[quote=RickJ]Hammer hits nail on the head! Coach Q definitely is not happy with the composition of his team because he sees exactly what most of us fans see or should see and admit to - they aren't good enough to be a top team in the league despite the media driven fanfare and expectations.

Reasons why:

1) they are small and severely lack sufficient physicality to compete night to night with good teams like St.Louis, Detroit, Boston, Pittsburgh, SJ, Vancouver or NYR.

2) He has been saddled with a mix of old and well past expiry date players (O'Donnell, Brunette, Morrison); the totally useless (Scott, Lepisto, Bickell and apparently Frolik) and the pretty good but not quite ready for prime time (Kruger, Shaw. Leddy, Pirri, Hayes). That's 50% of the roster.

3) Apart from Toews, Seabrook and Shaw (initially), he has no pit bulls. His team plays a soft game, never initiates any nastiness and willingly takes punishment but never dishes any out.

Criticize Q's incessant line juggling for sure, but the reality is that this just isn't a very good hockey team. It needs help behind the blueline, more size up front and a better 2 way game from forwards who just love to fly the zone looking for the stretch pass but have absolutely no clue how to play in their own end without the puck (except Toews, Hossa and Bolland).

I'd add to that the miserable seasons 3 key guys are having - Keith, Crawford and Kane.

Is Q without blame - definitely not. The PP and PK are miserable either because of the strategy or the execution, but it still falls on the coaching staff.

What I fear more is that the Hawks have a General Manager who is in way over his head competing with shrewd hockey men like Ken Holland, Doug Armstrong, Mike Gillis, Brian Burke, Poile etc. With Bowman, I sense an overevaluation of his own player talent and a fear of making a bold move because he could be wrong. Add to that, I have never liked having a bean counter run any business where foresight judging talent was integral. They are better adding up columns of numbers.
- anawrocki[/quote]

Kane is 7th in the league in assists and 25th in points. I'd hardly say that is "miserable". Perhaps it is underachieving, or below expectations as everyone was predicting 100point season (yeah because those are sooooooo easy to accomplish...the great Marian Hossa has only done it once, and Datsyuk never has. In fact if anyone can tell me the number of active players to acheive 100 points, you get a pat on the back). With James Neal on his wing maybe he is in the top 10 in scoring. Stalbergs game and hands are still developing, but Pat Kane makes goals with his passing ability. People will just have to realize that his game is a mini version of Joe Thornton and carry on living your life.

Duncan Keith is 2nd in the league in ice time, and is a +10 on a defensively suspect team. This teams defensive woes start with D-men 4-6 and end with every forward not named Hossa/Toews.

He doesn't need a bold move. Look at all the expiring contracts we have...upcoming CBA...Core Players signed long term...Rookies getting significant time...this is a transition year, as last year was. They will likely make the playoffs and at least give themselves a chance, but they aren't "Cup contenders". The Red Wings haven't been "cup contenders" every year for the last 20, but they give themselves a chance every year by making the playoffs, develop their young players by bringing them along gradually (having them deputize when players get injured, etc), and restocking through the development system, NOT through free agency or trades mostly. Bowman is going to have what...10mil free this offseason? Even more if he can unload Frolik/Olesz. This year, they will look to make the playoffs, clear cap space by trade Frolik/Olesz for expiring contracts, then it becomes a 7 game season and anythign can happen. If they go out, they make a strong push for next year. Not too difficult to understand.

I can accept 'transition' year as a rationalization - now that it is apparent that the team is nowhere near good enough. But I don't really recall that being the message at the beginning of the year. It was more of "we are refreshed and looking to get back to the top" message.

Stats don't always tell the story, case in point Duncan Keith. Sure, he logs huge ice time (too much) and may be +10. What stats don't capture is defensive gaffes at critical times in a game, forcing cross ice passes that get picked off, ineffective play at the point on the powerplay, not tying up a man properly in the defensive zone.

I'm not saying anything further about Kane other than 2 goals in last 20 games.

And cap space is wonderful. What jersey number does it wear?

exactly Rick J.

How can Keith let a 75 foot pass go right past him to Iginlia ?? You know Jerome had ZERO fear of Keith playing the body and that iced the game.

Ive been a HUGE Kane defender but really ? 2 goals in the last 20 games ? That is far from good enough. This team has a ton of holes, they have the cap face to address some issues. LEts hope they do.

I kinda like that its been quiet on the Hawks front , think thats GM speak for "We're not telling you poop"


There is no way the Hawks wont address some of these problems with all their available cap space right ???

