If he doesn't have the horses to pull his wagon the fastest, it really doesn't matter who the driver is and how much he cracks the whip. Q isn't perfect, but right now he's mounted on a wagon that isn't anywhere close to fastest in the race.

Has Mike Babcock turned the Maple Leafs into a Cup winner? Everybody predicts he's going to - we"ll see. How about Blashill in Detroit or McClelland in Edmonton or Boudreau in Minny or Julien in Montreal or that idiot Bylsma in Buffalo and on and on.........

It may be time for Q to move on as Scotty B did in his career, but it isn't because he got stupid overnight. Somebody in Hawksville had also better be looking at some of decisions made with contracts dished out, trades that were not very good and most importantly selections at the draft table - both the players selected and picks that were traded.

Tony Granato would be the nice local story; but it"ll get old very quick if he doesn't win. Successful NHL coaches with the skins on the wall don't fall off trees every June. Q won't be out of work long if he wants to keep coaching, but he will pick the best destination.
- RickJ

I'm not saying you're not correct. 1 thing though, would LA be where they are now with Sutter coaching? I have my doubts & the cattle are pretty much the same. Sharks are another example moving on from McLellan, who now has stagnated in Edmonton. Coincidence that a coaching change had immediate results for the Sharks after so long with 1 coach but keeping much the same roster?

If another coach came in & coached the Hawks, I would bet that he 'potentially' will see better results.

Nhl coaches have a use by date for a certain group of players in my opinion.

I was actually going to bring up Babcock. He needed to go from Detroit in my opinion as he had done as much as he could there. I don't believe he is the reason they have regressed. With Toronto I don't believe he should be given carte Blanche with the organisation & I really think that he should be given a timeline before he is replaced.

The NHL evolves, do the coaches? They have to evolve with a similar playing group, against different oppositions, playing different structures. With that a coach in my opinion only has a certainly time to do what he can with who he can before he becomes redundant. Some win some don't. Some win a lot - but that doesn't mean they should ride the same pony into the sunset.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
- DarthKane

Just my opinion - I don’t think they could make a “buyer’s move” that wou make them appreciably better - Cup-quality better - between now and the TDL.

Especially if Crawford doesn’t come back this year, or if he comes back late but doesn’t play like he did before Christmas.

I would neither a buyer nor a seller be. If some GM want Sharp, or Bouma or Jurco, etc. for some number of draft picks, ok.

Otherwise - I play out the string with this group - really evaluate the individuals on it - INCLUDING the like of Toews, Seabrook, Keith, Anisimov - and see where things are at the draft and FA signing date.

The evaluation piece is the most important activity between now and the draft, I think - they need to no as surely as possible what the have - what’s left in the “core”, how close are the youngsters to being Cup-worthy performers (if all or any are), what’s ready on the farm to come up next fall....
- StLBravesFan

I'd bet that is very close to what Bowman will do......UNLESS, there is pressure from McDonagh to keep the playoff streak (and Bowman's job status) alive. In that case, I could see Bowman look to be aggressive and add to the roster as a final push for a playoff spot

But they are only 9 points out of first, that shows how tight the central division is. The whole division could easily flip flop by the end of the season.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

But they are 4 defenseman short of top 4 defenseman

I don't get it, if Corey had a snowmobile accident and hurt himself then just come out and tell everyone? This whole secrecy thing is sooooo dysfunctional.

All of this Corey Crawford speculation is feeling like the same vibe as the Patrick Kane stuff from a few years ago, except then there were a few facts in the public record. I was into the speculation then, but I'm really not now. We'll find out something eventually; probably not the whole story. I like the guy. I hope he's recovering from whatever it is that is ailing him and I want to give him some privacy to do that on his own terms.

I don't get it, if Corey had a snowmobile accident and hurt himself then just come out and tell everyone? This whole secrecy thing is sooooo dysfunctional.
- BetweenTheDots

I can see the Hawks' logic for being secretive for either scenario. Falling off a snowmobile as a veteran leader on the team does not look good. Having a substance abuse problem is a private matter and also does not look good. Either way, goal-tending has not been the problem with this team, IMO.

