I've been watching the NHL since 1968. And in all that time, I've never seen a coach like Quenneville. If Billy Reay had refused to play guys that Tommy Ivan got the team he would have been gone. no, if and or buts. If Scotty Bowman had refused to play guys that Sam Pollock had got for the 70s Canadiens, he would have been gone. If Al Arbour had refused to play guys that Bill Torreey had gotten for the Islanders, he would have been gone. And it doesn't help that the guy who is supposed to lay down the law to Quenneville knows how to market Duncan Keith bobble-head dolls more than he knows hockey. Time for Quenneville and McDonough to go.

I've been watching the NHL since 1968. And in all that time, I've never seen a coach like Quenneville. If Billy Reay had refused to play guys that Tommy Ivan got the team he would have been gone. no, if and or buts. If Scotty Bowman had refused to play guys that Sam Pollock had got for the 70s Canadiens, he would have been gone. If Al Arbour had refused to play guys that Bill Torreey had gotten for the Islanders, he would have been gone. And it doesn't help that the guy who is supposed to lay down the law to Quenneville knows how to market Duncan Keith bobble-head dolls more than he knows hockey. Time for Quenneville and McDonough to go.
- tim62b

People, reporters say this, I've never heard Stan Bowman utter one word of this, not one. If you heard it straight from Stans mouth well then that's different, but if you haven't I wouldn't buy into the rumors out there

I've been watching the NHL since 1968. And in all that time, I've never seen a coach like Quenneville. If Billy Reay had refused to play guys that Tommy Ivan got the team he would have been gone. no, if and or buts. If Scotty Bowman had refused to play guys that Sam Pollock had got for the 70s Canadiens, he would have been gone. If Al Arbour had refused to play guys that Bill Torreey had gotten for the Islanders, he would have been gone. And it doesn't help that the guy who is supposed to lay down the law to Quenneville knows how to market Duncan Keith bobble-head dolls more than he knows hockey. Time for Quenneville and McDonough to go.
- tim62b

Who has the bigger salary these days - the Coach or the GM?

Coaches like Babcock, Q, Julien, Hitchcock, Trotz and a few others aren't intimidated by GM's that might chew them out or threaten to fire them for how and when players are or not used.

I'm not going to defend or attack Q's moves but I will say this - NHL coaches aren't hired or expected to be teachers. With the schedule and CBA as it is, there is little or no time for extensive on ice instruction. Head coaches implement game plans and strategies for their teams and decide on playing personnel and how they are deployed.

Show me an NHL team with a bunch of players who require extensive teaching and I will show you a team with a bunch of players who should be in the AHL or ECHL.
- RickJ

Used to be - they would say a ball player needed 1,500 ABs in the minors before he would be ready for the show.

I would guess used to be something equivalent in hockey - except for the Matthews / McDavids of the league.

I would also Gus’s the cap is forcing many players into the NHL that would be better served with a(nother) year or two in the AHL, learning the little things about hockey that make a good player better than good - things they may not learn under the “win now” pressure of the big time.

Maybe even such as Hartman, Hino, Forsberg - dare I say DeBrincat (he can shoot and score now - will he be a better hockey player in three years by being here rather than Rockford is the question)....

Honestly according to the media the only time a front office is on the same page in Chicago is when they win championships, otherwise the media always sells conflict, always

Used to be - they would say a ball player needed 1,500 ABs in the minors before he would be ready for the show.

I would guess used to be something equivalent in hockey - except for the Matthews / McDavids of the league.

I would also Gus’s the cap is forcing many players into the NHL that would be better served with a(nother) year or two in the AHL, learning the little things about hockey that make a good player better than good - things they may not learn under the “win now” pressure of the big time.

Maybe even such as Hartman, Hino, Forsberg - dare I say DeBrincat (he can shoot and score now - will he be a better hockey player in three years by being here rather than Rockford is the question)....
- StLBravesFan

That's how I feel, half these kids on this team are over matched at this level.

Honestly according to the media the only time a front office is on the same page in Chicago is when they win championships, otherwise the media always sells conflict, always
- BetweenTheDots

I'm pretty sure those conflict stories are there even when they win.

JJ Twitter Post

A couple of updates on rumors. Hawk scouts are present at CBJ-PHI game. Hawks have talked to PHI about Anisimov, and CBJ is making a hard push for him again today.
- walleyeb1

Jenner?

after winning 3 strt, sharks got smoked by the preds...

and the hawks await..

Used to be - they would say a ball player needed 1,500 ABs in the minors before he would be ready for the show.

I would guess used to be something equivalent in hockey - except for the Matthews / McDavids of the league.

I would also Gus’s the cap is forcing many players into the NHL that would be better served with a(nother) year or two in the AHL, learning the little things about hockey that make a good player better than good - things they may not learn under the “win now” pressure of the big time.

