Try Mike Haviland for a starter.
- spanky

Yeah.

And then lets gut the roster and get Pirri, Hayes Brothers, Morin, Clendening, Stanton, Kopecky, Frolik, Ladd, Buff, etc.

We will have the whole old gang back together and everything will be wonderful

Bottom line is this team is unplugged.... Disconnect from Q? Chemistry issues? Wins/losses are one thing, but lack of effort..

Hartman needs to be up.. 11 needs to stay in the line up. 29 needs a bus ticket.

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

Agreed Crawford/Darling have salvaged them.
- John Jaeckel

It is absolutely funny how much is wrong is seen with this team rightfully so compared to what we have seen and want this team to be.

One fact is certain all yr. we have played below "The Hawks standard" of the past
8yrs.

YET WE STILL HAVE A VERY GOOD TEAM (7th in league) Just not that ELITE team YET I HOPE

I believe the Playoff juices WILL flip that switch, question is "How many lights will be turned "ON" and at what wattage?"

19 81 7 2 50 4 Will give everything as usual, a series loss will not be their fault

When we play Defence, possession then pace we are engaged and win

Please NO "Yelling dad Torts"

Just kidding, bowman sacked up, i have no issues with him. Just get Paliotta signed now

Try Mike Haviland for a starter.
- spanky

Maybe 5 years ago. Now, not so much. Same with Tortorella too. He's coaching a last place team in Iowa.

I believe the Playoff juices WILL flip that switch, question is "How many lights will be turned "ON" and at what wattage?"
- Joe-snoopy-Cool

I hope you're right.

Could be!


One never knows, do they?
- savvyone-1

Haha people take this place to seriously at times......Give us a positive Q post and that spinnerama alone will speak volumes.

I hope you're right.
- EKolb13

I know. We all hope they do that's all we got left

Good evening EK How`s the weather up there?

How many games like the NYR games do you think the Boys have in them
this PO season? We know they have a great record in games 4 5 6 & 7
Something like 24-1 in last few yrs
The 1 was Leddy`s last act as a Hawk trying to block a shot Craw had

>JJ, very well said
>But Q is not blameless in this current trainwreck
>When a team loses its playing structure and compete level throughout the lineup, something is very wrong
>Quite right, Q cannot play for the players but it IS up to him to fix the problem
>Rozy is not working -- yes, Hawks likely to play only 5 D once playoffs begin -- but is that Rozy, KT, or who -- that's on Stan and Q -- no real 3rd pair -- which is likely the biggest roster problem the Hawks have
>Vermette is hopefully going through a dead-leg stage -- he is invisible out there
>Toews just strung together 3 of the worst games of his career
>#65 and #20 were the only Hawk forwards to show any serious compete level last night
>Hawks inability to finish has every opponent crashing the Hawks zone -- with little or no fear of giving up odd-man breaks -- expecting another Hawks' shot into the goaler's crest
>Most of the mistakes by the Dmen start with poor decision-making and many of the right choices would be made by simply skating with the puck or going the other way instead into a pile of players (see Rozy, shift after shift)
>Back to Q -- switching to the "checking first" mentality after #88 got hurt -- seems to have worn off quickly -- are players thinking too much, playing too cautious? Players playing like they are stuck between philosophies
>On a positive note, Johnny Oduya with another very good game last night -- one of his best this year -- he's quietly regaining his confidence
- SnapitUpstairs

Oduya freshened and back with Hammer...++

Time to put players together where they can best compete and forget about the reward system because there would 3/4/5 players every game that shouldn't dress.

Put Bickell on top line with Toews and Hossa.
Play Vermette as a 3rd line center ....As that is what he has been for most of his career.

Take a leap and play TT as 2nd line center with a Sharp/Saad maybe.

Stop splitting up #4 and #7 and skate Timmo with Rozsival for 12-14 mins a game.

Carey is still rough around the edges but has impressed at times in Rockford. Could see him a 3rd/4th liner down the road - can kill penalties and is far feistier than I realized.
- BreakoutHockey

I've seen him a bit and he reminds me of Kris Versteeg the way he plays; that is when Steeger is actually being scrappy and going to the rough areas.

Haha people take this place to seriously at times......Give us a positive Q post and that spinnerama alone will speak volumes.
- eagle50

For sure.

Here's one for you -- I do think Q has done a good job of managing our goaltenders over the years (well, at least since the drunk Ruskie). Seems to have a great feel for who to put between the pipes and when guys need a break or need to compete for the paint.

I've seen him a bit and he reminds me of Kris Versteeg the way he plays; that is when Steeger is actually being scrappy and going to the rough areas.
- TyCamScore

That's a fair assessment.

Things I like about Carey:

- He doesn't quit. He gives everything he has every shift.
- He finishes his checks and tends to leave an impression when he does.
- He kills penalties, spots up and down the line-up, and sees some time on the PP.

Honestly, Carey doesn't have too high of a ceiling talent-wise, but he could be an effective grinder on a checking line in the NHL.

>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?
- SnapitUpstairs

I answered some things in a post above.

