Dreger said last night Calgary had a front seat for him and he for them

Q: Does he report to NHL AHL or ECHL
- Joe-snoopy-Cool

Probably one of the reason Baun decided on Chgo is becasue he plays now...Which will burn a year off his ELC. That will put him in line with a better contract status sooner.

Dreger said last night Calgary had a front seat for him and he for them

Q: Does he report to NHL AHL or ECHL
- Joe-snoopy-Cool

Maybe he liked the way the team handles young players?

The narrative of this 'Q is evil nonesense' has nothing to do with Q and how he coaches but because Q didn't love certain players as much as some posters did and as a result they are no longer Hawks. There is no real case about Q's coaching, it's all subjective stuff that is pointed at the coach. The problem with this team since January has been the best players haven't played to their capabilities. Not sure how this is tagged on the coach?
- paulr

Or it could be Savvy 1 is the real Savard and he and his cohort TG will always push their fired ass point of view against all things Q I know that is just crazy though.

Not necessarily disagreeing -- but if this is the case, then why are the supposed experts saying the team is still a Stanley Cup favorite?

This club was sputtering even with #88 in the lineup, struggling to score goals and playing as if it simply didn't care. Too much room given up by forwards coming out of the D zone and too much room allowed by the D against attacking forwards. Both of those = a bad combination and give us what we've seen. There simply isn't a commitment across the lineup to do things the right way.

IMO

And . . . playing the "wrong" way becomes habit forming. Once ingrained, it is very hard to stop. The proverbial switch was supposed to be flipped here at the end of the season. But it has been allowed to go on for far too long.
- savvyone-1

like over 3 months..only switch flipped on is the goaltending...fewest goals allowed right next to the price and the habs

Thank this guy:


- fattybeef

PHUCCCKKK YOU, CHICAGO.....

yeah once again he stopped that from being 3 zip in the first 12 minutes last nite...can't stop all the deflections and bail his mates out every game

Yes he did say that. But hasn't he always stressed the Hawks were a check first team in the past? If you don't check first you will never have puck. The best teams are all check first and possess teams. Right now the Hawks seem to be a team that wants to possess the puck without getting it first. I really don't see a change in philosophy as much as getting back to it.

As I've said all along, if the team's best players aren't playing that way how they play won't matter. The Hawks need Toews, Hossa, sharp, Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson et all to play their best, like Crawford has been.
- paulr

>We are on the same page -- I'm just wondering what happened to the collective effort vs the Rangers -- every Hawk player on the ice that game had a tremendously active stick
>Now, the team is losing races and battles at an alarming rate
>Regarding Baun, his agent praised the Hawks long-term interest in Baun (several years), the Hawks understanding of Baun's strengths and weaknesses and their ability to develop young players

Yes he did say that. But hasn't he always stressed the Hawks were a check first team in the past? If you don't check first you will never have puck. The best teams are all check first and possess teams. Right now the Hawks seem to be a team that wants to possess the puck without getting it first. I really don't see a change in philosophy as much as getting back to it.

As I've said all along, if the team's best players aren't playing that way how they play won't matter. The Hawks need Toews, Hossa, sharp, Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson et all to play their best, like Crawford has been.
- paulr

Need hard work to forecheck and also more consistent passing, especially out of their own zone. Shots against being over 30, as much have been is a sign of an issue.

>We are on the same page -- I'm just wondering what happened to the collective effort vs the Rangers -- every Hawk player on the ice that game had a tremendously active stick
>Now, the team is losing races and battles at an alarming rate
>Regarding Baun, his agent praised the Hawks long-term interest in Baun (several years), the Hawks understanding of Baun's strengths and weaknesses and their ability to develop young players
- SnapitUpstairs

see the post above....Need energy to forecheck and some nights that is missing....Or the desire isn't at the highest level.