Maybe even such as Hartman, Hino, Forsberg - dare I say DeBrincat (he can shoot and score now - will he be a better hockey player in three years by being here rather than Rockford is the question)....
- StLBravesFan

An example might be #2 Duncan Keith. He spent 2 full years in the AHL and wasn't until his 2-3 NHL season that things clicked into place.

Patrick Sharp had to work his way, most of 3 seasons in the minors until he finally solidified his role in the NHL at around age 24-25.

Crawford had to do his time.

Byfuglien, Bickell (4 seasons in the AHL before he really made the jump), Hjalmarsson also had to do their time in the AHL and NHL before they got going as effective players.

I think it is even more important now as the game evolves and the little things become more important. Everyone needs to know the systems, needs to back check, needs to play a decent 2 way game.

Hey John I could see it going this way as well. Message has gotten stale over a long period - time for a fresh voice in the room...but Q didn't suddenly get dumb overnight - he knows how to coach. I think he'll laugh all the way to the bank with his salary over the next couple of seasons while he's on the golf course like Dale before him.

As far as Bowman we've seen his moves over several seasons - whether its Leddy for Polka, or the Sharp fiasco which led to more problems that summer or locking in an aging core with overpays based on past performance that have handcuffed his ability to reshape his roster.

How bout the Danault trade - an absolute embarrassment and he still owns the Habs a 2nd this coming draft.

Bowman's offseason moves for this year speak volumes - Hammer for Murphy - while Hammer has been hurt he's still averaging 2.5 blocks per game. Murphy is still a work in progress and we've seen how bad the defense has been. Then we saw Panarin traded to bring Saad back which hasn't worked either. The bigger concern is both those moves weren't necessarily done for the betterment of the team, but were cost control related...One Goal - sure. Stan had his big presser and said he was going to make changes...

his biggest mistake this season is that he didn't get an actual NHL backup caliber goalie even though Crawford has gone down the last two seasons. How's that worked out? Forsberg and Glass have both been bad to say the least along with that defense in front of them.

We've also seen his drafting acumen as Jeff Osborn wrote about in detail on The-Rink.com and its not pretty to say the least.

I have a hard time believing that Rocky and McD don't see this...but who knows with McD's mancrush on Scotty...it'll probably be Q.

We've seen both Pitt and LA remove both Coach and GM and have hit the reset and done quite well...oh well.
- DK002

Stan's biggest mistake coming into this year? There are so many possibilities!

I think his #1 mistake was thinking the defense was good enough to go deep into the playoffs. At this point it looks like the team has one current top 4 defenseman in Keith. Maybe some of the guys in the system grow into a top 4 down the road but that was a big miss.

Second was his assumption that 2, 7, and 19 would be better this year than last when the opposite has been true.

I'd put the backup goalie situation third

Fourth was that Saad would improve the team over Panarin.

Fifth, the Hammer trade

Sixth, that he had either a top six LW or 3L C that was good enough.

His best move might have been signing Wingels.
DeBrincat has been the most pleasant surprise.

Jenner?
- wonthecup10

Haven't heard anything personally, but looked into the CHI/CBJ trade rumours and my contact said that while he hasn't heard anything specific either, it could make sense.

I asked who would make the most sense in a return and the response was, "The Hawks would love a trade like Jenner+ pick/prospect. Or.... I don't think they'll get him, but they have targeted Ryan Murray in the past couple seasons as well."


Jenner and Murray make the most sense to me as well.

Also, guys like Bjorkstrand, Nutivaara, Gabriel Carlsson all would be targeted IMO as well.

CBJ have a lot of flexibility with their cap next year, so taking on AA would make sense.

UPDATE: new blog coming out tomorrow AM.

I am starting to hear chatter on my end and I will share in a quick update in the morning.

Stay tuned... things could get weird.

If I were in charge, I'd keep Q and pull a Bill Veeck and try to put together a team for next year that could win a championship without mortgaging the future too much. Get a few guys in the last year of their contracts, add some other vets, draft well, see what happens. If it works, keep some of those parts, if it doesn't blow it up.

But, thankfully, I'm not in charge.

What i think will happen is that Q is gone, Granato is in, and Stan stays. Next year's team will have the same aging core who will play slightly better, some of whom might get traded at next year's trade deadline and the rebuild will be in full swing.

Haven't heard anything personally, but looked into the CHI/CBJ trade rumours and my contact said that while he hasn't heard anything specific either, it could make sense.

I asked who would make the most sense in a return and the response was, "The Hawks would love a trade like Jenner+ pick/prospect. Or.... I don't think they'll get him, but they have targeted Ryan Murray in the past couple seasons as well."


Jenner and Murray make the most sense to me as well.

Also, guys like Bjorkstrand, Nutivaara, Gabriel Carlsson all would be targeted IMO as well.