What about Stoll for next year between Sharp and Hossa? Physical, has been a 20 goal scorer and a 60+ point man. Wins faceoffs. I admit not seeing him play much so was wondering what people who have seen him think. He's UFA after this year so if he hits the market...having an off year statistically so he might be cheaper and willing to play for a "winner" that the Hawks supposedly are.

Too soon to talk about next year?

The fix is easy, the loudest sound is sileance (sp?). Don't buy the merch, don't fill the UC, watch something else on tv. That will shock the mcD propaganda machine and wake rocky and company.

Like me, you have no real reliable information as to whether there is a major problem between the coaching staff and the players or between Q and the General Manager. Or both.

Did Q get really stupid all of a sudden after 600 wins? I suspect not although there are things I see on the ice that are total headscratchers.

Explain the role of second tier role players in a cap system any way you want - I just know that Brunette, O'Donnell, Scott, Morrison, Bickell, Lepisto etc ain't anywhere good enough. And it wasn't Coach Q who offered these turkeys contracts.
- RickJ

Did any of these players all of a sudden become stupid? I think not, maybe they aren't great players but they are what they are, role players. Q needs to put a team game in place and allow players to excell in their roles. He has failed to do this so we blame the players. Many teams in the league skate with bottom end talent and those players have success because of their team system. I watched Calgary dominate the Hawks last night, not because they have better players but because their coach has them buying into a system. The Flames had 3 of their top nine forwards out of the lineup and had players step into their system without missing a beat.

Did any of these players all of a sudden become stupid? I think not, maybe they aren't great players but they are what they are, role players. Q needs to put a team game in place and allow players to excell in their roles. He has failed to do this so we blame the players. Many teams in the league skate with bottom end talent and those players have success because of their team system. I watched Calgary dominate the Hawks last night, not because they have better players but because their coach has them buying into a system. The Flames had 3 of their top nine forwards out of the lineup and had players step into their system without missing a beat.
- hawksbuzz

This.
What else is there to say?

Ok after two blogs and 43 combined pages of gloom and impending doom which I think I agree with can anyone talk all of us of the ledge and make a case that things aren't as bad as they appear and that we are overreacting?

Did any of these players all of a sudden become stupid? I think not, maybe they aren't great players but they are what they are, role players. Q needs to put a team game in place and allow players to excell in their roles. He has failed to do this so we blame the players. Many teams in the league skate with bottom end talent and those players have success because of their team system. I watched Calgary dominate the Hawks last night, not because they have better players but because their coach has them buying into a system. The Flames had 3 of their top nine forwards out of the lineup and had players step into their system without missing a beat.
- hawksbuzz

So let's blame the coach for Duncan Keith get caught napping at center ice in a 2-1 game. Let's blame the coach for Keith forcing a cross ice pass that was picked in the neutral zone and led to about a full minute in the defensive zone where the team couldn't regain possession of the puck. Let's blame Q for Montador flipping the puck over the glass and getting a delay of game penalty.

I'm not holding Q completely blameless, but stupid players do stupid things on the ice. That's beyond a coach's control most of the time, as is horrible goaltending.

Ok after two blogs and 43 combined pages of gloom and impending doom which I think I agree with can anyone talk all of us of the ledge and make a case that things aren't as bad as they appear and that we are overreacting?
- jhawk159

No.

Bring up bollig and throw him on the 4th line. At this point you have nothing to lose. You know hes going to have that seek and destroy mentality that eager had during his time here. Maybe it may spark the team into actually playing physical?

Ok after two blogs and 43 combined pages of gloom and impending doom which I think I agree with can anyone talk all of us of the ledge and make a case that things aren't as bad as they appear and that we are overreacting?
- jhawk159

No, not as bad as losing 5 in a row or getting destroyed in Edmonton. Not as bad as not making the playoffs.

But yes, as bad as 6th place or worse, as bad as not getting out of he first round.

They played pretty good defense last nite - and STILL gave up 3 goals - and look like they will continue to give up at least 3 in most games - meaning they will need at least 4 to win most games. Won't happen against Nashville, St. Louis, SJ, even Vancouver in the first round.

Important stat: still only one win this season when scoring less than 3 goals.

Bring up bollig and throw him on the 4th line. At this point you have nothing to lose. You know hes going to have that seek and destroy mentality that eager had during his time here. Maybe it may spark the team into actually playing physical?
- Wowo2282

I'd like to see the Hawks bring up Bollig and waive Scott.

