Coaches are hired to be fired, but switching out 4 defenceman in the offseason and losing Huberdeau and Bjugy won't help any coach short term. Plenty of people who watch the team closely just don't think the Panthers' roster is that good top to bottom.
- RickJ

I agree totally and understand their thinking that attempting to move away from heavy defenders and to attempt to re-tool in the Blackhawk type defenseman IS the way to go, bot teams aren't gonna give you true backline mailmen who can dart out hold possessions and thread the needle to spring the moving teammate on the other attacking blueline.
The first mistake was to think the could throw bundles of $ at Keith Randle and he would be ONE of thise guys. He's is now just a overpaid PP guy, who doesn't play strong in his end or in his carries.
The guys that will help are the big and fluid Eckblad, and eventually,in years to come are Matheson.
And with Jussi Jokinen, you sign one of the best shoot out guys, but the Shoot OUT is thankfully being dispalce by real 3 on 3 hockey.
and on Jagr- It hard not to hold his nuts because he has accomplished much and is a young 44 (45 in February)...but let's get in Mr. Peabody and Sherman's way back machine: Am I confused, or during the Bruin Hawk final, wasn't he already basically being excused of defensive zone coverages because his feet and body needed the pep in the offensive step...
...and Barkov has be asked / tasked to have them as wings.

So for as much as the turnover of defensive tandems is a big change, like you, I also thought Nick Bjugstad& Vincent Trocheck Reilly Smith are unachieving but there is waht amounts to a poor abck up after that save for maCKenzie.

So i am with you ---last year happened, I happy they did well, but they squirted and it happened, not so much a building block step forward...and Huberdeau has been paid like a pro and is still in training....

Sorry to be random...

But what about Shane Doan as a rental for Toews left wing this year?

I am sure that he wants to win a cup before he retires, and knows it won't be done in Arizona. He could be like Vermette, and come to Chicago for a cup, and then return to Arizona next year.

I am just not sure if he fits with Toews, which is why I am bringing it up. Anyone have any thoughts?
- ToewsdNKanefusd

Doan will never leave the desert. He's had a few opportunities and offers to go. The guy wants to die as the all-time Hockey God/Coyote of Arizona.

Sorry to be random...

But what about Shane Doan as a rental for Toews left wing this year?

- ToewsdNKanefusd

The think is Doan still wants to play RIGHT WING.

I'm pretty sure Toews reached out to him before to try and get him to come to Chicago.

I don't think Doan wants to leave AZ, though.

I know I shared this story before, so sorry for saying it again, but my buddy was working the scoreboard for a youth tournament and I was hanging out with him in the box. One of the teams that was playing was from Arizona and their bench had three coaches on it-- one of them was Doan. The other two coaches screamed their heads off the whole game. Doan never yelled. He opened the door for the line changes and talked to the kids.

After the game, he signed a couple pucks for us and was all class.

He surprisingly smaller than I thought, but he was in ridiculous shape. Haha.
- Hank3Henshaw

I know he doesn't want to uproot his family, but that's why I mentioned the Vermette rental, because him and his family could make it work for a half season, if he really does want a good chance at a cup.

I just really feel like this might happen...

I still don't understand the Gallant firing and then jobbing him pretty hard by doing it on the road.

I think there's a place for both analytics and gut feeling in sports, but if analytics takes over, it can be a slippery slope-- in my opinion.
- Hank3Henshaw

The owner stepped up to the mike, but the 30 yr old GM was the man behind the curtain.

Jonathan Toews will not play tonight. #Blackhawks

— Eric Lear (@BHTVeric) November 29, 2016

You think Gallant goes to Vegas? Seems like they just got handed a pretty great option at HC
- BURDA13

I dunno...YOU would think that Veags wants to play the way the league is trending, not backward.

I bet they select a guy who has either run a NHL bench or been behind one as a assistant, but one who is going to attempt to play the press (fast) style.

It would seem like whoever is given the job will be given a long tenure and plenty of rope.

If you look at the guys in Tampa, and Detroit, and Pittsburgh, you see you can get a younger experienced bench guy who communicates well and Vegas uses him to "water the team in growth."

Jonathan Toews will not play tonight. #Blackhawks

— Eric Lear (@BHTVeric) November 29, 2016

- DarthKane

Hmmmm... get healthy 19.

Jonathan Toews will not play tonight. #Blackhawks

— Eric Lear (@BHTVeric) November 29, 2016

- DarthKane

Give him as many Days/Weeks as necessary to be 100% healthy. I think the Hartman-Hinostroza-Hossa line gets one or 2 goals tonight. I have loved Hartman's play the last week+ and Vinny is finally showing confidence with the puck and making some plays. 72+15+88 are as lethal as ever. Also, I think Desi needs to play a lot better or he will find himself in the press box more often than in the lineup.

