Can someone please explain Toews's diet? Who else is on this diet ? Is it a league wide diet or just a Blackhawk thing. By all indications 19 has lost a considerable amount of his strength. He is pushed around by everyone.

wow..this will make all the difference...ADB with bouma/kero...WOOHOO
- bogiedoc

I have certainly loved watching the Hawks during their run, but I have now accepted that the run is over.

IMO I think a couple of the core guys need to be moved while there is some value. These guys have been there and done that and would be major asset to a team on the rise. If I am Stan I am reaching out to a couple of the GM's that I have dealt a fair bit with over the last couple of years. I would be calling Columbus and Carolina to see if there is a piece that either of these two teams are interested in. What would Keith look like in Carolina mentoring that young D core. If you send another decent prospect with Keith what would be the return? I know we are weak at centre, but maybe we can get a Rask and on of Carolina's good young D guys. After you make that deal you send AA over to Columbus along with another guy and get Boone Jenner. These two moves get the Hawks a little bit younger and the salary is in our favor.

I have enjoyed Joel behind the bench, but he needs to go and we need to get a coach that could work with a young team. It is to bad the Laviolette is in Nashville because I think he is a coach that would be great with the Hawks core because he doesn't put up with any BS and he is good with young players. Not sure who Joel's replacement would be, but something has to change because he has lot the room big time.

If Stan makes some moves while there is some value in these core guys the rebuild would be two years and we would have a decent young team on the rise.

so whats the over/under on hawks goals tonight? say 2 and i will take the under...

hey anytime #88 wants to return to the ice fine by me...his shot selection has been terrible...to much waiting and fine tuning the shot...can't remember the last decent scoring chance he had...he looks completely lost mentally...

certainly shooting % needs some reversion to the mean...

Can someone please explain Toews's diet? Who else is on this diet ? Is it a league wide diet or just a Blackhawk thing. By all indications 19 has lost a considerable amount of his strength. He is pushed around by everyone.
- TJYTJY

he made a big deal this offseason about getting quicker and faster...at times he does...but at times he is a statue like the rest of em

Can someone please explain Toews's diet? Who else is on this diet ? Is it a league wide diet or just a Blackhawk thing. By all indications 19 has lost a considerable amount of his strength. He is pushed around by everyone.
- TJYTJY

He was recently interviewed by The Hockey News podcast (starting at 16:40)

https://soundcloud.com/th...rview-with-jonathan-toews

where he talked about the fact that he's now following the team's nutritionist's advice on his diet. He also made a comment that there are always people trying to make a buck from people like him, so I'm hoping that means he dropped Onnit, which is a questionable org we've discussed a few times in here.

In his first couple of years in the league he was constantly sick and it turned out to be inability to digest some foods, like gluten. He fixed that, still eats meat, etc., so I don't personally think the getting pushed off the puck is diet-related.

of course...no argument...what is contended is the $$ and length...stanbow bid against himself...

and what would be the "right circumstance" playing coyotes or sabres every other night..

all teams go through mediocre and tough stretches during the season over 10-14 games. this one is troubling to start the season and basically continuing the pred series...

will they start scoring and go on arun...yeah...all teams do that to...the question is can they sustain it or give it right back...
- bogiedoc

The right circumstances would be a coach filling out a roster card with the players in the right positions .A coach that could adapt to a changing game . Not strapping young players to the bench or press box for minor mistakes .As was stated during the flyers game. In the 1st meeting this season Toews striped young D Man Hagg of the puck at the blue line and went in to score ,he never missed a shift ,not stapled to the bench or banished to the press box as per Q mo . We need a new coach and fast . This team right now is playing to get Q fired .I hope I am wrong very well could be, but that is what it looks like to me ..

So there is this expansion team out west playing very well. I see this team composed of unprotected players from the NHL with a good record. Watching the Hawks play them they came out and played hard every shift. Some say oh its Vegas and the opponents go out and party and aren't in their best shape to play? I say you have a team filled with players who have a chip on their shoulders and play hard every night and do all the little things that it takes to win. Then i look at my Blackhawks and am troubled with the lack of effort, the avoidance of the boards, of a stick check when a body check is in order.

How do you motivate a core when they are not willing to do all those little things that you need to do to win?

he made a big deal this offseason about getting quicker and faster...at times he does...but at times he is a statue like the rest of em
- bogiedoc

He's played well but the goalies around the league have realized you
close the 5 hole, he need's to adjust and go high glove(not against CC)
and blocker, keep them honest.

I think his line will have a great game tonight, but then the Canes
played last night.

So there is this expansion team out west playing very well. I see this team composed of unprotected players from the NHL with a good record. Watching the Hawks play them they came out and played hard every shift. Some say oh its Vegas and the opponents go out and party and aren't in their best shape to play? I say you have a team filled with players who have a chip on their shoulders and play hard every night and do all the little things that it takes to win. Then i look at my Blackhawks and am troubled with the lack of effort, the avoidance of the boards, of a stick check when a body check is in order.

How do you motivate a core when they are not willing to do all those little things that you need to do to win?
- BetweenTheDots

Make some serious changes, from the top on down.

