If you are going to blow it up, why not trade 50 also? Let a young team (young goaltender) grow together.
- powerenforcer

If they can find a young goalie.......I don't think Forsberg or Glass is that answer. 50 has shown he can win games on his own with crap in front of him.

Hutton so far is the only guy, besides Anderson, who has left recently and done well. Niemi, Darling, Raanta, not so much.

If they trade 2 at the deadline, I'm confident they will get a Top 3 draft pick this year. Oesterle, Gustaffson, Kempny, Murphy, Seabrook and Rutta....dear god that would be an adventure. They need to fire the master architect of this dumpster fire, Stanley Bowman, and ASAP. Need someone to come in and unbiasedly assess this team and take drastic action to begin the rebuild.
- EnzoD

The more I watch these Q pressers he just looks more and more defeated. Is the message not resonating? Has he lost the room? I don't know but too many times they show up uninspired to play and while that's mostly on the player, I'm beginning to wonder if Q gets booted here shortly and they use Dineen as the interm coach.

The more I watch these Q pressers he just looks more and more defeated. Is the message not resonating? Has he lost the room? I don't know but too many times they show up uninspired to play and while that's mostly on the player, I'm beginning to wonder if Q gets booted here shortly and they use Dineen as the interm coach.
- SteveRain

That’s my worst nightmare, use anyone, but please not Dineen!!!

That is my biggest fear. Some desperation move near the TDL (trade, coach firing) that sparks the team only enough to finish a point out of a wildcard spot. That would be the worst case scenario.
I am at a point where I am hoping for a complete collapse this season. We will be in a better position going forward. Rid this team of sacred cows, re-sign our RFA's to reasonable new contracts, position ourselves for a lottery pick, trade our pending UFA's for whatever we can get and retool.
- 67hawks

I'm wishing that could happen but there is danger in unloading too much too soon. A team must have some experience and some leadership. Can't just throw in the white flag and get rid of each headache so fast.

You might really enjoy the Bruins hockeybuzz LG before this current one on McAvoy. The blog dissects how the team was rebuilt after their last Cup year and stresses how old and young are playing key roles on the very successful season. McAvoy and Chars form their top defense pair.

The more I watch these Q pressers he just looks more and more defeated. Is the message not resonating? Has he lost the room? I don't know but too many times they show up uninspired to play and while that's mostly on the player, I'm beginning to wonder if Q gets booted here shortly and they use Dineen as the interm coach.
- SteveRain

Q knows the reality of the situation both with the standings, and the talent he has on the roster. How many minutes did 7 play last night? He wasn't out there too much that I saw. Gustaffson, Oesterle, Kempny and Rutta all are borderline NHL players. Oesterle has been more good than bad, but an egregious turnover last night was the dagger. Seabrook also has become a borderline NHL dman this year, but at least those other guys make league minimum for 1 year. Seabrook is entering into worst contract in NHL history range.....David Clarkson territory.....

Q knows the reality of the situation both with the standings, and the talent he has on the roster. How many minutes did 7 play last night? He wasn't out there too much that I saw. Gustaffson, Oesterle, Kempny and Rutta all are borderline NHL players. Oesterle has been more good than bad, but an egregious turnover last night was the dagger. Seabrook also has become a borderline NHL dman this year, but at least those other guys make league minimum for 1 year. Seabrook is entering into worst contract in NHL history range.....David Clarkson territory.....
- EnzoD

Seabs was 4th in 5v5 ice time (4 seconds less than his partner Gustafsson. He got mostly D-zone starts. That pair was actually quite effective. More shots for than against, good possession. The Murphy-Kempny pair was abysmal.

Q knows the reality of the situation both with the standings, and the talent he has on the roster. How many minutes did 7 play last night? He wasn't out there too much that I saw. Gustaffson, Oesterle, Kempny and Rutta all are borderline NHL players. Oesterle has been more good than bad, but an egregious turnover last night was the dagger. Seabrook also has become a borderline NHL dman this year, but at least those other guys make league minimum for 1 year. Seabrook is entering into worst contract in NHL history range.....David Clarkson territory.....
- EnzoD

You forgot Murphy he is not a NHL player making $3.850 mil bad deal

Well.....

Lot of things coming to light after the last stretch of games. Mostly negative.

However, some positives from last night:

1. Kane is as elite as it gets and it really is a pleasure to watch him night in and night out. Being born in 89' I have seen some good hawk players. Always loved Amonte and Roenick but Kane has to be the best Blackhawk to ever wear the sweater. This guy simply gets it done no matter who he plays with. Special player.

2. Duclair Saad Toews looked good last night. Plethora of looks just couldn't bury the puck. Overall, they are more effective with Duclair with his size and ability to win battles over Hino who needs to go back to Rockford. He is one dimensional and needs to realize he isn't in the NCAA anymore. I like the Duclair move after four games and think he can flourish in this system.

3. These two goalies are not going to put 10 solid efforts together. If they were capable of that, they would both be starting somewhere. But overall Glass was fantastic last night. He was lights out.

