6628 - Heard from a UC (not a Hawks) source who generally has good sources themselves - who says that Q will be out. If that’s the case, who do you get who is a better coach? Seriously if you get rid of Q you better have a darn good replacement. The casual fan who shouts “Q!” when he’s introduced at the start of the game or who only casually pays attention to a game here or there will need to see that’s the guy they pick is an improvement. Thinking from a marketing perspective.

As a fan and a season ticket holder who more than casually pays attention I would want to know that the next guy was a planned as good or better alternative than the one you let go. Don’t fire someone just to say you did something without a good replacement.

Who would you put in there? (Value your opinion and looking for what the solution might be)

Also same question about Stan - if you get rid of him, who do you put in that’s better? Or can be marketed as such?
- Marlowe

There was speculation on a previous blog that with Don Granato already an assistant and hanging around the bench lately that either him or more likely brother Tony could be convinced to do it.

Before you think aboiut supporting that statement, you better review carefully.

I do not expect another expansion team will be close to how good the Las Vegas team continues to be. Almost to draft and hire the management and have it all come together the way Vegas' success has sustained. I could foresee an expansion team wheeling and dealing the way Vegas has .......However for a first year team to be successful someone who has won only with veterans - like Q - is a total miscast
- jhawk59

Yes, all those veterans of the 2010 cup run who won it for us. Saying he's only won with Veterans is a very silly statement.

You and about 10+ other teams are likely in the same boat here.
- JRoenick97

Maybe Hawks can send a package deal of Seabrook and Quenneville

If Q is out then so should Stan per what Rick said.

I wonder if Hossa would be a good coach? Interested in coaching?

Also, it's too bad Crow won't be back this season as he should have been moved - his value is very high, good contract on a team that is rebuilding would fetch an easy first round pick.

That being said, we have something in Forsberg. He certainly has to improve but his .910 save % is pretty good considering his inexperience and being on a team that gives up as many shots, fastbreaks, and general poor defense.

Good post here. To me sustained work eventually sets in on even the most gifted of atheletes. These guys have played a lot of hockey and a lot of close, grueling, competitive hockey.

To me the onus is on Blowman for being so myopic. It's a tough spot to be in but he has all the same numbers and more that we have,he should have considered that if I give three guys huge contracts it's not going to be justified with their likely drop in productivity.

It shouldn't have been a surprise.
- Bjm84

what makes you conclude it was surprise...ya think stanbow and the rest of the lifetime hockey guys were unaware in denial of high number games and high stress games the core has played...that's absurd...between 2012-2015 they were the top team in the league; this precipitated cap problems and drafting low...it also meant overpaying for TDL trades...

2016 they went for the repeat and failed in 3-1 comeback to the blues...yeah the denault trade was a tough one but...i rermember at the time many here and in nhl media were singing the praises of the deepest forward group in the playoffs...

what did you want him to do...trade toews, keith, craw, seabs etc after 2015 cup and begin the "rebuild" then...

If Q is out then so should Stan per what Rick said.

I wonder if Hossa would be a good coach? Interested in coaching?

Also, it's too bad Crow won't be back this season as he should have been moved - his value is very high, good contract on a team that is rebuilding would fetch an easy first round pick.

That being said, we have something in Forsberg. He certainly has to improve but his .910 save % is pretty good considering his inexperience and being on a team that gives up as many shots, fastbreaks, and general poor defense.
- Bjm84

IF HEALTHY, Crow would be worth MULTIPLE prospects and picks. I'd take him over ANY GOALIE in the NHL to win in the playoffs. A team looking to win a Cup would struggle to do better than Crow when the lights are on.

That is precisely why I am OPPOSED to moving him. Unless the Hawks go full blown rebuild Crow should backstop this team until further notice. That boy is one boy who earned his 6 million per. Two time Cup champion and damn near single-handedly took us to the 2014 Cup (wanna see a beast goalie? Go back to that season and watch his work versus St. Louis and Minnesota...simply brilliant).

Crow STAYS in Chicago if I am running the show.

That said, his health is a big ???

I’m not sure but, not by yanking him for a 32 year old feel good story the first time he has an off game.
- walleyeb1

So which off game do you yank him, seems like 4 out of 5 games he has one?

Lets get our powerplay to spend time in the offensive zone...jeez just brutal!!!

I don't think the Hawks are finished. Ideas on message boards sometimes take on a life of their own whether they have a lot of validity or not. Example, remember when this board was fixated on getting rid of Kane for imaginary offences? This board in particular likes to run with fake news and then build it up. The absence of guys like Hossa, Panarin, Hammer, Crawford and Darling would be a major negative for any team. Toews is really not that bad and odds are he will adjust and improve. Saad is in a slump that will run it's course. Keith is still performing at a star level. Then there is the new core, ABD , Schmaltz and Hinostroza providing a big ray of sunshine right now and for the immediate future. Things could be a lot worse. The team needs to fix the management first then the defense and goal tending and these things will get fixed rest assured.

