Firing Q makes no sense to me. I don't know why so many people want to see him go.

I think that'd be one of the stupidest thing they could do.
- Hank3Henshaw

I (unlike savvy) am a huge Q fan. He is a players coach. I don't want to see him fired.

But the NHL and sports in general is a what have you done for me lately business...basically win or cya. Just ask Sutter and Lombardi...recently dearly departed from the king 3 years post 2 cups in the previous 3 years...

these guys all know it...get fired and get hired by another team...no big deal...
look

yeo: wild to blues
carlye: ducks to leafs to ducks....go figure
mclenan: sharks to oil
maurice: canes to jets
julien: bruins to habs
bouche: bolts to sens
hitchcock: blues to stars

on and on it goes

All these "fun trades" make me giggle so I will throw out a few:

Totoo For Crosby

TVR for Ericksson



While we are at it Dump Q and sign DA Coach,

Add: Gretsky, Messier, and Olgethorpe
- riozzo

Ok I'll bite:

Toews for Kadri and JVR or Gradiner

Here's the takeaway that troubled me the most on Bowman's comments:

Asked about Blackhawks vets lack hunger?

Bowman: "I don’t know if I buy that. And if that’s the case, then we’re going to get rid of those people."

That tells me either he either doesn't have a clue or deliberately is burying his head in the sand.
- walleyeb1

Or he is making diluted statements to the media. Like it or not, they still have to use some tact and reserve when speaking to the media about the team or players. I wouldn't get too worked up about anything that anyone says regardless of time of year. Be concerned with what they do. A lot of people saying that firing Kitchen wasn't a "Big" change. Well, it likely isn't their only move this offseason. Let's actually get to the offseason with the expansion draft, entry draft and FA before we get too worked up about any moves.

Looks like Q and/or to a lesser extent Bowman are on a one year prove it deal. Stan also set the table with his 'changes are coming' speech so there should be at least two big name players on the move. If indeed there was a country club atmosphere in the room, that's on the coach. There's no way he fired Kitchen. I would think that with the shorter leash, he loses some of that power at the table but does that mean Stan has a bigger say? No pressure..

Interesting Chris Hine:

Multiple league sources told the Tribune the decision to fire Kitchen did not originate with Quenneville and that Quenneville was upset and surprised by the move. Kitchen's firing is likely to re-ignite conflict between Quenneville and Bowman and the rest of the front office, conflict over coaching and personnel that existed before the Hawks won Cups in 2013 and 2015, two championships that helped maintain peace in the organization.

Ok I'll bite:

Toews for Kadri and TVR or Gradiner

- walleyeb1

YOu should get Matthews as well

Interesting read, Sources said Bowman likely fired Kitchen to re-assert authority over personnel in the Hawks organization and send everyone a message, including Quenneville, going into next season.

http://www.chicagotribune...tchen-20170424-story.html

YOu should get Matthews as well
- riozzo

Think we'd have to include Panarin to get that. I meant JVR not TVR BTW!

Interesting read, Sources said Bowman likely fired Kitchen to re-assert authority over personnel in the Hawks organization and send everyone a message, including Quenneville, going into next season.

http://www.chicagotribune...tchen-20170424-story.html
- walleyeb1

Gotta love news based on speculation and assumptions of anonymous sources. People love a good story.

Interesting Chris Hine:

Multiple league sources told the Tribune the decision to fire Kitchen did not originate with Quenneville and that Quenneville was upset and surprised by the move. Kitchen's firing is likely to re-ignite conflict between Quenneville and Bowman and the rest of the front office, conflict over coaching and personnel that existed before the Hawks won Cups in 2013 and 2015, two championships that helped maintain peace in the organization.
- walleyeb1

Kitchen and Q are friends, of course he'd be upset.

Gotta love news based on speculation and assumptions of anonymous sources. People love a good story.
- breadbag

I would think Ted Dent is considered for the assistant job. He's familiar with Hawks system & players & can assist with D-men & development.