4. Jurco was pretty solid last night....
- nickmo2699

Are we allowed to say nice things about Toews and Saad?

I do think that the lack of goals is surprising. If you look at shooting percentage, Toews and Saad both are at 10.7% and 9% respectively. According to quant hockey, that is better than league average (which fluctuates between 8% & 9%). Obviously, we would like that to be higher, but they have average scoring against opposing teams' top players.

The problem seems to be that rotating third player which I think DuClair might remedy. In his time with the Coyotes, Duclair had a shooting percentage above 13%. By contrast, Hino and Panik are at or below average in that regard. Take away Panik's first few games, and his % plummets.

You forgot Murphy he is not a NHL player making $3.850 mil bad deal
- ih1682

Murphy is the best defender not he team and certainly a NHL player.

Murphy is the best defender not he team and certainly a NHL player.
- fattybeef

Not last night he wasn't.

Not last night he wasn't.
- JRoenick97

You are right he was very bad last night and all night this year

Yeah, last night's game IS one they / we / us should be worried about.

Zero goals - again - at home - again - and importantly, going into the third period down one - and they lost the period, both to the eyes (at least mine) and the stats:

In the third, SOG all were 10-14, SAT all were 21-21
5x5 SOG were 6-13, 5x5 SAT were 13-20
And actual goals - 0-1

If a team is down by a goal, at home, in an important game (as they all are now) - at home - they need to come out and dominate in the third. They didn't.

No moral victories when you're 7 points out of a play-off spot and have to jump over 4 teams to get in - and the season so far says that there likely isn't a long run in them. They are:

22 wins 25 losses overall - 3 games below "true .500"
12 wins 12 losses overall at home
17 wins 19 losses in games decided in regulation
- StLBravesFan

I'm still not going to worry about a game like that against the top team in the east. Game flow was all Hawks after the first 5 minutes. Shots and attempts were all Hawks. They played hard. The first goal was a fluke and shouldn't have even been a play as it started with a hand pass. What I will worry about is the defense. They aren't giving up a ton of shots, but they are giving up prime chances.

hawks have entered a bear market so have ticket prices....under 60 bucks for 300 level seat....wow at the start of the year those were in the 120-150 range


if you are on season ticket waiting list...you might get your chance this summer

https://www.vividseats.co...e-leafs-1-24-2379110.html
- bogiedoc

I heard from one of the account managers for the 300 level that the prices will still go up $4% for next years season tkt holders. Talking to probably about10 different season tkt holders around my seats 50% of them are going to give up their seats. Bad product does not justify another price increase ( regardless if it is the smallest increase in 9 years). Lot of no shows last night at the game ( even in the 300 level)

I'm still not going to worry about a game like that against the top team in the east. Game flow was all Hawks after the first 5 minutes. Shots and attempts were all Hawks. They played hard. The first goal was a fluke and shouldn't have even been a play as it started with a hand pass. What I will worry about is the defense. They aren't giving up a ton of shots, but they are giving up prime chances.
- JRoenick97

Just wondering, is that a reviewable play? Officials were very bad (or one sided) last night. Missed a TMM call when the puck hit the TB player heading to the bench.

@ByScottPowers

Wingels just left practice

The seeds of this can be directly placed at the feet of the players asking for insane contracts. If they are pissed the team sucks, look in the mirror. Didn't they know once they demanded a highly disproportionate share of the team salary cap that would leave fewer dollars to fill in the rest of the team with experienced or competent teammates? Hey they got paid...now reside yourselves to the fact you'll be playing in obscurity for the next half of your career and don't female dog about it. Just enjoy cashing your checks.

A less half million here, a less million there and the Hawks are likely looking a hell of a lot different today.

Lets do a hypothetical. Say I am a geneticist for a zoo and I make 100,000 a year. The zoo offers me 105,000 a year but in addition to frozen bank research they say I now have to help the bozo who is making minimum wage to clean up the Tiger poop as well. OR I could make 100,000 and they could hire a really good poop scooper. I'm taking the slightly lower salary because that will allow the entire operation to run better, my skills can be better utilized for what I am qualified for and my support staff does a good job alleviating me from carrying more load than I am really capable.
- kwolf68

You can not blame a player for cashing in on their market value, especially after winning multiple cups, it was time to get a fat contract that most other teams would have paid them if the hawks did not.

I'm still not going to worry about a game like that against the top team in the east. Game flow was all Hawks after the first 5 minutes. Shots and attempts were all Hawks. They played hard. The first goal was a fluke and shouldn't have even been a play as it started with a hand pass. What I will worry about is the defense. They aren't giving up a ton of shots, but they are giving up prime chances.
- JRoenick97

I don't disagree with your overall POV, but it is far too late for moral victories. The bottom line is that this team simply will not win 16 playoff games even if they somehow squeak into the playoffs. The D-Core is an absolute poopshow, and Patrick Kane is the only guy on the roster who can create offense every night. Combine bad defense with one line of offense AND your starting goaltender is out so you have two AHL caliber goalies in net. There is no silver lining besides having the treat of watching Patrick Kane every night. The best case scenario for this team is to trade Anisimov, trade Seabrook, trade Sharp/Bouma/Wingels, and tank for a Top 5 pick. Then, hope for a huge increase in the Salary Cap, try and sign a sub 27yr old Dman, maybe a depth center, and pray to the hockey gods that #19 can remember how to play hockey.