There was speculation on a previous blog that with Don Granato already an assistant and hanging around the bench lately that either him or more likely brother Tony could be convinced to do it.
- Rota's Rooter

Yes, I think there is a greater meaning for Don Granato joining the bench after spending the season in the press box with the healthy scratches and injured players. Similar to how Q was brought in a certain role when Savard was head coach.

If Q is let go before the end of the season (don't see that happening but you never know), my bet is on Granato to take over on an interim basis. If Q is let go after the season ends, I'd at least think Granato is a top candidate to be next head coach especially over Dineen and Ulf (not to say either wouldn't throw their hat into the ring).

IF HEALTHY, Crow would be worth MULTIPLE prospects and picks. I'd take him over ANY GOALIE in the NHL to win in the playoffs. A team looking to win a Cup would struggle to do better than Crow when the lights are on.

That is precisely why I am OPPOSED to moving him. Unless the Hawks go full blown rebuild Crow should backstop this team until further notice. That boy is one boy who earned his 6 million per. Two time Cup champion and damn near single-handedly took us to the 2014 Cup (wanna see a beast goalie? Go back to that season and watch his work versus St. Louis and Minnesota...simply brilliant).

Crow STAYS in Chicago if I am running the show.

That said, his health is a big ???
- kwolf68

Agree. While Crawford would bring in a good haul if traded, he is the goalie I would want backstopping the team in the playoffs. If he can recover 100% by next season, I believe he has a few more strong years left in the tank.

Good vibes for good health soon for #50.

Agree. While Crawford would bring in a good haul if traded, he is the goalie I would want backstopping the team in the playoffs. If he can recover 100% by next season, I believe he has a few more strong years left in the tank.

Good vibes for good health soon for #50.
- AEL_Fox

Yep. With Crow it's simple...do you think you are going to compete next year for a possible deep playoff run? Then he can't be moved. Period.

If you think the team needs a full rebuild (ala White Sox) then yea you move him for a major haul.

poopty as this season has gone, I'd like to shoot for scenario 1 above.

So which off game do you yank him, seems like 4 out of 5 games he has one?
- BetweenTheDots

Forsberg's .910 save percentage is quite a bit higher than Kerry Price's .904 and a touch better than Braden Holtby's .909. Not equating him with either, but it's ridiculous to look at this CF of a season and blame Forsberg. This team has trouble scoring and gives up a ton of high danger chances against. He's provided decent (and certainly NHL caliber) goaltending, despite Q's brief, inexplicable infatuation with Glass.

Hossa has no coaching experience but if he was a scout in Europe would hugh benefit for the hawks if willing to do that. This just my opinion both stay bowman and Q Mcdough should go along with his lackey blunk and get a hockey guy as president of the team. Rocky should clean house but won't. If they do fire Q then hawks need a coach that can teach the young players and develop them at the same time have the respect of the veterans. Need a new vision direction pick a lane and go with it need draft better especially on d and goaltending no top 3 d man in the system as of right now and ready to go goalie to take over in couple of years plus there is no top 6 forwards in the system all projected to be bottom 6 forwards or ahler's right now. In the past 9 years under bowman saad dcat and smatlz are the only top 6 forwards drafted that have made it no defense or goalie i can recall have made it and stuck while bowman has been in charge. Leading to bowman should be fired along with daddy and mcdough.

Justin didn't mention it in this piece, but last night on the Canadian broadcast last night Sportsnet put up a graphic of the number of games the Big 4 (Toews, Kane, Keith and Seabrook) had played in the last 10 years. They all have between 840 and 870 games on their odometers, not including Olympics, World Cups and World Championships'.

Gary Galley just noted that despite how great these players are and were, the wear and tear has basically taken all the tread off their tires.

This isn't something Q, Bowman, McDonagh, Rocky or the Fountain of Youth can fix.

If it were me, I would go the LA Kings route and at season's end fire both the GM and Head Coach (and let the Assistants find work elsewhere). Both of these guys have been so focused on winning and having to deal with the pressure of competing for a SC every year that they aren't equipped now to deal with what this team has really become - an 'also ran' in today's NHL. This team stinks and after the HOF'ers now on the downside of their career, they are made up of a bunch of 12 and 13th forwards and 5-6 defenceman. Its a long road back to greatness. Appreciate it for what it was, a great team that was eventually submarined by the cap. Only Pittsburgh can lay claim to being better and still competitive in this era, led by 2 of the NHL's all time greats in Malkin and Crosby and owned by an ex-superstar who can identify a real player, coach or GM in a fast glance.