Probably one of the reason Baun decided on Chgo is becasue he plays now...Which will burn a year off his ELC. That will put him in line with a better contract status sooner.
- Al

I`m sure liking this

Just read a story on Piliotta I do not like he is giving the signing "A tremendous
amount of thought"

Hope the worry is for nothing

see the post above....Need energy to forecheck and some nights that is missing....Or the desire isn't at the highest level.
- Al

>Al, you were always quick to point out that when that first Hawks pass is off the mark, the team plays slow and struggles
>There also has been a lack of awareness in the forecheck with 1 pass beating 3 checkers too often
>What should the Hawks do with the third D-pair?
>And do you think the need for Rockford to make the playoffs and hopefully do well is having any impact on the 3rd D-pair?

Snap, 1st, let me say I always enjoy your insights!

1. No, Q is NOT blameless in this mess. And IMO, it is a mess, creating bad habits that clearly are very hard for this group to break.

2. Q should reconsider his D pairings from this point forward. Re-unite 2/7 and 4/27. They are all capable of 20+ each a night. Q will have to simply protect that 3rd pair and divvy up time between those 4 and the 2 "chosen" to take some 3rd pair minutes. The 2/32 and 7/44 pairings are not working.

3. The D men that CAN skate the puck out are usually too exhausted to do so because they've had to cover for a D partner that is past their "Sell By" date. Returning the pairs will help in this regard and provide a lot more "normalcy" to typical breakouts for the forwards.
- savvyone-1

My guess is that as soon as the playoff's start (or a few shifts and/or a goal against in the first game) the "normal" pairings of 2/7 and 4/27 will be back in place.

For all the crap Q takes, some deservedly so, he is not a dummy. Since the trade deadline, and the Kane injury, you can see that he has done a pretty good job of distributing minutes for both forwards and defense. Keith/Seabs/Hjarl have not been in the 28-30 minute range, but more so in the 20-24 range. When the playoffs start, you up the minutes to the 23-26 range for the top 4 and it leaves 10-12 minutes for 32/44/?? to play against favorable matchups.

Forwards recently have had better distributed minutes also.

Giving Q the benefit of the doubt, you say he understands they will make the playoffs and instead of burning out guys for an extra couple of points he is spreading out minutes and conserving some for games 83 onward.

Can the players "flip the switch"? Who knows.

Need hard work to forecheck and also more consistent passing, especially out of their own zone. Shots against being over 30, as much have been is a sign of an issue.
- Al

Agreed on the forecheck.
Transitional passing won't work when the forwards are standing motionless in the neutral zone, and those are the same forwards not taking on their defensive responsibilities and that in a nutshell is the problem with the team.

Or it could be Savvy 1 is the real Savard and he and his cohort TG will always push their fired ass point of view against all things Q I know that is just crazy though.
- eagle50

Could be!


One never knows, do they?

[quote=Colbyboy]Ditto for Carcillo being in the lineup over anyone. Not only is Carcillo the worst forward on the roster, he is worse than at least half the forwards currently in Rockford. He brings absolutely nothing to the table, outside of meaningless fights. Can't skate effectively, isn't willing to hit at a rate that justifies his roster spot, cannot handle a pass if his life depended on it, and cannot shoot the puck. At all.


With 13 in the lineup what is the message to the kids busting their balls in Rockford for a shot in the NHL?
- Colbyboy

Bigger question, what's the message to the fans about the blunt reality of all the great prospects on their way. Either not ready or not what they've been hyped to be.

Let's all be clear on something. Quenneville has FORGOTTEN more about hockey than all of us know. So I start there. I mean, they don't pull names out of a hat when they make lineups.

LIKE IT OR NOT, there are valid, likely hockey-related reasons they play guys like Desjardins and Carcillo in certain situations. You still seem to be adhering to the FLAWED/FALSE notion that Carcillo is somehow to blame for the loss last night or the Hawks not scoring of late. Fact is, he's NOT.

I don't care if he blows, he's not to blame in this instance.

