You need to understand the Danault situation. He wasn't just traded for nothing. He was not going to resign here. He wanted to be in Montreal - and Bowman chose to get something for him - instead of losing him in the offseason.

Either way - he was not coming back.
- dahawks8819

I have a hard time believing that a RFA with only one season under his belt would have that kind of leverage. Where did you read about his future plans to leave the Blackhawk organization before last years trade?

I have a hard time believing that a RFA with only one season under his belt would have that kind of leverage. Where did you read about his future plans to leave the Blackhawk organization before last years trade?
- Dieselhead

You're right Dieselhead - Danault did not have the leverage to make a move like this. How many 3rd/4th liners "hold out" after 40 games in the league?

Also, that is not Danault's character, he's a warrior and a class act... guy just wants to win.

He also had a ton of his friends who were graduating (or had a chance to move up) with the Hawks. That Rockford crew was very close after living and playing together for so many years. Not exactly the worst situation in the world.

The rumour was Bergevin was a huge Danault fan from day #1 and was determined to pry him away from Bowman when the opportunity came up. Now we're seeing why.

You are badly mistaken. No less than 27 NHL teams would line up and offer at least four players and draft picks for the chance to acquire Jonathan Toews.

All the hate on this site is just silly. You all sound like fantasy players - points are the only thing that matter to you - and that just proves you don't know this game.

Please keep all this trade Toews nonsense to yourself - it's not going to happen. He will play this contract out as a Hawk - number 19 will never be worn again for this franchise, and at some point, there will be a statue of him outside the UC.
- dahawks8819

27 teams would line up to offer FOUR players and draft picks for THAT contract??? For a guy who is either hurt or has declining skills??
I don't think so.

But, I agree the Blackhawks will not trade Toews.

You know. I can actually live with last night's game.
Yes. We lost. Yes. Minny now top our division....but....

I was beginning to think we were not even in the same league as the top 5-6 in the league. After the Caps horrific debacle I thought we be lucky to hang on for a wild card spot.

But, even in a losing effort I liked the game we played. Finally saw some pace, some effort, some girt, some heart.
Kane was on fire out there. 10 or 12 shots, couple of goals and dangerous all night. Goalies on both teams played well. Shots were fairly even, face-offs even as well.
It was a game that could have gone to either team, and Minny just happens to be that smidge better than the Hawks right now.

For a lose. It was acceptable if for no other reason that it was good to see a proper effort brought by our guys tonight. Play that kind of game against the rest of the league and we win 70% of them. Minny is good. REAL good. Dubnyk is good. REAL good. Hawks showed they CAN play with the league's upper teams. Now, to bottle that effort and bring it to the next few games to see if we can put together another little winning streak!

Anisimov with a bad penalty

Looks like it's Patrick Kane night

Take a 2-0 and give one back right away
- BetweenTheDots

And once again no mention of what on earth is Duncan Keith doing on that 1st goal by Nino N ? Watch the play !! Keith never engages him in front of the net on the PK. He was totally out of position just standing around allowing NN way too much room for that rebound. He wasn't within 5 feet of his man !!!! Wayyyyyy too much love for DK as always.......and again strange that Suter is mentioned about being a Norris Trophy contender but not DK with all his unbelievable assists ?( Foley and Olczyk ) I wonder why that is !!

JJ Flyers fans are going to hate you every since you got into it with them that you wouldn't resign Mason, they have been tanking , not sure how much is on him but they have been giving up a lot of goals and he has been pulled a few times.
- HamiltonHawk

Meh, I eat "hate" for breakfast.

i like campbell. but maybe he would be better suited to have the roszival role now and have a night off every few games. with the amount of blue liners the hawks have, maybe start giving all of their players a night off as the season progresses. even duncan keith would probably benefit once in a while.
- frafra

I kept saying it this summer and early fall: I can easily see Kempny taking Campbell's top 4 spot by season end. Might not happen, up to Kempny, he had one bad pinch he got away with last night. But Campbell is also looking close to done. No acceleration any more, still struggles mentally in his end.