Bring up bollig and throw him on the 4th line. At this point you have nothing to lose. You know hes going to have that seek and destroy mentality that eager had during his time here. Maybe it may spark the team into actually playing physical?
- Wowo2282

Ahead of Jimmy Hayes?

Ahead of Jimmy Hayes?
- nathanjf

Yes. If he doesn't pan out you send em right back down and bring up hayes. Its more just to see what you have up in Rockford. Would you have said bring up Hayes over Ben Smith 4 months ago? Prob not. Regardless its not gonna hurt. And i do like Hayes and wish he was still up with the team right now

Pressure mounts, maybe Stan Bowman looks towards smoke signals in Buffalo for help.

Today's article on My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/yM7rq3

So let's blame the coach for Duncan Keith get caught napping at center ice in a 2-1 game. Let's blame the coach for Keith forcing a cross ice pass that was picked in the neutral zone and led to about a full minute in the defensive zone where the team couldn't regain possession of the puck. Let's blame Q for Montador flipping the puck over the glass and getting a delay of game penalty.

I'm not holding Q completely blameless, but stupid players do stupid things on the ice. That's beyond a coach's control most of the time, as is horrible goaltending.
- RickJ

Goals are scored because mistakes are made. In order to minimize mistakes players need to play a system. Playing a system minimizes mistakes because players know their options. Forwards being at the other teams blue line when the puck is in their zone is not a system that is beer league. The Hawks are so predictable in every facet of their game, this makes them easy to play against. Edmonton averaged almost six goals a game against us and went 3 and 1. Name another team that they did this to. They exposed our neutral ice play, defencive zone coverage and penalty killing. This is the NHL, even the bottom end players can be taught to defend. Bring in all the talent you want, the problems will still exist.

Really I am so pissed!
I have been a fan of the Black Hawks since 1963 when I met Bobby Hull, who was a friend of my Dad when they played together in Point Anne in the good old days.
I cannot believe that the ownership of this collection of a$$holes cannot fix this team!
You bloggers are always 100% right on the money. You know exactly what the problems are and those idiots that run this disaster just refuse to listen.
Obviously you are the true and only fans of this storied franchise and the ownership, management, coaching staff and players are blatantly ignoring your incredible experience and knowledge.
You have all, with your obvious genius, given the professionals that guide this confederacy of dunces the blueprint of eternal success in the NHL.

1. Its the marketing departments fault. We should have "30 Goals" thereby guaranteeing success no matter the record!
2. Its those imperious brain dead Bowman's fault. (frank) their success everywhere else!
3. If we only had Troy Brouwer, Dustin Byfuglien, Brian Campbell, Andrew Ladd, Kris Versteeg, and the immortal Jake Dowell we would be invulnerable, impetuous and irrepressible.
4. The Hawks broadcasters are incompetent and worse have brain implants that are only capable of espousing the direct feed of the mind control front office. Their refusal to eviscerate the players, coaches and management on the back of a humiliating loss is the root of the problem!
5. WTF with the "one" Stanley Cup bullpoop! Every other NHL franchise has won a long string of consecutive Cups and has been dominant for decades at a time.
6. Hits (not those faggy "bodychecks") win the Cup every time. Goals are so 90's! And fights...well, they aren't really that important anymore unless you are losing in which case it is imperative that the bloggers lust for vindictive and vengeful spilling of blood is satiated rendering the loss inconsequential.
7. We must trade, release, kidnap or hobble the following: Keith ( too much estrogen)
Kane (not enough Matt Cooke), Bickell (child murderer), Montador (Al Quaeda operative), Frolik (Euro wussy) and especially every goalie since Glen Hall that ever played (Hasek, Belfour, Niemi)
7. How dare this franchise not panic and summarily change all the players and coaches on annual basis...it is the recipe for continued sports success eg.( Browns, (Clippers, Islanders) that whole "stability and patience" fallacy never works eg. Steelers, Lakers, Red Wings)

At any rate I guess I am just an old school fan, supporting my team through ups and downs, the highs and the lows, the good and the bad.

When I discovered the phenomenon of sports blogs and especially "Hockey Buzz" first with Sassone through Al and on to JJ I could always look forward to reasonable discourse and respect for all opinions.

However, it seems as though the Philistines have triumphed. The recent travails of the team have warped the conversation and any disagreement or positive view is met with derision, ridicule and even worse the convention that only those that are in agreement with the moderators have credence and that divergent views are only the domain of the ignorant, challenged on all fronts by a bully pulpit.