Maybe he liked the way the team handles young players?
- paulr

I do believe the Hawks have the right stuff when it comes to,

Seeing young talent
Hands on training them
Showing the winning side
AND most importantly LOYOLTY

Some could argue the loyalty part but I believe the players the Hawks are picking
see this. They also know they are only working on a 2/3 yr window for themselves to produce what the Hawks want/ need.
This in its self is great presser that some are not able to live up to or are able to wait to live up to. Character and confidence in themselves with the system
they sign in to is the key
Hawks have one of the best since Rock took over
THX Rock

JJ, you do have to be a coach to realize tha Coach Q's coaching this year has not been a master piece. All the blending, preferring veterans that are over the hill has not helped this team. IMO, he has lost the the team...players are ignoring his instructions and are going through the motions. Let us not put all the blame on bad luck, opponents goalie playingn lights out, the long road trip and some of our players not playing up to snuff. The bottom line is the team has played like crap for 3 months and if it wasn't for some stellar play by our goalies...the Hawks would be on the verge of missing the playoffs.
- spanky

Disagree 110%. See above. Who do you want? Tortorella?

Agreed Crawford/Darling have salvaged them.

Bigger question, what's the message to the fans about the blunt reality of all the great prospects on their way. Either not ready or not what they've been hyped to be.

Let's all be clear on something. Quenneville has FORGOTTEN more about hockey than all of us know. So I start there. I mean, they don't pull names out of a hat when they make lineups.

LIKE IT OR NOT, there are valid, likely hockey-related reasons they play guys like Desjardins and Carcillo in certain situations. You still seem to be adhering to the FLAWED/FALSE notion that Carcillo is somehow to blame for the loss last night or the Hawks not scoring of late. Fact is, he's NOT.

I don't care if he blows, he's not to blame in this instance.
- John Jaeckel

that goal line to offensive blue line rush was worth the price of admission alone...man was he out of his element skating the puck up the ice through the neutral zone

that goal line to offensive blue line rush was worth the price of admission alone...man was he out of his element skating the puck up the ice through the neutral zone
- EnzoD

Ya, that was funny actually a little surprising.

Do you blame the coach for not adjusting system based on his roster or the GM for not giving the coach the players needed to execute his system?
- fattybeef

Both Coach and GM should get most of the blame..but Coach Q will be the first to fall if the boat is not corrected.

Let me add, do I put some of the blame on the coaches? Yeah, sure I guess.

BUT . . .

My info, is Q has NOT lost the room, and if anything his stock is rising in the organization right now.

BOWMAN made a smart move by going out and trying to get some veteran help at the deadline. because my info. is the players were looking at him/the FO for help. Not Q.

Kane being out is no one's fault.

I want to reserve judgement on Timonen (especially, due to his health issues) and Vermette until 4/15.

All is not lost, but the middle of the forward lines remains a mystery, that you hope can be somewhat solved before Kane might get back. Because if it isn't, then when he gets back won't matter.

Disagree 110%. See above. Who do you want? Tortorella?

Agreed Crawford/Darling have salvaged them.
- John Jaeckel

Try Mike Haviland for a starter.

Both Coach and GM should get most of the blame..but Coach Q will be the first to fall if the boat is not corrected.
- spanky

Again, disagree. Q won a political battle versus Stanley in the summer of 2012. And don't think Stan's deadline moves weren't spurred by someone stepping in above him and telling him to get something done.

Step back and take a hard look at what each has on their walls/CV's.

I would not count Q out right now.

Your theory is he has lost the room. I will just tell you, that is not what I've heard all year from people close to the situation.

Try Mike Haviland for a starter.
- spanky

OK, and Monkeys will fly out of my butt first. Trust me. Havvy's a nice guy, but there are reasons that will never happen.

Disagree 110%. See above. Who do you want? Tortorella?

Agreed Crawford/Darling have salvaged them.
- John Jaeckel

Look around the league.

LA & Boston are out of the playoffs right now. Are Sutter and Julien suddenly idiots? Tippet was being hailed for what he did in ARI a couple of years ago, did he all of a sudden become dumb?

All this blame on Q is a little misplaced. He has kept this club competitive and pushed a lot of the right buttons for the last 6 years. Is 100% of what he has done correct?, not in any way, shape or form, but he is far from the fool that a lot of people make him out to be.

Ya, that was funny actually a little surprising.
- John Jaeckel

went forehand backhand 3 times in a row hahah. As you said in your previous post, to blame the Loss on Desjardans or Carcillo is foolish. Blame it on an inability to finish, an inability to play tight D in the neutral/Dzone (forwards and D-men), and just an overall lack of execution in terms of tape-tape passes, ect..