Well it IS January...

That said...My perception of this season so far is about the same as the last. This is not a team built to contend, or even make it to the conference final, without miraculous goaltending. The hawks TEAM defense is poor, and without that, they are sunk. All 3 cup winning seasons were won with very strong play from the top 4 defensemen, sure, but more importantly, it was commitment by the forwards to help out and get the pucks going the other way. Even then, 2015 was a pretty rough ride until Darling saved their bacon in Nashville.

What has worked so well for this team so far under Q, is speed, skill, and commitment to TEAM defense. 5 men hounding the puck. Support along the boards. Ferocious backchecking (thanks to Hoss, Kruger, Frolik, Bolland, Saad, and formerly...Toews). Quick, accurate passing from the defense. Aggressive penalty-killing. SWAGGER.

Two seasons now I watch and wait for them to emerge from their coccoon. Put a whallopping on the opposition. Smell blood, attack and go for the jugular. Too often it's bungled leads and close calls brought about by a goalie practically pulling his groin saving chances he shouldn't have to. I used to joke about Crawford's deficiencies to my friends by saying "it doesn't matter if he's not that good, he's got the equivalent of the secret service clearing out his crease for him." No longer. No one is willing to pay the price except the rookies and Hossa, the old pro. Ugly to watch.

First two months of the season were really encouraging. I saw a focused team supporting each other. Hard work paying off. Not a dominant team by any stretch but they still looked like contenders. It's been a good long while since I've watched a convincing 40 minutes, let alone 60, from this group. They miss Shaw every game.

If you get paid 50k a year, and you show poor effort week after week, you're going to get called into the manager's office sooner or later. Why the hell should't these fellas? A job is a job. Even if your job is to play a game.


Edit: Forgot to include Hjalmarsson with Hossa. He almost always brings it.
- kinigitt

Something not lost on the front office either. Which is why neither is getting traded anytime soon—unless there is a serious rebuild.

Go Johnny Go is my guy win lose or draw. That said even if he gets back to 70 points, he's ONLY ever been there once y'all, nobody is taking that contract.
- Mr Ricochet

My fairly strong belief is he is playing through a back injury. You don't just wear down at age 28, especially not a guy like him.

I also think it's gonna be a long year because his back and whatever is plaguing Keith don't look like something that magically heals during the course of a hockey season.

Without those two guys at 100% or close to it, this team is going to struggle.

I'll grant you that...but overall the Hawks problems aren't between the pipes.
- ArlingtonRob

Agreed. Find takers for Keith and/or Seabrook PLEASE !! They're value will never be higher. Sorry to face the truth but have been saying it for 2 years now....... it's time to unload some core players. ONLY Kane and Panarin are keepers.
Toews, Crawford, Krueger can/ should be shopped for the highest return. The question is.......... does this management team have the fortitude to shake this down and rebuild, or do they actually think this is a CUP contender ?

Forget about the "marketing" Mr. Mcdonough and move this team into the 2020's as soon as possible, or you'll be looking at 10,000 + no shows again very soon.

This has been three years in the making if you have been paying attention, not 1week.......
- Gary0301

Not agreeing on Q being the issue (yet), but you are correct (sort of) that this has been two years in the making. Some refuse to see that (yet).

Last year at this point we all had Crosby written off as done
Years of concussions had caught up to Crosby and his career was essentially behind him
Not so much
Toews will be back

Unless there is s more serious condition like MS
- Colbyboy

Correct. Every word.

You need to understand the Danault situation. He wasn't just traded for nothing. He was not going to resign here. He wanted to be in Montreal - and Bowman chose to get something for him - instead of losing him in the offseason.

Either way - he was not coming back.
- dahawks8819

He also didn't have "a job" here. Anisimov is just plain better, Kruger is (much) better in a defensive role. So where do you play Danault and how do you pay him the money he wantdr? That's why they dealt him, not so much where he wanted to be. Bergy wanted him, though.