Hmmmm... get healthy 19.
- z1990z

Toews is questionable for Thursday.

There's never a good time to lose your captain, but it's better now than the spring. On the bright side this gives the rookies the short term opportunity to play a more offensive role and show what they can do.

Coaches are hired to be fired, but switching out 4 defenceman in the offseason and losing Huberdeau and Bjugy won't help any coach short term. Plenty of people who watch the team closely just don't think the Panthers' roster is that good top to bottom. Maybe they are, we"ll see what happens over the next 6 weeks.
- RickJ

First I've heard of this. Maybe not best in the league but better than last year.

Give him as many Days/Weeks as necessary to be 100% healthy. I think the Hartman-Hinostroza-Hossa line gets one or 2 goals tonight. I have loved Hartman's play the last week+ and Vinny is finally showing confidence with the puck and making some plays. 72+15+88 are as lethal as ever. Also, I think Desi needs to play a lot better or he will find himself in the press box more often than in the lineup.
- EnzoD

Do you like Hinostroza better in that spot, or Schmaltz? Schmaltz has more skill, Hino is more "direct to the net". It seems both have a bit of trouble holding on to/handling the puck.

Not really, his shortcomings are playing without the puck imho, that's kind of a big deal when you're a defenseman
- BetweenTheDots

He's been pretty good for us. He's not one of the problems on D.

I agree totally and understand their thinking that attempting to move away from heavy defenders and to attempt to re-tool in the Blackhawk type defenseman IS the way to go, bot teams aren't gonna give you true backline mailmen who can dart out hold possessions and thread the needle to spring the moving teammate on the other attacking blueline.
The first mistake was to think the could throw bundles of $ at Keith Randle and he would be ONE of thise guys. He's is now just a overpaid PP guy, who doesn't play strong in his end or in his carries.
The guys that will help are the big and fluid Eckblad, and eventually,in years to come are Matheson.
And with Jussi Jokinen, you sign one of the best shoot out guys, but the Shoot OUT is thankfully being dispalce by real 3 on 3 hockey.
and on Jagr- It hard not to hold his nuts because he has accomplished much and is a young 44 (45 in February)...but let's get in Mr. Peabody and Sherman's way back machine: Am I confused, or during the Bruin Hawk final, wasn't he already basically being excused of defensive zone coverages because his feet and body needed the pep in the offensive step...
...and Barkov has be asked / tasked to have them as wings.

So for as much as the turnover of defensive tandems is a big change, like you, I also thought Nick Bjugstad& Vincent Trocheck Reilly Smith are unachieving but there is waht amounts to a poor abck up after that save for maCKenzie.

So i am with you ---last year happened, I happy they did well, but they squirted and it happened, not so much a building block step forward...and Huberdeau has been paid like a pro and is still in training....
- wiz1901

Wiz, you are beautiful. Penalty box kinda guy for sure.

Do you like Hinostroza better in that spot, or Schmaltz? Schmaltz has more skill, Hino is more "direct to the net". It seems both have a bit of trouble holding on to/handling the puck.
- Chunk

Vinny plays with more pace and urgency, IMO. My biggest gripe with Schmaltz is his energy level/tenacity. Schmaltz has great vision and is a pass-first player, but needs to shoot when he has a clean look at the net. Before this week, I'd have said Schmaltz, but Vinny has impressed me the last handful of games.

Interesting perspective, because I wouldn't consider last year a "waste" of a season for the Panthers. If anything, I think it was a big step for them in a positive direction.

Coaching is a pretty thankless job. If your team is doing good, it's usually attributed to the players, if it's doing bad, it's the coach who has to fall on the sword. Very rarely are the coaches ever attributed to developing schemes/plays to that contribute to the teams success. It's only when the team is doing poorly that all that stuff comes out. Just sort of interesting.

I agree with you that all teams have injuries to deal with. I still think this was more of an overall philosophical change (analytics) they're going for and Gallant was a casualty of that.

My problem with analytics is if they start to take over, they remove the spontaneity and quick thinking that sports require from a coaching perspective. Once analytics become the focus, what's the point of having a coach? The front office is running everything at that point. Look at baseball--a sport consumed by analytics. You don't see many "big personality" managers anymore. Coaching/managing has become somewhat suppressed by numbers now and the manager seems to be more of a "face" for the position because they need someone in there. Many times it's the front offices making up the lineups and telling the manager who should be in. If I'm a manager and I have a situation where I want to bunt, I'm going to go with my gut. I don't want to call up to the clubhouse and have some nerd break down the percentages of how often a bunt works in that situation.

That being said...

I do think there is a place for analytics--obviously. Great tool to gather info on your opponent, your own players and situational stuff. So, there's a place for both the numbers game and the gut feeling. There just has to be a balance.

