That's why I just cant sit here and assume this team is going to turn it around. They look disinterested and very aloof during games. So many mental breakdowns and unwillingness to fight.

They are LUCKY to be 2-2=3 on this home stand. it should be a little bit worse then that. When was their last statement win? Probably in STL.

Interesting. http://www.secondcityhock...s-glencross-andrej-sekera
- southernhawk

Kuc reported that over the weekend. I didnt' check the link but that is nothing new.

Interesting. http://www.secondcityhock...s-glencross-andrej-sekera
- southernhawk

That's just Satchel writing about what Kuc already said. It's not interesting because it's not new information.

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.
- howiehandles

Trending up? They're 12-8-3 since January 1st, barely over .500. Only slightly better than the Hawks' 10-10-3.

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.
- PhatJoeSki

What could possibly cause a group of adult, professional, men play with such a lack of urgency? Is there something team related/more going on with the suicide of the Clint Reif than what we've seen/heard? Did someone sleep with someone else's girlfriend or wife? Are the bottom six players/bottom pair defense all worried about being traded, so not giving it their all? I can speculate until the cows come home. Luckily, I'm not a journalist that has to worry about sources, just some jerk on a hockey blog site.

The Hawks did not play very well the last two months or so of last season and then managed to turn it on during the playoffs. However, I'm slowly beginning to think the on switch may be turned on, but there's no juice to make the lights work. The 3rd pair defense and Oduya have been a train wreck and the bottom 6 have generated close to ZERO offense this year.

Hockey trades are sexy and get people talking. Maybe previous posters calling out McD as looking for something "splashy" is exactly what this team needs to shake the funk and get their act together.

What could possibly cause a group of adult, professional, men play with such a lack of urgency? Is there something team related/more going on with the suicide of the Clint Reif than what we've seen/heard? Did someone sleep with someone else's girlfriend or wife? Are the bottom six players/bottom pair defense all worried about being traded, so not giving it their all? I can speculate until the cows come home. Luckily, I'm not a journalist that has to worry about sources, just some jerk on a hockey blog site.

The Hawks did not play very well the last two months or so of last season and then managed to turn it on during the playoffs. However, I'm slowly beginning to think the on switch may be turned on, but there's no juice to make the lights work. The 3rd pair defense and Oduya have been a train wreck and the bottom 6 have generated close to ZERO offense this year.

Hockey trades are sexy and get people talking. Maybe previous posters calling out McD as looking for something "splashy" is exactly what this team needs to shake the funk and get their act together.
- MNHawk

I think there is a lot in that room that we will never know. Like it or not since Christmastime this team just has not been the same one we all saw earlier.

If this team has any hopes of doing anything this year or in the future they are going to need a whole lot more from 19 five-on-five. 11 goals at even strength just is not enough from him. I know how good he is in all three zones and the new extensions haven't kicked in yet but going forward if you're going to make what he is going to make you have to be more than just a really good all around player, you have to do all the little things he does AND score at a prolific rate. Being a great all around player earns you a big contract. Being one of the five highest paid players in the game means you have to be special, great just isn't good enough.

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

Agreed. I think its' combination of a lot of things but the leadership message of what is being said and what transpires on the ice dont' reflect one another.

This is on Bowman and the front office who knew there were needs last spring after the loss to the Kings and chose to ignore them. Heck even Stan's dad said the Hawks lost because they were too small down the middle. As far as holding onto prospects isn't the mantra of McD et all ONE GOAL...this team should be doing everything it can to win a Cup this season not next year, not two years down the road.

One can only hope they're not counting on TVR to rescue the defensive corps. The defense needed to add a veteran last spring instead we got the Leddy salary dump to go along with the less than stellar acquisitions of Runblad and Erixon who both can't cut it. Meantime you're pairs are split up trying to help cover up for these two as well as Rosy and to some extent Oduya. Oduya seemed like he was finally playing a bit better of late and now he's out.

We'll see if Stan can get something done here...
- DK002

Agreed.

This team was exposed vs LA and failed to adapt correctly Now those same weaknesses are being exploited even further as they are a step worse on D this year with the loss of Leddy and inserting Runblad and the other circus of misfit/castoff players.

This next week will tell me all I need to know about how committed this organization is about winning.

Well.....are these guys HURT, possibly but all guys get hurt in the season. This has been going on for just more then a stretch of games.

Have the high minutes finally caught up to them? Possible. However, that also points out what I have been hammering for awhile now...the depth on this team is NOT pulling it's weight. Ben Smith is the new whipping boy but Kruger, Shaw, Bickell, and the bottom D men have been just as bad.

