Just for grins . . . and I know Al will kick my a$$ for saying this . . . would like to see Denny Savard back behind the bench.

Savvy was nothing if not passionate -- his teams always had heart and soul. He wore his on his sleeve and if nothing else, you might expect 100% effort. And at least he had some better feel for line combinations and did not play wheel--of-forward with the lines every period of every game.

I know it won't happen.
- savvyone-1

Was going to comment but like you said "al will kick you ass..." Come on man , he lost a lot of games.
The Roster isnt that good. Coach Q is a pretty good coach. The real pooptty thing about last nite was I though Kane looked great the first 10 minutes. too bad. We'll see how tonight goes. a 6-0 Hawks win will go a long way.....

They should...I may have my wife hide my computer from me.

I do have Spartacus at 9 pm to fall back on....So the night may not all be lost.
- SteveRain

You could always watch the Hogs VS Vwolves

Just for grins . . . and I know Al will kick my a$$ for saying this . . . would like to see Denny Savard back behind the bench.

Savvy was nothing if not passionate -- his teams always had heart and soul. He wore his on his sleeve and if nothing else, you might expect 100% effort. And at least he had some better feel for line combinations and did not play wheel--of-forward with the lines every period of every game.

I know it won't happen.
- savvyone-1

Commit to the Indian!

Anybody know the line-up tonight?

Was going to comment but like you said "al will kick you ass..." Come on man , he lost a lot of games.
The Roster isnt that good. Coach Q is a pretty good coach. The real pooptty thing about last nite was I though Kane looked great the first 10 minutes. too bad. We'll see how tonight goes. a 6-0 Hawks win will go a long way.....

- mrpaulish

Sure he did -- don't forget, he had 18 and 19 year old kids he was trying to bring along in the NHL. Overall, IMO, he did a pretty fine job. Didn't agree with everything that happened but he was passionate, if nothing else.

Personally can't stand the milquetoast crap - would rather have a guy like Savvy that showed some emotion. Now maybe behind the scenes he is kicking a$$ and taking names. But I kind of doubt it. And if he is, they've tuned him totally out.

Q is a good coach with the right set of circumstances. But then, who isn't?
Heck, I think most of us believe we could have guided the 2010 team to the Cup. Right? How many of us agreed with how he handled the goalie situation in 2009 with Khabby and Huet? Or with Huet and Niemi? See?

I think they are back to needing a bench coach with a system that is flexible to fit the personnel they DO have. Not what he WANTS to use regardless of whether he does not have the horses to pull the wagon in that particular fashion.

Commit to the Indian!
- Dino_Sucks

YES!

For those who are calling for Q's head, please also offer up your replacement. Not that many qualified coaches out there right now who would be able to deal with this sorry mess.

Was going to comment but like you said "al will kick you ass..." Come on man , he lost a lot of games.
The Roster isnt that good. Coach Q is a pretty good coach. The real pooptty thing about last nite was I though Kane looked great the first 10 minutes. too bad. We'll see how tonight goes. a 6-0 Hawks win will go a long way.....

- mrpaulish

Optimism!!!

Not likely...this team gets blow out, but seldom has it gone the other way. If the Hawks win it'll be a 4-3 nailbiter with the goalie pulled while on the PK.

For those who are calling for Q's head, please also offer up your replacement. Not that many qualified coaches out there right now who would be able to deal with this sorry mess.
- ksilvy58

Havi .... and let him select his assistants. Hell, if they had to, bring Troy Murray out of the radio booth (throw Konroyd in there) and let him be an assistant. He's been very pointed in what's been wrong with the team. I far and away listen more to what he says than Edzo. Edzo is a severe case of corporate-ass-kiss-aholic; not unlike Kaplan of CSN.

EDIT: Havi is a head-coach-in-waiting. He knows the PK, he knows the PP. He knows the system and he knows the minors. Four-for-four in my book.

For those who are calling for Q's head, please also offer up your replacement. Not that many qualified coaches out there right now who would be able to deal with this sorry mess.
- ksilvy58

Finding the replacement isn't my job.
I'm not familiar with potential replacements working in the shadows around the NHL, or elsewhere in the hockey universe, nor should I be.