You're right Dieselhead - Danault did not have the leverage to make a move like this. How many 3rd/4th liners "hold out" after 40 games in the league?

Also, that is not Danault's character, he's a warrior and a class act... guy just wants to win.

He also had a ton of his friends who were graduating (or had a chance to move up) with the Hawks. That Rockford crew was very close after living and playing together for so many years. Not exactly the worst situation in the world.

The rumour was Bergevin was a huge Danault fan from day #1 and was determined to pry him away from Bowman when the opportunity came up. Now we're seeing why.
- TyCamScore

Yes, and he didn't have a "job" on this team. He's a center, better than a 4th line center. the other three center jobs were taken.

I know some get all gushy over his points, but Danault is not nearly in Kruger's class as a shutdown guy—to play against Getzlaf, Carter, Kopitar and guys like that. Like it or not, that is a "job" on this team, and has been in good years and bad as this team has won 3 Cups.

So the team made a decision and dealt him. Did it work out in terms of a Cup last year? No, but I will not fault the GM for going all in and dealing a guy who was not going to be a 2nd line center on this team. And was probably too good to be a 4th line guy playing 6 minutes a night. Again, please don't tell me "he's better than Kruger' because he scores more points. That is still, still, not the job they pay Kruger to do.

It sure would be nice to get something out of Toews once in a while.

If he's got a physical problem, he should be sitting. He's got no jump in his step, I don't think he even got one shot on goal, let alone a decent chance.
And, I'm titred of hearing about who the guys are on his wings.....there's been plenty of games this year where he had Kane/Panarin and or Hossa. It seems Kane can produce points no matter who he plays with.
- tompo1015

If you can't trade him, put him on LTIR for the remainder of the season, use his cap relief to make a trade deadline deal. He may need the rest of the year to get his "upper body" right anyway. Then move one or both of the old core vets on D for youth/picks/ speed. And if there's a legit taker for Crawford for a "BIG" return, I'd consider that as well. There are plenty of things this management team can do if they know what they're doing. The glory days are just about over men, let's see if you truly are a great management team and make some smart business decisions for the future.

You know. I can actually live with last night's game.
Yes. We lost. Yes. Minny now top our division....but....

I was beginning to think we were not even in the same league as the top 5-6 in the league. After the Caps horrific debacle I thought we be lucky to hang on for a wild card spot.

But, even in a losing effort I liked the game we played. Finally saw some pace, some effort, some girt, some heart.
Kane was on fire out there. 10 or 12 shots, couple of goals and dangerous all night. Goalies on both teams played well. Shots were fairly even, face-offs even as well.
It was a game that could have gone to either team, and Minny just happens to be that smidge better than the Hawks right now.

For a lose. It was acceptable if for no other reason that it was good to see a proper effort brought by our guys tonight. Play that kind of game against the rest of the league and we win 70% of them. Minny is good. REAL good. Dubnyk is good. REAL good. Hawks showed they CAN play with the league's upper teams. Now, to bottle that effort and bring it to the next few games to see if we can put together another little winning streak!


- hawk35

1st period maybe...why have the wild "suddenly" become a complete bleeding hemroid for the hawks the last 2 years winning 8 strt and really completely out playing them in every one of those games: cuz the wild pack it up inside as well as any team in the league and when that happens vs transition perimeter teams like the hawks they get beat. In addition while not loaded with top heavy off talent...the wild get enough from all 4 lines cuz the hawks depth the last 2 years is shallow and they seem to take this wild team lightly...

Q decided to the answer was to double shift kane as much as possible = 27 min for kane...i am sorry that's not the answer. The hawks stood back and said hey let patty win this for us. 12 sog's for kane almost 33% of the hawks total while the "used to be good" #19 had zero. Get that zero!!

so the hawks blow a 2 goal lead at home vs a team that played the night before and blew a 4 goal lead of their own...after the most humiliating loss in year. So much for answer and bounce back. After the wild pp goal you sensed the hawks would lose this. No real challenge or push back after that.

so wild 4 games in hand and the hawks have to play them 3 more with 2 in wild land.

it looks like its the blues again for another fun 1st round..if the hawks manage to right the ship...