Again, there is NO quick fix. That's why I just cant sit here and assume this team is going to turn it around. They look disinterested and very aloof during games. So many mental breakdowns and unwillingness to fight.

They are LUCKY to be 2-2=3 on this home stand. it should be a little bit worse then that. When was their last statement win? Probably in STL.
- SteveRain

The GAF level just isn't there. I know this site isn't much of an X and Os site but the root of the Hawks problems all stem from their forecheck/offensive game. I mentioned it a week ago but the forecheck has been abysmal, everything is one on one (if not two) in the corners with nary any support from F2 to pressure the puck. This is leading to pretty much minimal zone time and adding way more pressure on a shaky back end right now. When the Hawks don't drive possession and play with the puck in the opponent's end they are exposed. I don't know if they are tired or hurt or tuning out Q or what but when they put forth the effort and get on the puck they look like the Hawks we all believe in. When they don't they look like the smallish, all flash no substance group we don't want to believe they are.

Think back to that STL game you mention...late in the game STL needed a goal and what happened? The Hawks hemmed them in their own end and would not let the Blues out. Waves of attack and support kept the puck in the STL zone. They just aren't playing like they give a frank right now and its really hard to see/understand.

Agreed.

This team was exposed vs LA and failed to adapt correctly Now those same weaknesses are being exploited even further as they are a step worse on D this year with the loss of Leddy and inserting Runblad and the other circus of misfit/castoff players.

This next week will tell me all I need to know about how committed this organization is about winning.
- SteveRain

Exposed?? Really Steve? I thought the Hawks needed a little more depth last season but to suggest LA exposed the Hawks is more than a little misleading. Unless of course the expectation was the Hawks should have beat LA in four straight.

There is no question about their commitment to winning, spending to the cap proves that. Can the team turn their play around to win tis season is the real question and I think they can and will.

Agreed.

This team was exposed vs LA and failed to adapt correctly Now those same weaknesses are being exploited even further as they are a step worse on D this year with the loss of Leddy and inserting Runblad and the other circus of misfit/castoff players.

This next week will tell me all I need to know about how committed this organization is about winning.
- SteveRain

It's fair to be frustrated with their recent play, but anyone already counting this team out is foolish. This is the same roster (minus TVR) that dismantled nearly every "elite" team earlier in the season.

Also, to say the team was "exposed" by LA is hyperbolic. It took a full 7 game series to decide the winner. The Hawks have always been weaker up the middle, nothing new.

What could possibly cause a group of adult, professional, men play with such a lack of urgency? Is there something team related/more going on with the suicide of the Clint Reif than what we've seen/heard? Did someone sleep with someone else's girlfriend or wife? Are the bottom six players/bottom pair defense all worried about being traded, so not giving it their all? I can speculate until the cows come home. Luckily, I'm not a journalist that has to worry about sources, just some jerk on a hockey blog site.

The Hawks did not play very well the last two months or so of last season and then managed to turn it on during the playoffs. However, I'm slowly beginning to think the on switch may be turned on, but there's no juice to make the lights work. The 3rd pair defense and Oduya have been a train wreck and the bottom 6 have generated close to ZERO offense this year.

Hockey trades are sexy and get people talking. Maybe previous posters calling out McD as looking for something "splashy" is exactly what this team needs to shake the funk and get their act together.
- MNHawk

Not really. They certainly didn't "turn it on", Crow bailed them out against St. Louis + Miller playing like crap. Hawks played a decent game or two though. The Wild series was totally stolen by Crow (Wild outskated Hawks). Hawks played very good against Kings in 2 games....other games they were very inconsistent. Team NEVER was in control of ANY series/games. They got a good draw, played two crap goalies in round 1 and 2 (Miller isn't crap, but he played like it) and then it ran out against the Kings.

We went into off-season thinking this "one bounce away team" was the 80s Oilers...complacency, arrogance, whatever you want to call it, but the team didn't have far to fall.

I wonder if the people calling for the trade of Keith are the same ones who were calling for Kane to be traded to Buffalo a couple years back.

Blows my mind how fast people are willing to jump off the bandwagon when things aren't going well.

Guess what? Teams go through bad streaks during season, it happens! Same thing happened last year, and look how far they got!

I consider myself a pessimist, but when i read some of these comments on here that call for trading Keith or getting rid of Q, it makes me think that maybe i'm not so bad after all.....

Interesting. http://www.secondcityhock...s-glencross-andrej-sekera
- southernhawk

I'm not sure they're interpreting the actual late-season cap hits correctly. Those cap hits for Sekera and Glencross are full season, not 6-weeks-left-in-the-season numbers.