Finding a replacement is the job of management.

Was going to comment but like you said "al will kick you ass..." Come on man , he lost a lot of games.
The Roster isnt that good. Coach Q is a pretty good coach. The real pooptty thing about last nite was I though Kane looked great the first 10 minutes. too bad. We'll see how tonight goes. a 6-0 Hawks win will go a long way.....
- mrpaulish

It's a start, and only that. If they can't get more consistent - up and down the lineup - trades not withstanding, than it's just a blip....like so many thought on the flip side, the 9-2 ass pounding they received by the Oil in Nov.

Havi .... and let him select his assistants. Hell, if they had to, bring Troy Murray out of the radio booth (throw Konroyd in there) and let him be an assistant. He's been very pointed in what's been wrong with the team. I far and away listen more to what he says than Edzo. Edzo is a severe case of corporate-ass-kiss-aholic; not unlike Kaplan of CSN.

EDIT: Havi is a head-coach-in-waiting. He knows the PK, he knows the PP. He knows the system and he knows the minors. Four-for-four in my book.
- blackhawk24

I like Havi, but isn't he too blame for some of this as well? Everyone loves to dump on Mike Kitchen...and then Q, but Havi is a well paid assistant on this sinking ship. Perhaps not, but he shouldn't be excused.

It's a start, and only that. If they can't get more consistent - up and down the lineup - trades not withstanding, than it's just a blip....like so many thought on the flip side, the 9-2 ass pounding they received by the Oil in Nov.
- blackhawk24

Agreed. I cant believe that they havnt made a roster move today. Its not just the Vancouver and Edmonton game. Nashville just kicked their ass twice , recent losses to Detroit and Colorodo. The roster needs to be shaken up a tad. The Hawks are playing squirt hockey in a midget league.

As I watch the low lights of last nights roasting on NHLN it reminds me of the days I would kill my dad at blades of steel

It's a start, and only that. If they can't get more consistent - up and down the lineup - trades not withstanding, than it's just a blip....like so many thought on the flip side, the 9-2 ass pounding they received by the Oil in Nov.
- blackhawk24

Agreed. I cant believe that they havnt made a roster move today. Its not just the Vancouver and Edmonton game. Nashville just kicked their ass twice , recent losses to Detroit and Colorodo. The roster needs to be shaken up a tad. The Hawks are playing squirt hockey in a midget league.

The Hawks are playing squirt hockey in a midget league.
- mrpaulish

Now that cracked me up! Well played sir.

Just got home and did a quick read of 12 pages of Hawk "love" wow

I would hope for tonight they would go back to what was clicking previously. Hossa was playing with Kruger and on a 9 game point streak. That made it clear to Q that he needed a new center? Bolland was tearing it up before the break so Q changes his line around? Assuming Brunette is out tonight, I would hope for something along the lines of:

Stalberg/Toews/Kane
Sharp/Kruger/Hossa
Frolik/Bolland/Shaw
Mayers/Morrison/Person who can fog a mirror

I like Havi, but isn't he too blame for some of this as well? Everyone loves to dump on Mike Kitchen...and then Q, but Havi is a well paid assistant on this sinking ship. Perhaps not, but he shouldn't be excused.
- ArlingtonRob

Don't know who is available otherwise. I suggest Havi simply because he knows the system. And I think the players respect him.

Commit to the Indian!
- Dino_Sucks

Don't think he will be or should be back, but I can here that in my head as we speak. Made it my location shortly after joining in addition to my ps3 user name and it has name of our Fantasy league for the last 3 years.

I would hope for tonight they would go back to what was clicking previously. Hossa was playing with Kruger and on a 9 game point streak. That made it clear to Q that he needed a new center? Bolland was tearing it up before the break so Q changes his line around? Assuming Brunette is out tonight, I would hope for something along the lines of:

Stalberg/Toews/Kane
Sharp/Kruger/Hossa
Frolik/Bolland/Shaw
Mayers/Morrison/Person who can fog a mirror
- NewToHockey

TramyersCSN Tracey Myers
Brunette out, still unsure of severity. Emery starting. Frolik back in for Brunette. #Blackhawks

ChrisKuc Chris Kuc
Hearing the upper-body injury to #Blackhawks winger Andrew Brunette is serious.