So, they fire Gallant and insert Rowe. To me, it wasn't so much about Gallant, as it was getting the GM in who is all about the numbers and will play that game the front office wants without putting up any sort of argument or fight. Sort of a "yes man" for the organization.

Should be interesting to see what happens.
- Hank3Henshaw

Hey I'm with ya there. Analytics is a small part of sports(IMO) but seems like it's becoming more and more talked about in all sports. I hate it. I'm 41 and have always played sports and would rather play and watch and learn that way instead of analyzing stats.

Sorry to be random...

But what about Shane Doan as a rental for Toews left wing this year?

I am sure that he wants to win a cup before he retires, and knows it won't be done in Arizona. He could be like Vermette, and come to Chicago for a cup, and then return to Arizona next year.

I am just not sure if he fits with Toews, which is why I am bringing it up. Anyone have any thoughts?
- ToewsdNKanefusd

Doan has zero drive. Why would you want him on your team. Could of played on a number of playoff teams last few years but would rather rot in Arizona vs chase the cup.

Do you like Hinostroza better in that spot, or Schmaltz? Schmaltz has more skill, Hino is more "direct to the net". It seems both have a bit of trouble holding on to/handling the puck.
- Chunk

Schmaltz.

Hossa needs someone with skill and vision to get him the puck in prime scoring areas. Although Hartman getting a lot of hard rubber on net with regularity could create rebound opportunities for Hossa.

Any word on TVR and his timetable for return? Wondering if he hits the press box or gets sent down for a two week conditioning stint while they weigh their options.

Any word on TVR and his timetable for return? Wondering if he hits the press box or gets sent down for a two week conditioning stint while they weigh their options.
- walter34

Have not heard anything.

Doan has zero drive. Why would you want him on your team. Could of played on a number of playoff teams last few years but would rather rot in Arizona vs chase the cup.
- Gerk

Agreed.

Any word on TVR and his timetable for return? Wondering if he hits the press box or gets sent down for a two week conditioning stint while they weigh their options.
- walter34

Tracey MyersVerified account ‏@TramyersCSN 23h23 hours ago
TVR will NOT play tomorrow. Q wants to get him in a few more practices. Crawford starts vs. Florida. #Blackhawks

The Hawks D this year is an interesting group. We have the 3 mainstay guys in Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson. The return of a still good Brian Campbell. The European additions of non-rookie Kempny and the young Forsling. TVR trying to regain the trust and his role on the team and Rosy staving off retirement for another year with some limited playing time.

Here are some stats.

5v5 SAT
Kempny + 63
Seabrook +51
Keith +24
Campbell + 7
Hammer + 5
Rosy -5
TVR - 17
Forsling -61

Surprising thing for me, not so many goals from the D. Here are the goals and shots on goal. Surprised Keith and Kempny still haven't managed to score one.

Keith 0G 50 shots
Seabrook 2G 38 shots
Forsling 1G 25 shots
Campbell 2G 23 shots
Kempny 0G 23 shots
Hjalmarsson 2G 16 shots
Rozy 0G 6 shots
TVR 0G 0 shots.

I kind of hope TVR comes back solid and pushes Forsling to step up his game a bit. Forsling has great talent, but I think he isn't the full package yet. Love a lot of what he does on the ice, but the Hawks could use more from him if they want to go deep.

Here is who he has played with so far...

Even Strength Line Combinations
Freq Line Combination
49.3% FORSLING,GUSTAV - HJALMARSSON,NIKLAS
29.4% CAMPBELL,BRIAN - FORSLING,GUSTAV
16% FORSLING,GUSTAV - ROZSIVAL,MICHAL
4.3% FORSLING,GUSTAV - SEABROOK,BRENT
0.9% FORSLING,GUSTAV - VAN RIEMSDYK,TREVOR

What do you guys think?

Eric Lear ‏@BHTVeric
Coach Q: "Jonny wants to be out there in the worst way so we'll do everything we can to get him back." #Blackhawks

Really hope they don't let him rush it. Q strikes me as an old school "suck it up" kind of guy. Hopefully, the doctors hold sway. Can't afford aggravating whatever it is and losing him for a longer period.

Vinny plays with more pace and urgency, IMO. My biggest gripe with Schmaltz is his energy level/tenacity. Schmaltz has great vision and is a pass-first player, but needs to shoot when he has a clean look at the net. Before this week, I'd have said Schmaltz, but Vinny has impressed me the last handful of games.
- EnzoD

I think I have seen some good improvement in #8's jump, on ice confidence and playing quicker in the last few games; after all he is only 20 games into his NHL career and really should have been learning for awhile at a one level below the big show.

100% agree on not shooting enough (or at all) - if he would set a target of 3 SOG per game that would work out to approx. 200 in a season which might net him 15 goals. Holding onto the puck forever looking to make the perfect pass won't create any of the scoring this team is so short of.