I can see the Hawks' logic for being secretive for either scenario. Falling off a snowmobile as a veteran leader on the team does not look good. Having a substance abuse problem is a private matter and also does not look good. Either way, goal-tending has not been the problem with this team, IMO.
- EnzoD

Absolutely it doesn't look good, but as an organization you are not doing that player any favors by keeping their secret. Accountability comes in all forms, sometimes public. You know life's a birch sometimes and who knows it might actually help a player grow up.

I can see the Hawks' logic for being secretive for either scenario. Falling off a snowmobile as a veteran leader on the team does not look good. Having a substance abuse problem is a private matter and also does not look good. Either way, goal-tending has not been the problem with this team, IMO.
- EnzoD

The Crawford Situation:

https://youtu.be/hwdEygU1sV0

The Crawford Situation:

https://youtu.be/hwdEygU1sV0
- walleyeb1

More of the same, blah blah blah

Hawks are last in the division with more games played than every team they are competing with for the Wild Card spots.....
- EnzoD

That's definitely one of the negatives you could look at. I agree with that, obviously they're in a tight spot in the standings. But there's A LOT of time to make up the minimal ground between themselves and those other teams. And i still see FAR MORE positives and encouraging trends, stuff that you can win with in the post season. We have it in spades. With one more small roster move, some more time for the youngsters to get experience....the return of Crawford and Anisimov....I'm telling you we have too much going in our favor to not at least make the playoffs....

....so clearly you don't know diddly pooh

The Crawford Situation:

https://youtu.be/hwdEygU1sV0
- walleyeb1

What a waste of time. I completely disagree. If they said personal matter, fine. If they said family matter, fine. They said nothing. Soooo, our minds are running wild. The last video I saw of crow was him skating his kid around the Christmas family skate with giant goalie pads on the little baby. I think he's getting a sex change operation. Hope it doesn't void his contract.

I don't get it, if Corey had a snowmobile accident and hurt himself then just come out and tell everyone? This whole secrecy thing is sooooo dysfunctional.
- BetweenTheDots

So is claiming the team is 4 D's short of a top 4.

Leafs have 53 points - 45 Games and the Fan Base is thrilled

Hawks have 50 points - 45 Games and SB - Q need to be fired- Core is terrible - on and on and on and on.

Interesting stuff.

Leafs have 53 points - 45 Games and the Fan Base is thrilled

Hawks have 50 points - 45 Games and SB - Q need to be fired- Core is terrible - on and on and on and on.

Interesting stuff.
- Colbyboy

Typical HB, some things never change.

The Hawks are a young talented team. But they need to learn collectively the right way to play winning hockey in the regular season, and in the playoffs (if they get in). That is not easy. Look at teams that seem like they are on the verge of a breakthrough, but never quite make it. It is like a portal that some teams crash into and other teams break through. How to start a game with energy and yet patience. How not to panic when you fall behind. How to protect a lead when you have it. Etc...

People are calling for the heads of Q and/or Bowman. I don't see the logic. They have built this young team. Give them another season to see how they mature, come together, progress. It is not like there are a ton of better options sitting out there.

side notes -
I am thinking Crow is in rehab of some kind. Wouldn't it be ironic that Darling who had alcohol issues earlier in his career seems to be straightened out and he walked. Crow who did not have such issues stayed and now possibly has those issues.

I would rather see Sharp in the press box than on right wing. He scores a very high percentage of his goals from near the left circle. The guy bags 3 goals from the left wing recently and is put on the right wing. Bouma who scores almost nothing stays on left wing. Why not put him on the right wing.

I like Forsberg better than Glass. He just seems more fundamentally sound. But I have no problem letting either guy keep the net while he is winning and then switching them out when they lose or have an off game. That is one way of testing how they react to pressure. If they cannot handle that it would be tough for them to be a #1 goalie.

It should be interesting to see what happens after the break if Anisimov comes back.

Saad - Toews - Hino
Schmaltz - AA - Kane
Duclair - Kampf - Debrincat
Sharp/Bouma/Jurco - Hartman - Wingels

I would bet a young LW and Dman is traded soon. Maybe Hartman and Kempny.

Hawks are heavy to LW's on NHL and AHL. I could see them adding C's and RW's.

Crawford's mystery injury is he was re-concussed in a snowmobiling accident. That was verified by a source of mine with close ties to many of the players in the locker room.