How do you motivate a core when they are not willing to do all those little things that you need to do to win?
- BetweenTheDots

And that's the problem - there is no "lead by example" any more from any of the "core" on this club. I believe much of it is due to Hossa being LTIR'd, because regardless of whether he "didn't have it on his shot" anymore or was scoring like a younger Hossa, he played each shift 100+%.

Does anyone see any of the "core" taking this club on its shoulders and "showing them the way?"

I had to laugh about the post above re trading Keith to Columbus or Carolina and mentoring younger D men. Really? Was there ever any evidence here of him doing that in Chicago? Not that I'm aware of. Never heard 1 guy say "yeah, Duncs took me aside and worked with me on . . . ." Never. Not once in all the time he's been here.

So if #2 won't and #7 appears to be on the decline and #19 surely can't from all the evidence we've seen post-2015 CUP and #88 appears to be pissed off or disinterested or is dreaming of a trade to a contender, who's going to lead?

I will say again, without #81 on this club, we win NO CUPS.
Everyone can talk about Toews all they want, but to me, the real leader on that roster is likely never to see the ice again. Farewell Marian, and thank you for the 3 CUPS - never thought I'd see that in my lifetime.

Justin,

Good timing on taking over the blog......................not.

Hard to come on here and comment positively about what's going on right now. The team is a mess, regardless of what people think, the organization really isn't though. I remember what it used to be like.

They tried to stretch the window and get one more cup, they look like they failed. Others have done the same thing, and most have failed. Signing Seabs wasn't a mistake, duration was. Toews signing, while killing them now wasn't a mistake, everyone on this board at the time would have, and so would have every other NHL franchise.

Its probably time to realize your losses, and start your rebuild though. Every team goes through it, not all realize it and hang on making playoffs barely or just missing, and getting mid first draft picks. Dump the guys you can, don't give up the future. Dump guys at the trade deadline when teams are desperate and get picks. I know most will say you can't trade any of these guys, but how many times have we seen a team desperate for a cup make a stupid trade at the deadline for a chance at a cup. Think a team who is one Dman short wouldn't take a risk on Seabs to get a cup? Wiz will have to comment on which years are the best to stack picks in.

I'm guessing they know they'll be able to dump some contracts in the next CBA, but I wouldn't wait for that. Make the move now, and start the rebuild.

We got 3 cups, its more anyone expected, time to move on.

I'm not looking forward to 3 years of reading nothing but female doging about the team, hard to take, and life is short.
- vabeachbear

I know, right?

I think the Hawks want to be anything but the current Detroit Red Wings. Their downfall into a slow rebuild was evident by everyone.

I think Stan and McDonough want to protect this team's brand for as long as possible. Let's hope they can pull off a couple more moves to make that happen.

I remain positive.

Also... new blog up... http://www.hockeybuzz.com...ing-the-Defence/253/88831


For those that just want the preview... scroll to the bottom.

For those who want to take a dive into the defence and how we got to where we're at... read the whole thing.

Looking forward to having a chat with you guys about this on the boards.

Better than the ABC line?
- powerenforcer

Funny........ Arnison, Bell and Calder were a 3rd line one year, then their 1st line the next year if I remember correctly. YIKES !!

And that's the problem - there is no "lead by example" any more from any of the "core" on this club. I believe much of it is due to Hossa being LTIR'd, because regardless of whether he "didn't have it on his shot" anymore or was scoring like a younger Hossa, he played each shift 100+%.

Does anyone see any of the "core" taking this club on its shoulders and "showing them the way?"

I had to laugh about the post above re trading Keith to Columbus or Carolina and mentoring younger D men. Really? Was there ever any evidence here of him doing that in Chicago? Not that I'm aware of. Never heard 1 guy say "yeah, Duncs took me aside and worked with me on . . . ." Never. Not once in all the time he's been here.

So if #2 won't and #7 appears to be on the decline and #19 surely can't from all the evidence we've seen post-2015 CUP and #88 appears to be pissed off or disinterested or is dreaming of a trade to a contender, who's going to lead?

I will say again, without #81 on this club, we win NO CUPS.
Everyone can talk about Toews all they want, but to me, the real leader on that roster is likely never to see the ice again. Farewell Marian, and thank you for the 3 CUPS - never thought I'd see that in my lifetime.
- savvyone-1

GREAT post savvy.

I know, right?

I think the Hawks want to be anything but the current Detroit Red Wings. Their downfall into a slow rebuild was evident by everyone.

I think Stan and McDonough want to protect this team's brand for as long as possible. Let's hope they can pull off a couple more moves to make that happen.

I remain positive.
- Justin Lowe

Protect the Brand by holding your best players accountable. That's a coaching decision. If our coach won't sit Seabrook occasionally, sit Sharp permanently, take Keith off the PP, and have a one on one with MR Captain about leadership, then he's lost his voice with the team. These are the guys that are playing like they want Q fired (agree per duff ). I see 2 more games of decision making, tonight against Carolina, and tomorrow against New Jersey. If it's the same ol same ol after these 2 games ?????? Heads HAVE to Roll !!