Havi .... and let him select his assistants. Hell, if they had to, bring Troy Murray out of the radio booth (throw Konroyd in there) and let him be an assistant. He's been very pointed in what's been wrong with the team. I far and away listen more to what he says than Edzo. Edzo is a severe case of corporate-ass-kiss-aholic; not unlike Kaplan of CSN.

EDIT: Havi is a head-coach-in-waiting. He knows the PK, he knows the PP. He knows the system and he knows the minors. Four-for-four in my book.
- blackhawk24

Quenville and Bowman were handed one of the most talented teams in recent memory. To their credit they won the cup, but that was already in place too achieve. Since the cup win both have failing grades. Bowman for duplicating in successive years poor additions to a very good nucleus. Quenville for not adapting his coaching to fit the loss of talent. Q coaches as if he still has the cup teams talent. I see very little in a team game, defensive zone coverage is really bad, and no set breakouts. Players roles are not defined, his line juggling is houseleague and what about the PK and PP. His lineup choices have been to say the least, very questionable. There are teams in this league with a lot less talent who have winning records. The difference between these teams and the Hawks is simply coaching.

It's a different game and to have a good stick is very important. Fronting players always..... is something I don't agree with..

When you watch the replays of goals scored vs Hawks...Keep track how mnay times forwards aren't in the picture or arrive late and are reaching with there stick to check players...

It is more than just the defensemen.

Toews hinted to it also....Too much focus by some to score and not enoiugh concern about the other side of the game.

Crawford gave up 4 bad goals...But he wasn't supported either.
- Al

Great post, Al. The forwards aren't doing their share either. Forecheck is anemic & resulting in few turnovers, forwards' gap control is bad & pressure on the points is largely non-existent...as is relief in the high slot often times when needed. Having 5 guys playing committed D all over the ice would surely help.

Further, I'd still like to see what Bollig could do on the 4th line, especially since he's been on the Hogs checking line & PK. Certainly a cheaper & lower mileage energy guy than some of the options out there given the current market.

As an outsider ,in the last couple of weeks I could see things unraveling for the Hawks. Truthfully I am suprised .The front end talent is off the charts. There is a very quick drop off once you get passed it.I said about a month and a half ago I like Canucks chances against the Hawks because of that reason .I felt the third and fourth lines need to be altered.As long as Captain Serious and Keith and Seabrook are on the team leading the way,you are never too far to repeat as cup champs.Last night maybe from the fans POV, it was rock bottom.

The good news is there is lot's of cap room and time to make it. Someone mentioned Burrish the other day. He is exactly what this team needs along with one of his other buddies like Earger .The reason the Hawks won two years ago was the front two lines were just better than anyone else and the bottom two lines would beat any spirit you had left,out of you.See what happens over the next couple of days.

As an outsider ,in the last couple of weeks I could see things unraveling for the Hawks. Truthfully I am suprised .The front end talent is off the charts. There is a very quick drop off once you get passed it.I said about a month and a half ago I like Canucks chances against the Hawks because of that reason .I felt the third and fourth lines need to be altered.As long as Captain Serious and Keith and Seabrook are on the team leading the way,you are never too far to repeat as cup champs.Last night maybe from the fans POV, it was rock bottom.

The good news is there is lot's of cap room and time to make it. Someone mentioned Burrish the other day. He is exactly what this team needs along with one of his other buddies like Earger .The reason the Hawks won two years ago was the front two lines were just better than anyone else and the bottom two lines would beat any spirit you had left,out of you.See what happens over the next couple of days.
- VANTEL

Good points, VANTEL. Burish could be serviceable for what the team needs. Still thinking the Eager-type guy is available in Rockford -- management seems to grooming him for the role. There's some dead weight to shed first.