So on an expiring contract, the longer they wait the larger the contract they can take on IIRC.

I wonder if the people calling for the trade of Keith are the same ones who were calling for Kane to be traded to Buffalo a couple years back.

Blows my mind how fast people are willing to jump off the bandwagon when things aren't going well.

Guess what? Teams go through bad streaks during season, it happens! Same thing happened last year, and look how far they got!

I consider myself a pessimist, but when i read some of these comments on here that call for trading Keith or getting rid of Q, it makes me think that maybe i'm not so bad after all.....
- Primetime2330

Trading Keith is a stupid idea, but just chalking this up to a "bad streak" is delusional.

I wonder if the people calling for the trade of Keith are the same ones who were calling for Kane to be traded to Buffalo a couple years back.

Blows my mind how fast people are willing to jump off the bandwagon when things aren't going well.

Guess what? Teams go through bad streaks during season, it happens! Same thing happened last year, and look how far they got!

I consider myself a pessimist, but when i read some of these comments on here that call for trading Keith or getting rid of Q, it makes me think that maybe i'm not so bad after all.....
- Primetime2330

My reason for trading Keith is so Seabrook WILL be here long term. If you want soft d-men who are not a threat on the PP, keep Keith. But I am looking ahead, not now. If Keith can bring a good (or great) return, do it now. I don't want this team to be like Detroit the last few years, just ok.

Trading Keith is a stupid idea, but just chalking this up to a "bad streak" is delusional.
- kwolf68

I'm curious... What's your take on LA?

Trading Keith is a stupid idea, but just chalking this up to a "bad streak" is delusional.
- kwolf68

I'm aware that this is more than a "Bad streak" but i'm fairly confident that they will be able to turn it around when it matters most.

My reason for trading Keith is so Seabrook WILL be here long term. If you want soft d-men who are not a threat on the PP, keep Keith. But I am looking ahead, not now. If Keith can bring a good (or great) return, do it now. I don't want this team to be like Detroit the last few years, just ok.
- powerenforcer

I'll keep my 31yo 2x cup & norris winner, you can go ahead and trade him. Should we trade Toews as well?

I understand the passion you guys have for your team but it's hard to read you guys complaining right now, having to deal with what the Leafs have been doing the last few years lol

I'd love to even watch the 'struggling' Hawks every night, (frank) man.

As an outsider looking in, you have:

- One of the best captains in NHL history
- One of the most purely skilled wingers of our generation
- Literally the best d-man in the league, in terms of overall play and advanced stats, on a 5.5m cap hit cause Tallon cheated
- A great group of players surrounding those 3 and some real nice prospects to boot
- Two cups and 4 conference finals in the last 6 seasons


Ups and downs will happen, the salary cap basically mandates that at this point. But, I have a feeling your team will figure it out LOL

Lookin forward to watching them in another great playoff series with the Blues this year. Have a good one

I think it's clear that Patrick Sharp is the issue in the locker room. He has been demoted and is clearly frustrated and it's spilling over. There's a moment during one of the EPIX episodes where Bryan Bickell is sitting next to Hossa and asks "Is he ever going to be happy?" And Hossa wants to know who and Bickell just says "Him" and Hossa knew exactly who he was talking about. “Good thoughts make good [expletive] things happen.”

The best part about the segment is there is nothing that's shows what Patrick is doing to get this type of response from Bickell. Which probably means that it was too negative to show.

And that was when Patrick Sharp just came back from his injury and didn't score. I wonder what he's like now that he's been demoted and isn't playing the amount he wants to and with whom he wants to?

Trade Patrick Sharp and send a message to the rest of the team. 5.9 million dollars can get you some help.

Exposed?? Really Steve? I thought the Hawks needed a little more depth last season but to suggest LA exposed the Hawks is more than a little misleading. Unless of course the expectation was the Hawks should have beat LA in four straight.

There is no question about their commitment to winning, spending to the cap proves that. Can the team turn their play around to win tis season is the real question and I think they can and will.
- paulr

The middle of the ice was exposed, and Scotty Bowman himself flat out said it in a post series interview with ESPN. What did Stand do to replace that? Nothing. They still roll out the same 2 smaller guys on the bottom lines, and it will hurt them again. The Hawks were VERY easy to play against yesterday.

And here is where we differ. I hope you are right because that would be fantastic, but until they go on a LA or Minny type run that proves to me that this so called switch you seem to think they can flip on, just isn't there this year.