Give away night at the UC last night...

So if Kane plays 40 minutes a night maybe the Hawks can come close. And where was Panarin last night? Special teams a possible 3 goal swing there as Minni was 1 for 1 and the Hawks 0-2.

I had said the Hawks were winning with defense and goaltending and Hawky corrected me last night - its just goaltending. The defense was just putrid on that third goal. And correct me if I'm wrong Rosy was on the ice for all three Minni goals was he not. Kempny needs to play period. And Soupy looks like he's done.

Meanwhile our 10m center didn't even have a shot on net last night. I have to agree with JJ that Toews must have a serious back problem and I'd sit him.

As Gary mentions this has been a couple of years in the making and you can place blame on the staff and core but the reality is its the GM's responsibility to put a team together.

I hated the Danault trade and I find it hilarious that the kid would have forced a trade to Montreal. But make no mistake the Hawks acceleration downward has been aided by the GM with the Leddy, Sharp deals and TDL moves from last spring that still make your head hurt - yes Ladd was a good add and led them in hits in the series against the Blues. But Bowman knew he needed a #4 and franked around all summer and then at the TDL didn't get the one thing his team needed.

Remember Stan had to have Runny before anything else was done after the Cup run the other spring while Oduya was left to twist in the wind. And Q put him in there in game 7 against the Blues.

You have an aging top heavy core and have to back fill with AHL kids at this point - its not going to get any better, but do you trust the caretaker with a rebuild I don't. I see visions of another Sharp trade fiasco only played out several times.

If you can't trade him, put him on LTIR for the remainder of the season, use his cap relief to make a trade deadline deal. He may need the rest of the year to get his "upper body" right anyway. Then move one or both of the old core vets on D for youth/picks/ speed. And if there's a legit taker for Crawford for a "BIG" return, I'd consider that as well. There are plenty of things this management team can do if they know what they're doing. The glory days are just about over men, let's see if you truly are a great management team and make some smart business decisions for the future.
- Hawkytalk

for luv of god...will you all stop with the trade toews talk...its absurd, its stupid and its not the answer...the hawks are not as dumb as most of us...

even if they were remotely considering this...what return are they going to get for him that works: no team is going to take on that contract and pay toews for winning 3 cups with the hawks...

It really doesn't matter if Hawks finish 2nd and Blues 3rd, or vice versa. Bigger concern is whether Nashville (12 points behind Hawks but with 3 games in hand) can catch them. Preds have been playing better, and will be really dangerous when they get the injured Subban and Neal back.
- BMWChiFan

I have been thinking the same, even a few games ago when Hawks did not look that vulnerable yet, but signs pointed to quick decline or reversion. I was thinking they should hold off to third seat, and play Blues on the road, but Nashville, who was one of the favorites going into the season for WCF, probably will kick into higher gear and might get hot and pass them as well, so they are not total lock yet in getting into playoffs.
Couple more thoughts. "They played more games from 2009 than anyone else' is arbitrary finish lines and lame excuse. Lets shift the lines by 2 years and Penguins core (Crossby, Malkin) played more games than anyone else, and its rarely a boring game with Penguins even in seasons they were slumping. And rarely Pens fan would use same excuse for Penguins, so lets top with that.
Most of us would be let go of the job for this level of efforts, hockey contracts prevent this from happening and this is not right. I'd rather watch someone like Carolina now trying to break into playoffs than Hawks and this is sad.

for luv of god...will you all stop with the trade toews talk...its absurd, its stupid and its not the answer...the hawks are not as dumb as most of us...

even if they were remotely considering this...what return are they going to get for him that works: no team is going to take on that contract and pay toews for winning 3 cups with the hawks...
- bogiedoc

Well somebody on this blog stated that there would be 27 teams in line waiting to give the Hawks 4 players and picks.......... I think you are absolutely correct that this is ridiculous. I don't think he's tradeable either for all the reasons we've all noted, but his game is totally gone right now and who knows if/when it will ever come back. My concern is his health and putting him on IR for the remainder of the season is an OPTION. If he's not healthy physically or mentally, why is he on the ice ? Somebody needs to explain to this fan base why this GREAT player has lost it !!