CBJ have a lot of flexibility with their cap next year, so taking on AA would make sense.
- Justin Lowe

He's played there before so they know each other and he also has played well with Panarin. A lot to like about bringing in AA if you're Columbus.

Jenner?
- wonthecup10

Anisimov for Weise

"John Jaeckel --- Today @ 9:28 AM ET
Major shakeup, unfortunately, while the best route from a hockey standpoint, is the most expensive to implement organizationally.

Educated guess:

Q gets "reassigned" within the organization this summer, Bowman stays but under a "turn this thing around or else" Sword of Damocles.

Likely they promote Granato or Dineen (but that part is pure speculation)."

--

Hey JJ - I think you may be right, getting rid of both Stan and Q, as a major shakeup may be the best move for this organization, buy as you said, probably not happening.

I honestly can't see Q getting "reassigned". From what I've been hearing lately, he's got a lot of fight left in him and isn't interested in "not" coaching. He's a very proud guy and I cannot see him letting his assistant take the reigns while he accepts to sits up top as an advisor or management role (when everyone in the league knows it's actually a demotion).

IMO, if Q is not the Hawks coach next year... he's coaching for another NHL team.

Haven't heard anything personally, but looked into the CHI/CBJ trade rumours and my contact said that while he hasn't heard anything specific either, it could make sense.

I asked who would make the most sense in a return and the response was, "The Hawks would love a trade like Jenner+ pick/prospect. Or.... I don't think they'll get him, but they have targeted Ryan Murray in the past couple seasons as well."


Jenner and Murray make the most sense to me as well.

Also, guys like Bjorkstrand, Nutivaara, Gabriel Carlsson all would be targeted IMO as well.

CBJ have a lot of flexibility with their cap next year, so taking on AA would make sense.
- Justin Lowe

Murray steps in as the Hawks #2D IMO. Murray and Josh Anderson for Anisimov + Oesterle

Blowman and pops need to be eliminated..... period... the course has been run

Murray steps in as the Hawks #2D IMO. Murray and Josh Anderson for Anisimov + Oesterle
- EnzoD

If Stan makes a deal with Columbus you know he’ll want Gerbe included.

Haven't heard anything personally, but looked into the CHI/CBJ trade rumours and my contact said that while he hasn't heard anything specific either, it could make sense.

I asked who would make the most sense in a return and the response was, "The Hawks would love a trade like Jenner+ pick/prospect. Or.... I don't think they'll get him, but they have targeted Ryan Murray in the past couple seasons as well."


Jenner and Murray make the most sense to me as well.

Also, guys like Bjorkstrand, Nutivaara, Gabriel Carlsson all would be targeted IMO as well.

CBJ have a lot of flexibility with their cap next year, so taking on AA would make sense.
- Justin Lowe

Thanks for the intel as always. Out of the Jackets you listed as possible targets, I'd pursue Jenner and Carlsson. Jenner could center a 3rd line with say Hinostroza and Hayden (Hartman, too, if he's still around). That would be a line with some jam and some scoring punch. Carlsson is their #1 draft pick from 2015 so one would think he's highly regarded. Plus he's got size at 6'5", 190 lb.

Maybe Nutivaara as a 3rd pair defender? He seems to play decently in the Hawks-Jackets games I've watched.

Bjorkstrand is a bottom 6 winger which isn't a need.

Murray may be a decent defender but seems like he's injury prone; has only played one full season and has only played 20ish games this year. I'd consider Murray if his lack of playing full seasons are for a mix of AHL seasoning and freak injuries rather than someone who just can't stay healthy whether chronic injuries or made of glass.

LOL in all seriousness if Stan Bowman gets a single Dman even in the same zip code as far as talent level of Jones/Werenski (without trading Kane) and I'll forgive him for his past transgressions.


- EnzoD

We knew Hossa was going to be missed, but I didn’t think they would miss him as much as they do. The man was a total pro!

Anisimov for Weise
- DarthKane

Come on..... AA should get Weisecan Timmonen! Don’t sell short.

If Stan makes a deal with Columbus you know he’ll want Gerbe included.
- DarthKane

Anisimov for Gerbe, Calvert and a conditional 5th in 2022....Josh Anderson is the kind of power forward with skill Id be looking to pry from CBJ. Murray is unspectacular but a package like him and Anderson for Anisimov & one of the D (Gustafson, Rutta, Oesterle) would be intriguing. Anderson is a beast.

Poor widdle Stan....he just has to deal with so much, I guess he got an immunity clause at the same time he handed out all the No Trade Clause to players making max salary.
- kwolf68

Ya I think Coach Q , if U can still even call him one .Could use a look upstairs were the real decisions are being made ,then maybe he would have a clue . Q is to interested in what is going on at the track to even run practices anymore , he needs to be put out to pasture ..