Bring in a guy like Paul Fenton from Nashville and let him start first by focusing on drafting and player development at the minor league level. And then slowly but surely he will move out the bad contracts thru buyouts and one sided trades. But its going to take a few years, making the playoffs again any time soon in the Central Division won't be easy.
- RickJ

Spot on Rick. Don't underestimate the impact of Phil "The Thrill" Kessell on that team's resurgence. He may win the Art Ross this year, and is subject to many of the same criticisms that Panarin is. Overall, the forward group is not atrocious, just average. The Defense group, however, is bottom 5 in the entire NHL and that is termination worthy for Bowman. Q's message is likely stale, but he cannot make non-NHL dmen play above their ability level....

Yep. With Crow it's simple...do you think you are going to compete next year for a possible deep playoff run? Then he can't be moved. Period.

If you think the team needs a full rebuild (ala White Sox) then yea you move him for a major haul.

poopty as this season has gone, I'd like to shoot for scenario 1 above.
- kwolf68

Totally agree this season is OVAA!!!!
While we play possum this year and have everyone thinking we are no longer a threat we come back next year and SPANK everyone again!!!!

EDIT: I can dream right...

Justin didn't mention it in this piece, but last night on the Canadian broadcast last night Sportsnet put up a graphic of the number of games the Big 4 (Toews, Kane, Keith and Seabrook) had played in the last 10 years. They all have between 840 and 870 games on their odometers, not including Olympics, World Cups and World Championships'.

Gary Galley just noted that despite how great these players are and were, the wear and tear has basically taken all the tread off their tires.

This isn't something Q, Bowman, McDonagh, Rocky or the Fountain of Youth can fix.

If it were me, I would go the LA Kings route and at season's end fire both the GM and Head Coach (and let the Assistants find work elsewhere). Both of these guys have been so focused on winning and having to deal with the pressure of competing for a SC every year that they aren't equipped now to deal with what this team has really become - an 'also ran' in today's NHL. This team stinks and after the HOF'ers now on the downside of their career, they are made up of a bunch of 12 and 13th forwards and 5-6 defenceman. Its a long road back to greatness. Appreciate it for what it was, a great team that was eventually submarined by the cap. Only Pittsburgh can lay claim to being better and still competitive in this era, led by 2 of the NHL's all time greats in Malkin and Crosby and owned by an ex-superstar who can identify a real player, coach or GM in a fast glance.

Bring in a guy like Paul Fenton from Nashville and let him start first by focusing on drafting and player development at the minor league level. And then slowly but surely he will move out the bad contracts thru buyouts and one sided trades. But its going to take a few years, making the playoffs again any time soon in the Central Division won't be easy.
- RickJ

I don't understand why not give Bowman a chance to do this?

I thought he did a good job of retooling the Hawks for 2013 to 15 run?

I'm glad the Hawks didn't trade for Phaneuf, but the only example of firing the coach and gm worked in Pitt, but and a very big but they were a barely make the playoffs team for 5, 6 years and were able to build develop and make some nice trades because they weren't constantly giving up assets to go for a SC 8 years in a row like the Hawks.

Look at all the coaching and gm changes in the league and Sullivan is the only one who had a huge impact on their team, the only one.

Yes, I think there is a greater meaning for Don Granato joining the bench after spending the season in the press box with the healthy scratches and injured players. Similar to how Q was brought in a certain role when Savard was head coach.

If Q is let go before the end of the season (don't see that happening but you never know), my bet is on Granato to take over on an interim basis. If Q is let go after the season ends, I'd at least think Granato is a top candidate to be next head coach especially over Dineen and Ulf (not to say either wouldn't throw their hat into the ring).
- AEL_Fox

He'll look great if Crawford can stay healthy

Justin didn't mention it in this piece, but last night on the Canadian broadcast last night Sportsnet put up a graphic of the number of games the Big 4 (Toews, Kane, Keith and Seabrook) had played in the last 10 years. They all have between 840 and 870 games on their odometers, not including Olympics, World Cups and World Championships'.

Gary Galley just noted that despite how great these players are and were, the wear and tear has basically taken all the tread off their tires.

This isn't something Q, Bowman, McDonagh, Rocky or the Fountain of Youth can fix.

.
- RickJ

Regardless of what they do with Q or the front office, I hope when they are finally eliminated from the playoff picture, they implement a plan to get those four guys back next year as healthy, in shape, rested, and focused as they can be. Maybe they shut down Toews or Seabrook or even Keith. Kane seems as good as ever but I think the longer off season will help him too.

Lets get our powerplay to spend time in the offensive zone...jeez just brutal!!!
- BlackhawkMike

PP is certainly inconsistent and very often ineffective, but:

Last 10 games - 7 PP goals in 34 attempts = 20.6%.