And once again no mention of what on earth is Duncan Keith doing on that 1st goal by Nino N ? Watch the play !! Keith never engages him in front of the net on the PK. He was totally out of position just standing around allowing NN way too much room for that rebound. He wasn't within 5 feet of his man !!!! Wayyyyyy too much love for DK as always.......and again strange that Suter is mentioned about being a Norris Trophy contender but not DK with all his unbelievable assists ?( Foley and Olczyk ) I wonder why that is !!
- Hawkytalk

I also am not sure what Keith and 4 were doing on that PK. Leaving 2 Wild forwards in front of the net and playing outside of the goal posts. Brutal.

Well somebody on this blog stated that there would be 27 teams in line waiting to give the Hawks 4 players and picks.......... I think you are absolutely correct that this is ridiculous. I don't think he's tradeable either for all the reasons we've all noted, but his game is totally gone right now and who knows if/when it will ever come back. My concern is his health and putting him on IR for the remainder of the season is an OPTION. If he's not healthy physically or mentally, why is he on the ice ? Somebody needs to explain to this fan base why this GREAT player has lost it !!
- Hawkytalk

Why explain? 3/4 the people at the UC probably don't even know the names of the current Hawks roster and spend half the game on their phones. I'd like to know when this back issue came about and if it has been around for a bit why was he playing in the WC and why was he out doing those adrenaline sports this season? Poor asset management if it's chronic and the Hawks let him do whatever he wants.

Why explain? 3/4 the people at the UC probably don't even know the names of the current Hawks roster and spend half the game on their phones. I'd like to know when this back issue came about and if it has been around for a bit why was he playing in the WC and why was he out doing those adrenaline sports this season? Poor asset management if it's chronic and the Hawks let him do whatever he wants.
- bhawks2241

I think he may have hurt it in the WC—where up to a certain point he looked like the "Old Toews."

I think as frustrated as fans are, it is what it is until the offseason at least. But wayyyyyy too early to talk about his career being over.

I think he may have hurt it in the WC—where up to a certain point he looked like the "Old Toews."

I think as frustrated as fans are, it is what it is until the offseason at least. But wayyyyyy too early to talk about his career being over.
- John Jaeckel

That makes more sense than chronic. It may turn into chronic but I think if it's been bad for a few years you'd have more management of him by the front office.

Another reason I hate the gimmicky off season hockey stuff if that's when he hurt it. And as someone who has had a QL in spasm for 3 months back stuff takes a long time to get right. Not only do you have to fix the specific area it once it calms down but you have to go fix all of the other areas it throws out of whack bc you're biomechanics get screwed up while your back is injured.

I think he may have hurt it in the WC—where up to a certain point he looked like the "Old Toews."

I think as frustrated as fans are, it is what it is until the offseason at least. But wayyyyyy too early to talk about his career being over.
- John Jaeckel

Agreed but it is concerning moving forward as an organisation.

The problem is not that he's that bad, its the huge contract.

The reality is Toews for whatever reasons does not seem to be the player he once was and nobody seems to know why or they are not disclosing. The fact that the decline has been ongoing and over a long stretch is really concerning.

So what do you do?

-Hope he gets better?
-Try and trade. Would be an uproar and probably would not get much because of the salary and the production.

In the end the team is stuck in a way.

Loyalty to a franchise player but potentially stuck with a large contract with a player no longer at that level and hampering the team cap wise.

Either way its not great.

Hopefully its just a glitch and he gets his mojo back