Sucks, but he's going to have to learn to stop messing around off the ice. Apparently he didn't learn his lesson from the drunk-falling down the stairs at the Rise Against show last year.
- Budi1782

Well, since you were the first one to put it out there, I hope you feel good about yourself, and your friends are dumb for blurting it out and this
is something that should’ve been kept in the locker room and not out on blog sites.
Just because the kid is a professional athlete doesn’t mean his privacy and dignity should be compromised in anyway. If indeed there are personal issues I hope he is getting the help what he needs. No wonder why these athletes like to distance their selves from Joe fan boy!

Leafs have 53 points - 45 Games and the Fan Base is thrilled

Hawks have 50 points - 45 Games and SB - Q need to be fired- Core is terrible - on and on and on and on.

Interesting stuff.
- Colbyboy

The Leafs are 3rd in their Division and would qualify for the Playoffs as of today. Meanwhile, the Hawks are last in their division and their record vs Playoff Teams is putrid. But hey, they are still within striking distance if they can put together a win streak or two. If the Hawks played AZ, BUF, or FLA every game I'd like their chances.

Well, since you were the first one to put it out there, I hope you feel good about yourself, and your friends are dumb for blurting it out and this
is something that should’ve been kept in the locker room and not out on blog sites.
Just because the kid is a professional athlete doesn’t mean his privacy and dignity should be compromised in anyway. If indeed there are personal issues I hope he is getting the help what he needs. No wonder why these athletes like to distance their selves from Joe fan boy!
- wonthecup10

Silence creates speculation. Often, neither good, nor accurate speculation.

If, in fact the poster does have this knowledge, it is in fact not cool to disclose it for many reasons on many levels. Medical privacy is something protected by law.

I think the matter is best served by simply hoping whatever the issue is that CC gets over the hump and can come back healthy.

Anything else is just damned irresponsible.

So is claiming the team is 4 D's short of a top 4.
- riozzo

Really who on our team is a top 4 D man, maybe Keith when he wants to be, otherwise we have a bunch of #5 and 6 defenseman.

Silence creates speculation. Often, neither good, nor accurate speculation.

If, in fact the poster does have this knowledge, it is in fact not cool to disclose it for many reasons on many levels. Medical privacy is something protected by law.

I think the matter is best served by simply hoping whatever the issue is that CC gets over the hump and can come back healthy.

Anything else is just damned irresponsible.
- Return of the Roar

My point exactly.if the right hands from the Hawks organization get wind of this, I guarantee you they have resources to pinpoint who the little locker room mole is, be it a towel boy or a sh.ihouse attendant, someone will lose a job because of a buddy's big mouth. Oh boy!

Well, since you were the first one to put it out there, I hope you feel good about yourself, and your friends are dumb for blurting it out and this
is something that should’ve been kept in the locker room and not out on blog sites.
Just because the kid is a professional athlete doesn’t mean his privacy and dignity should be compromised in anyway. If indeed there are personal issues I hope he is getting the help what he needs. No wonder why these athletes like to distance their selves from Joe fan boy!
- wonthecup10

Honestly, its really no big deal, it actually becomes a bigger deal when it's kept a secret.

See he can say whatever he wants, media can speculate since there's no transparency with the organization.

If he was on a snowmobile accident or has an addiction problem then these are his problems and he's going to have to deal with them and the spotlight that comes with being a professional athlete.

That's just the way it is. It has nothing to do with being fair or unfair.

Silence creates speculation. Often, neither good, nor accurate speculation.

If, in fact the poster does have this knowledge, it is in fact not cool to disclose it for many reasons on many levels. Medical privacy is something protected by law.

I think the matter is best served by simply hoping whatever the issue is that CC gets over the hump and can come back healthy.

Anything else is just damned irresponsible.
- Return of the Roar

Actually a very good point, even the Blackhawks organization is bound by HIPPA, even they can’t release any medical information on a player without consent.

Really who on our team is a top 4 D man, maybe Keith when he wants to be, otherwise we have a bunch of #5 and 6 defenseman.
- BetweenTheDots

Vegas has that too. They win due to 60 minutes of hard work and effort though

Vegas has that too. They win due to 60 minutes of hard work and effort though
- ikeane

You are 100% correct sir.

IMHO Q has lost some of the core members on this team and it is a trickle down effect. Like it or not that has to be the problem. One game they can beat top teams handedly and the next game they are completely awful.