@ByScottPowers

Saad, Schmaltz & Kane skating together

I don't disagree with your overall POV, but it is far too late for moral victories. The bottom line is that this team simply will not win 16 playoff games even if they somehow squeak into the playoffs. The D-Core is an absolute poopshow, and Patrick Kane is the only guy on the roster who can create offense every night. Combine bad defense with one line of offense AND your starting goaltender is out so you have two AHL caliber goalies in net. There is no silver lining besides having the treat of watching Patrick Kane every night. The best case scenario for this team is to trade Anisimov, trade Seabrook, trade Sharp/Bouma/Wingels, and tank for a Top 5 pick. Then, hope for a huge increase in the Salary Cap, try and sign a sub 27yr old Dman, maybe a depth center, and pray to the hockey gods that #19 can remember how to play hockey.
- EnzoD

I wasn't putting it up as a moral victory, just not something to worry about when the 2 games before that were much more worrisome, and he lack of defensive pressure.

Are we allowed to say nice things about Toews and Saad?

I do think that the lack of goals is surprising. If you look at shooting percentage, Toews and Saad both are at 10.7% and 9% respectively. According to quant hockey, that is better than league average (which fluctuates between 8% & 9%). Obviously, we would like that to be higher, but they have average scoring against opposing teams' top players.

The problem seems to be that rotating third player which I think DuClair might remedy. In his time with the Coyotes, Duclair had a shooting percentage above 13%. By contrast, Hino and Panik are at or below average in that regard. Take away Panik's first few games, and his % plummets.
- TexasHawk

I think Duclair is a good fit there. At 5v5 the Toews/Saad/RW1 combination hasn't been an issue. Shooting 3-5% on the PP hurts their output. They are the guys getting the high danger type chances down low, but haven't buried them.

Blow it up....it's over. It's all over.

No joke. A lifeless team, with zero identity, who talks a big game from the top to the 12th F and then when it comes time to back it up on the ice.....they implode. Last game before a "bye" Don't even show up.......1st game after a bye? they get waxed......Last night they played better but it doesn't matter....you are in last place in the division and not just by 1-2 pts....by 7. Meaning you have to leap frog a ton of teams and with the way this team is constructed and lack of consistency you have to be naïve to think the magical switch is being flipped.

Ideally, you need to make a bold trade. A trade to bring back HUGE assets to help expedite the rebuilding process ASAP. Your biggest chip is.....one Duncan Keith. I know, BLASPHEMY!!!! Please. Nobody is taking Seabrook at his amount. Nobody is taking Toews at his amount. You'd be a fool to trade Kane as he's one of a 3 Hawks who actually shows up EVERY game and routinely has improved EVERY offseason.

You trade 2.....how badly would Babcock love him? Or even Washington? Teams who need to get by Pittsburgh or Tampa to have a chance? You also deal 15 as well as 8 is your top 6 center, and if somebody can find Toews please advise....Id check by an indoor garden growing fresh basil.

I'd sit down Saad and tell him he better step it up or he's next, and same with 7 and then you are forced to retain salary.

My untouchables would be 8,88,50, and 12. that's it. Everyone else...come take a look. Maybe somebody will take Ryan Hartman and the Hawks can throw in a shooter tutor as well....

Window just hasn't closed, it slammed shut. Blow it up. Fix it the correct way and not by adding more aging veterans on their last lap like Campbell or Sharp, and hope all your marketing since 2007 has paid off........
- SteveRain

Why make Kane an untouchable? If you are honestly going to blow it up, Kane and Keith would bring the most back in trade. Trading Seabrook would likely require taking back a bad deal and you aren't getting value for 19.

@ByScottPowers

Wingels just left practice
- JRoenick97

Powers:

Looked like a possible injury

@ByScottPowers

Seabrook, Kane, Hinostroza, Schmaltz & Anisimov working together on the power play

I'm still not going to worry about a game like that against the top team in the east. Game flow was all Hawks after the first 5 minutes. Shots and attempts were all Hawks. They played hard. The first goal was a fluke and shouldn't have even been a play as it started with a hand pass. What I will worry about is the defense. They aren't giving up a ton of shots, but they are giving up prime chances.
- JRoenick97

You are correct, the Hawks had almost twice as many shots after 2 periods. However, in the last period when the Hawks should be pressing and get two great power play opportunities .... They hibernate again. When the Lighning started to clog up their blue line in the last five minutes the Hawks were finished for the night...the Hawks couldn't even pull their goalie because was so busy around his own net.

No Keith or Toews at practice. Both talked postgame so probably just maintenance.