Third pairing is what is it is now because Q doesn't trust Rozsy and Timmo together...But for the Hawks to make a long playoff run I think they have to play on the 3rd pairing together.

Bowman shipped out the better dmen from Rockford but TVR is down there only because he isn't at NHL speed. Otherwise he would be subbing for Rozisval in some games. Don't be surprised if TVR isn't dressed in Chgo for awhile.

Lack of awareness can be a sign of fatigue.
But as you said the compete level of Saad and Shaw stands out. Richards doesn't forecheck, actually he seldom drives the net.....For those things u need a full gas tank, to do it game in and game out. The 4th line players, who don't play as much when the Hawks are behind, like Kruger, can forecheck....But unless the game is tight or the Hawks lead Q doesn't play him that much.

For sure.

Here's one for you -- I do think Q has done a good job of managing our goaltenders over the years (well, at least since the drunk Ruskie). Seems to have a great feel for who to put between the pipes and when guys need a break or need to compete for the paint.
- savvyone-1

And his goaltender acumen was always a knock as I remember.........perhaps a spin not sure on the rama

Yeah.

And then lets gut the roster and get Pirri, Hayes Brothers, Morin, Clendening, Stanton, Kopecky, Frolik, Ladd, Buff, etc.

We will have the whole old gang back together and everything will be wonderful


- TheTrob

those 3 would be nice

and from what I remember, the old gangs of 2013&2010 were pretty wonderful

http://espn.go.com/video/...562209&categoryid=2378529

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.
- TheTrob

LA - Voynov being an alleged carton of vile excrement and suspended is a big problem for them. Martinez has only played 47 games. They've had some pretty big issues on the blue line. Plus Dustin Brown has regressed to a turd that doesn't score from one that was good for 25-30 and lol Mike Richards. Stoll has been injured too. That's 3 or 4 key players out of the line up depending on how you want to count.

Boston - Chara has played 54 games and is showing his age. Krejci has been injured. Lucic has an underwhelming 15 goals. Can't win if you can't score. And Julien is a piece of garbage as far as I'm concerned.

Anyway, Sutter has some legitimate excuses. Julien not so much. If Crow isn't playing out of his mind then the Hawks are probably closer to a wild card spot than not. The Hawks don't have a plethora of excuses aside from no Patrick Kane. Q got to keep the blue line he wanted so there's that and the forward group has been basically the same since the last Cup.

I've complained ad nauseam about Q making adjustments slower than Rozy turning to chase a guy down low. I still think that is a problem but when you have 2/3 of the roster skating up and down the line up like they give zero ducks then that's a different thing all together (led by the guy with the C on his shirt). I am of the opinion that they're coasting and under the impression that they will flip a switch and that Kane will show up in time to save the day.

There is really no other plausible explanation that I can think of. Though it looks like Keith is starting to get irritated and I wouldn't be surprised if he flying elbowed someone in one of the next few games.

42 is out a week or two and 13 is day to day. Who comes up??

Hawks sign Paliotta

Chicago Blackhawks ‏@NHLBlackhawks · 2m2 minutes ago
The #Blackhawks have agreed to terms with defenseman Michael Paliotta on a two-year contract: http://onego.al/KQUGX

Hawks sign Paliotta

Chicago Blackhawks ‏@NHLBlackhawks · 2m2 minutes ago
The #Blackhawks have agreed to terms with defenseman Michael Paliotta on a two-year contract: http://onego.al/KQUGX
- KingB

Good.

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.
- John Jaeckel

It was certainly beginning to be a concern of mine, that the players were tuning out Q, which is something that can happen to any coach. Glad that's cleared up. Is it any different between his assistants and the players, though?

I'm not worried about Timonen yet, either. The balance of the regular season should be considered his preseason. As for Vermette, is he on the same timetable? I'm guessing he's still in a state of shock over the trade. I gather he misses his teammates in Phoenix, even if he doesn't miss all the losing. Sometimes a player just doesn't fit in with a new team, also. It happens even when there's no discord to speak of.

As for your prior post about the Rockford players, would any of this have to do with the front office keeping players in Rockford longer because they don't want to start having games count against their ELC sooner?

Hawks sign Paliotta

Chicago Blackhawks ‏@NHLBlackhawks · 2m2 minutes ago
The #Blackhawks have agreed to terms with defenseman Michael Paliotta on a two-year contract: http://onego.al/KQUGX
- KingB

My god, two young players signed in one day ....

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

I think those hockey related reasons are called waivers, playing time, and not old enough for Q not to doghouse them every-time they blink wrong.

Hawks sign Paliotta

Chicago Blackhawks ‏@NHLBlackhawks · 2m2 minutes ago
The #Blackhawks have agreed to terms with defenseman Michael Paliotta on a two-year contract: http://onego.al/KQUGX
- KingB

Trend perhaps?

Hawks sign Paliotta

Chicago Blackhawks ‏@NHLBlackhawks · 2m2 minutes ago
The #Blackhawks have agreed to terms with defenseman Michael Paliotta on a two-year contract: http://onego.al/KQUGX
- KingB

Can't be. Dont you know that Hayes set a precedent and the Hawks dont have opportunities for young players.