Of course, I will marginalized by the prevailing thought police, by not counseling Hawk armageddon but ther is always the hope that Ryan Miller will save the day!
- BattleshipKelly

I had no idea that Montador is a Al Quaeda operative. Thanks for the tip.

I'd like to see the Hawks bring up Bollig and waive Scott.
- jhawk159

This.

Why is Bickell playing ahead of Hayes ? Hayes did more in his cameo than that toothless knob has done all year. Play Bickell to showcase for a move...to where...the Toledo Walleye? FOff.

The Flyers had the right idea. SHAKE IT UP. They trade away two key pieces...Richards and Carter and they've done well.

Our Golden Domer GM says no moves are on the horizon. That's fantastic. Lose 5 straight and look like shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhit doing it and the Golden Dummy wants to stick with status quo. That approached worked wonders last year. We backed into the playoffs on the last day of the season, and then lost the first 3 straight in the playoffs.

Keith does need to go. That infinite contract is a joke. He's become complacent and his limp wristed style of play directly reflects the style of the whole organization. As we all know...WE DON'T HIT ANYBODY. Someone has a chance to cleanly STAPLE someone on the forecheck and instead they do a WEAK A SS FLYBY instead. No one wants to get their uniform dirty.

Just a shyte state of affairs and no amount of venting by me or any of us is likely to make any fargin' difference.

I'd like to see the Hawks bring up Bollig and waive Scott.
- jhawk159

Amen!

Pressure mounts, maybe Stan Bowman looks towards smoke signals in Buffalo for help.

Today's article on My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/yM7rq3
- Al

Pretty much sums it up. Good read.

Pressure mounts, maybe Stan Bowman looks towards smoke signals in Buffalo for help.

Today's article on My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/yM7rq3
- Al

al nice article
bowman should be on the hotseat for this teams makeup and if he cant use the cap space from cambell he should be fired since campbell would look pretty good in an indianhead.
stans failures can all be hidden in rockford
get some physical forwards who dont try to stick check the puck away but actually remove the body from the puck and them gain possesion

Why is Bickell playing ahead of Hayes for ? Hayes did more in his cameo than that toothless knob has done all year. Play Bickell to showcase for a move...to where...the Toledo Walleye? FOff.

The Flyers had the right idea. SHAKE IT UP. They trade away two key pieces...Richards and Carter and they've done well.

Our Golden Domer GM says no moves are on the horizon. That's fantastic. Lose 5 straight and look like shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhit doing it and the Golden Dummy wants to stick with status quo. That approached worked wonders last year. We backed into the playoffs on the last day of the season, and then lost the first 3 straight in the playoffs.

Keith does need to go. That infinite contract is a joke. He's become complacent and his limp wristed style of play directly reflects the style of the whole organization. As we all know...WE DON'T HIT ANYBODY. Someone has a chance to cleanly STAPLE someone on the forecheck and instead they do a WEAK A SS FLYBY instead. No one wants to get their uniform dirty.

Just a shyte state of affairs and no amount of venting by me or any of us is likely to make any fargin' difference.
- philco28

I don't think he needs to go, he's still a top pairing D-man. We do need to stop pretending that he's ever going to contend for a Norris ever again. Seabrook is the best Defenseman on the team, has been for well over a year now. Thank God Keith's cap friendly (relatively) cap hit didn't prevent Seabs new deal from getting done. Imagine where this team would be without #7. Scary bad.

I think it's time to start referring to our top pairing as Seabrook and Keith, not Keith and Seabrook.

I don't think he needs to go, he's still a top pairing D-man. We do need to stop pretending that he's ever going to contend for a Norris ever again. Seabrook is the best Defenseman on the team, has been for well over a year now. Thank God Keith's cap friendly (relatively) contract didn't prevent Seabs new deal from getting done. Imagine where this team would be without #7. Scary bad.

I think it's time to start referring to our top pairing as Seabrook and Keith, not Keith and Seabrook.
- Ogilthorpe2

I agree that Seabs is better and deserves top billing...but Keith, in his prime with his cap friendly contract, could fetch A LOT in return. And other than playing a ton of minutes..he doesn't hit, doesn't score much, can't hit the net much....doesn't offer much...we could dump him and get a lot in return.

Pretty much sums it up. Good read.
- Ogilthorpe2

Hell yea. I'd take Roy and Regehr . If Buffalo want to clear them out for salary reasons they'd fit in nicely with the Hawks.