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) April 24, 2017

Interesting Chris Hine:

Multiple league sources told the Tribune the decision to fire Kitchen did not originate with Quenneville and that Quenneville was upset and surprised by the move. Kitchen's firing is likely to re-ignite conflict between Quenneville and Bowman and the rest of the front office, conflict over coaching and personnel that existed before the Hawks won Cups in 2013 and 2015, two championships that helped maintain peace in the organization.
- walleyeb1

I like accountability. There is no puck control. I suspect some veteran desire to play physical brand originates if they do not have enough teamattes who will do the same.

I totally buy into the notion that Stan wants accountability. I will be watching about his own accountabilty as well.

I am very curious to also hear exactly what imjuries Toews played through. No way did the captain loose desire or ability but it had to be affected by injury. Thing is, is he prone to less than 100% efficiency due to chronic injuries. Will anyone tell us the full story? Not until Toews is agsin bad for an entire season? If his injuries occured or were compounded by World Cup or whatever it was called last fall, then the high priced assets for each team team is at risk for NHL games. So when next Olympics or each spring with European World Cup who is next star to get banged up with an injury which carries through to the NHL season?

Interesting Chris Hine:

Multiple league sources told the Tribune the decision to fire Kitchen did not originate with Quenneville and that Quenneville was upset and surprised by the move. Kitchen's firing is likely to re-ignite conflict between Quenneville and Bowman and the rest of the front office, conflict over coaching and personnel that existed before the Hawks won Cups in 2013 and 2015, two championships that helped maintain peace in the organization.
- walleyeb1

Q can always to resort to quitting if he's that upset.

He won't, too much money at stake. Instead, he"ll just call his buddy Dave Tippett and get Kitch a new gig in Arizona.

Lots of speculation that Dineen has a great chance to be hired in Buffalo as their head coach.

Interesting read, Sources said Bowman likely fired Kitchen to re-assert authority over personnel in the Hawks organization and send everyone a message, including Quenneville, going into next season.

http://www.chicagotribune...tchen-20170424-story.html
- walleyeb1

Wonder if Bowman got the message?
Need to bite the bullet and make hard decisions as we need to get hungrier, younger.....current lineup is looking lazy? tired? coach lost the room? complacency? who knows but I would think a major wakeup call is required.....would Calgary take on CC and Seabs? who knows but something like that kind of trade would help as well as flushing Campbell, Oduya, Rosy, Krug would be a good start into rejuvenating this team, maybe getting little in return but getting rid of salary, all trades should be considered including Toews, only untouchable should be Kane.....I would also thank Q but he might need to move along at this point.....the window has closed on the current team, hey we won 3 cups and the boys got very rich and we cant complain but the current Hawk team is a shadow of his former self, with the exception of Kane and few others most have loss that desire, just look at TO and Edm to see what hungry looks like.....that used to be us.....like I said before wonder if the FO has the balls to make the changes required.....my feeling is they will make small changes like firing the ass coach and maybe moving a Krug or maybe CC but little more and guess what that will not be enough which will end up giving us the same results as this year......time to make the changes is now while your window with the core is still barely viable.....

Really?
Whole (frank)ing team appears to have quit on him (and on each other) during the most important time of the year.

It's not just another 1st round out.
It's a 1st round out in DRAMATIC (read: without a whimper) fashion.

Did you see ANY pushback?
Any heart?
Any desire?

We're talking about a club with Toews, Kane, Hossa, Panarin, Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson, Crawford. Those 8 guys alone I would expect to put up a fight and at least make it a series.

Now if you want to talk about putting up a fight in a 4 game sweep, go back to the WCF with the Sharks when we beat them 4 straight. When that was over, as a fan it felt as if we were in a dogfight. And even down to the close-out game, it seemed the Sharks could come back and win at least a few games.