That's 7 PP goals out of 23 total goals in the 10 games - 30.4% of the total goals.

Not sure if that says the PP is OK - or the 5X5 is terrible.

Forsberg's .910 save percentage is quite a bit higher than Kerry Price's .904 and a touch better than Braden Holtby's .909. Not equating him with either, but it's ridiculous to look at this CF of a season and blame Forsberg. This team has trouble scoring and gives up a ton of high danger chances against. He's provided decent (and certainly NHL caliber) goaltending, despite Q's brief, inexplicable infatuation with Glass.
- Davewn

When Corey was healthy they were a fringe playoff team, Corey gets hurt and the bottom falls out.

All your points are valid but facts are facts, most important stat wins and losses

No. I'm not kidding.

What has Q done differently that warrants him as "out of control and nonsensical" in your book?

Blending lines? He's always done that.

Q is the same stoic/no BS guy he's always been. It's not his fault guys like Toews, Seabrook, etc. aren't playing well. It's also not his fault that the guys his GM has brought in haven't panned out.

I get people being frustrated. I just don't see how why it's all on him and not on (the majority) of the players and front office combined.

Blaming the coach to me is just the easy thing to.
- Hank3Henshaw

Please. You have absolutely no objectivity. When you can’t see it is ludicrous to put Bouma with Schmaltz and Kane you’re not truly watching. Or Wingels with Toews and Saad. Or Murphy in and out and up and down and side to side. I could list for hours. This year’s Hawks aren’t devoid of talent - the Hawks won the West just last year. Q has been awful. Loaded line-ups won 3 Cups. Arguably should've been 5, at least 4. Q gets great credit. Loads of First Round exits - fault of players not Q. Team terrible this year - fault of players not Q.

Q’s weaknesses have always been there. Even in successful seasons I always begged for him to get out of the players’ way - to let them play. Q has been even more extreme this year, even more stubborn. Systems are ludicrous this year - what is the name of the D System? - how to create the most odd-man breaks against possible? Players have not been able to cover his deficiencies this regular season. Caught up earlier this year - in other years caught up with First Round exits.

As I’ve said it is simply a great gig to never be held responsible no matter how bad you coach.

I would keep both. Who’s better out there? If anyone should go its McDonough, he should stick to marketing and let hockey people make the hockey decisions. The cups were won because of Q,Bowman,Tallon,players,scouts, and hockey operations staff NOT ego maniac McDonough.

Forsberg's .910 save percentage is quite a bit higher than Kerry Price's .904 and a touch better than Braden Holtby's .909. Not equating him with either, but it's ridiculous to look at this CF of a season and blame Forsberg. This team has trouble scoring and gives up a ton of high danger chances against. He's provided decent (and certainly NHL caliber) goaltending, despite Q's brief, inexplicable infatuation with Glass.
- Davewn

Once the team started its free fall many weeks ago I stopped looking at individual stats so I actually find that to be a good thing and somewhat surprising that Forsberg's save % is .910 after it had been in the mid/high .800's for while.

I checked out the goalie stat leaders and Crawford is still top 5 in save % and GAA. Hutton as the Blues backup is tops in both categories, but take him out, and Crawford is #2 in save % a hair behind Fleury (.929 vs .930) and tied for 3rd in GAA.

I know, I know. None of that matters since it doesn't help the team storm back to earn a playoff berth.

Please. You have absolutely no objectivity. When you can’t see it is ludicrous to put Bouma with Schmaltz and Kane you’re not truly watching. Or Wingels with Toews and Saad. Or Murphy in and out and up and down and side to side. I could list for hours. This year’s Hawks aren’t devoid of talent - the Hawks won the West just last year. Q has been awful. Loaded line-ups won 3 Cups. Arguably should've been 5, at least 4. Q gets great credit. Loads of First Round exits - fault of players not Q. Team terrible this year - fault of players not Q.

Q’s weaknesses have always been there. Even in successful seasons I always begged for him to get out of the players’ way - to let them play. Q has been even more extreme this year, even more stubborn. Systems are ludicrous this year - what is the name of the D System? - how to create the most odd-man breaks against possible? Players have not been able to cover his deficiencies this regular season. Caught up earlier this year - in other years caught up with First Round exits.

As I’ve said it is simply a great gig to never be held responsible no matter how bad you coach.
- Z3Hawk

What you don't understand is all 5 players have to work as one and you get so caught up in every little thing he does that you can't see he's teaching these players how to be better hockey players mentally. Even with line juggling, news flash Babcock and Sullivan do it. Guess what they will also play defenseman on their off side?

Do you know Crosby said watching how the Blackhawks played and how 5 guys played as one unit and how a defenseman would be active in the offensive zone and the forward would covet for him, its the most effective brand of hockey he's ever seen?