Huge chasm between losing in 4 and being in it. And losing in 4 like whipped dogs from the beginning. And have our coach do the same things over-and-over-and-over without success. Lavy took Q to the woodshed. The rest of the team followed suit.
- savvyone-1

Well said

Gotta love news based on speculation and assumptions of anonymous sources. People love a good story.
- breadbag

Simply reporting what they're feed. It's the story someone wants out there. I get the distinct impression this is Q pushing back.

So it was all Kitchen's fault!

Wonder if Bowman got the message?
Need to bite the bullet and make hard decisions as we need to get hungrier, younger.....current lineup is looking lazy? tired? coach lost the room? complacency? who knows but I would think a major wakeup call is required.....would Calgary take on CC and Seabs? who knows but something like that kind of trade would help as well as flushing Campbell, Oduya, Rosy, Krug would be a good start into rejuvenating this team, maybe getting little in return but getting rid of salary, all trades should be considered including Toews, only untouchable should be Kane.....I would also thank Q but he might need to move along at this point.....the window has closed on the current team, hey we won 3 cups and the boys got very rich and we cant complain but the current Hawk team is a shadow of his former self, with the exception of Kane and few others most have loss that desire, just look at TO and Edm to see what hungry looks like.....that used to be us.....like I said before wonder if the FO has the balls to make the changes required.....my feeling is they will make small changes like firing the ass coach and maybe moving a Krug or maybe CC but little more and guess what that will not be enough which will end up giving us the same results as this year......time to make the changes is now while your window with the core is still barely viable.....
- Hawkster

ass coach

Any rumors regarding Blackhawks internal power struggles JJ?

So it was all Kitchen's fault!
- MBFlyerfan

Nope. $16M reasons they don't want to get rid of Q, so Kitch is the easier path to create some tension with Q...let's hope it works or we might have a train wreck right before us.

ass coach
- Rocky_is_BillJr

Agreed.

Then next spring we will loose in either first or second round. If we make playoffs.

Next, who then shoulders the blame.

Bowman.

A fall from the top is expected, true, after three Cups.

How big a thud, and how long before progress is seen

How long before McDonough tells Rocky more serious moves are necessary?

Personally i bet McDonough will be so driven that he will explode next spring. That is too much to work for a boss like that. Three Cups, McDonough. Take a pill and chill Mr McDonough.

Nope. $16M reasons they don't want to get rid of Q, so Kitch is the easier path to create some tension with Q...let's hope it works or we might have a train wreck right before us.
- ElkgroveMcD

Maybe not quite a train wreck but does this math add up for you:

Toews less than 100% (back issues) = About .500 record

Duncan Keith is the Hawks best d-man - no question. He's still, IMO, a solid #1 d-man in the league, even if he may have lost a half step this past season. However, he is not a good PP quarterback because although he can pass well and knows what to do in every situation - the fact is he doesn't have a good shot. His shot is (1) slow to get the shot off giving the opposing player ample time to get in position to block, (2) weak, as is the puck velocity is below average, and (3) most importantly, his shot is not accurate - he misses the net too often. So, Q has had to deal with a dilemma - either keep Keith happy by keeping him on the #1 PP unit so Keith can rack up assists and the occasional goal, or improve the PP by playing a d-man with a better shot. He chose option#1 - keeping Keith on the PP - and therein lies one of the problems with the Hawks. I understand Q's loyalty to his top players and there is no doubt the Hawks wouldn't have won 3 Cups without Keith ... but, there is also no doubt there were better options for PP QB on the #1 unit (especially when Q went 4 forwards and 1 d-man and the 1 d-man was Keith !!!!).

The fight has begun:

Quenneville has made changes to his staff in the past. He fired assistant and Bowman ally Mike Haviland following the 2012 season after a power struggle with Bowman following a nine-game losing streak in January and February. During that struggle, Bowman assigned director of player development Barry Smith to join the Hawks during practices, against Quenneville’s wishes.

Q reacts to Kitch's firing.