That's a good idea, but first you gotta have someone near the front of the net.
- Ogilthorpe2

True and it would help immensely if we had a D corps that could get a frucking point shot through...but don't look to Keith. He couldn't hit the floor if he fell out of bed

No, but at least Havvy will keep lines together to build chemistry.
- hawks2010

I believe this is one of the biggest issues on the Hawks right now, Q's personal decisions!

True and it would help immensely if we had a D corps that could get a frucking point shot through...but don't look to Keith. He couldn't hit the floor if he fell out of bed
- philco28

Or water if he fell out of an F'ing boat. I've seen enough of Keith on the PP, he'd be better off getting some rest when the Hawks are a man up.

I believe this is one of the biggest issues on the Hawks right now, Q's personal decisions!
- hawksbuzz

I don't care what Q does on his own time, but his personnel decisions are killing this team.

Or water if he fell out of an F'ing boat. I've seen enough of Keith on the PP, he'd be better off getting some rest when the Hawks are a man up.
- Ogilthorpe2

He's been crud on the pp....great minute HOG...but soft defensively and virtually INVISIBLE on the offensive side.

Former Blackhawk head Coach Joel Quenneville. Nice.

Or, how about:

New Blackawk ambassador Joel Quenneville...that has a nice ring to it.

If worse comes to worse (it may have already) I bet Q can still skate better than Scott. Maybe he should go Reg Dunlop on us (player/coach), that way he could see from the player's perspective that his systems don't work. Maybe Q would stand up for Toews...nah, doubt it.
- Ogilthorpe2

That would be interesting, he would have to bounce himself all over the lineup, sit himself for a bad play, and eventuallly make himself a healthy scratch!

Yes. Q is more easily replaced than any player on the roster...except maybe John Scott. If you fire Q and nothing gets better, oh well there are other coaches out there. If you trade away core assets and nothing gets better...FUBAR.
- Ogilthorpe2

"It is easier to replace the coach than the players." Sports 101.

I don't care what Q does on his own time, but his personnel decisions are killing this team.
- Ogilthorpe2

My bad!

That would be interesting, he would have to bounce himself all over the lineup, sit himself for a bad play, and eventuallly make himself a healthy scratch!
- hawksbuzz

Exactly my thoughts. Don't forget he would also have to sit himself for extended periods and replace himself in the lineup with John Scott. All the while knowing that he's better than Scott and that he should have played himself.

Question: How hard would it be for player Q to get out of coach Q's dog house?

I think I may have just blown my own mind.

What an absolute nightmare scenario the Hawks are experiencing.

The teams ahead and behind keep accumulating points...Blues are shutting out the Sharks at the end of 2. Gee another stellar defensive effort by the Blues.

Kings won and have caught the Hawks @ 65 and the Yotes can hit 64 with a win tomorrow vs Nucks.

How will managment respond? That response has to be this week

What an absolute nightmare scenario the Hawks are experiencing.

The teams ahead and behind keep accumulating points...Blues are shutting out the Sharks at the end of 2. Gee another stellar defensive effort by the Blues.

Kings won and have caught the Hawks @ 65 and the Yotes can hit 64 with a win tomorrow vs Nucks.

How will managment respond? That response has to be this week
- bogiedoc

I am so torn about all of this.

On the one hand, considering the apparent state of the team now, and the miserable last 2 months, I think no likely deal will really help get to a deep playoff run, so be a semi-seller or stand pat and use the rest of he season for evaluation and planning.

On the other hand, as good as the played at various times this year - and there is something to be said for being the first team to reach 50, no matter the circumstances - plugging a couple of holes (and ending this period of disaster) might result in something at least near-special.

How will managment respond? That response has to be this week
- bogiedoc

Bogie,
They will do nothing.

Ogie's tick tock clock hands already struck midnight by the time this road trip started. We're seeing nothing new. Al has talked about this as we've all discussed before -- does Q have the right players for the system he wants to play (and clearly is forcing the players to play) -- or is Q just oblivious and it became a power struggle a long time ago???

A good/great coach works within the constraints of the talent he's got to work with.

I believe we're now seeing the fruits of this disharmony finally show up in all the L's. Players have tried (and maybe some have not believed all along) that this style was not going to work. You know, as a player, it doesn't take a genius when you're in the midst of it all to realize what you are being told to do is utter bullsh!t. But what choice do you have? You go out and try to do your job the way Q want you to play. Regardless.

Q's getting now what he deserves. The talent does not and has not fit this system. Hardheaded Q won't change. He leaves a moron in charge of special teams, his drinking buddy Kitchen. My god, I am pretty sure any of a number of guys I know could run either special team unit better.

If Q doesn't get served his walking papers before the end of this road trip, I would be very surprised. The dolts in the front office must know all is not well in paradise.

SteveRain, we're coming back 0-8-1 from this journey, just as you feared. Those elevator doors have opened and it's a one way trip to the basement . . .

Bogie,
They will do nothing.

Ogie's tick tock clock hands already struck midnight by the time this road trip started. We're seeing nothing new. Al has talked about this as we've all discussed before -- does Q have the right players for the system he wants to play (and clearly is forcing the players to play) -- or is Q just oblivious and it became a power struggle a long time ago???

A good/great coach works within the constraints of the talent he's got to work with.

I believe we're now seeing the fruits of this disharmony finally show up in all the L's. Players have tried (and maybe some have not believed all along) that this style was not going to work. You know, as a player, it doesn't take a genius when you're in the midst of it all to realize what you are being told to do is utter bullsh!t. But what choice do you have? You go out and try to do your job the way Q want you to play. Regardless.

Q's getting now what he deserves. The talent does not and has not fit this system. Hardheaded Q won't change. He leaves a moron in charge of special teams, his drinking buddy Kitchen. My god, I am pretty sure any of a number of guys I know could run either special team unit better.

If Q doesn't get served his walking papers before the end of this road trip, I would be very surprised. The dolts in the front office must know all is not well in paradise.

SteveRain, we're coming back 0-8-1 from this journey, just as you feared. Those elevator doors have opened and it's a one way trip to the basement . . .
- savvyone-1

Indeed. The alarm has been sounding for quite a while now...so far Stan has been hitting the snooze button.

Bogie,
They will do nothing.

Ogie's tick tock clock hands already struck midnight by the time this road trip started. We're seeing nothing new. Al has talked about this as we've all discussed before -- does Q have the right players for the system he wants to play (and clearly is forcing the players to play) -- or is Q just oblivious and it became a power struggle a long time ago???

A good/great coach works within the constraints of the talent he's got to work with.

I believe we're now seeing the fruits of this disharmony finally show up in all the L's. Players have tried (and maybe some have not believed all along) that this style was not going to work. You know, as a player, it doesn't take a genius when you're in the midst of it all to realize what you are being told to do is utter bullsh!t. But what choice do you have? You go out and try to do your job the way Q want you to play. Regardless.
Q's getting now what he deserves. The talent does not and has not fit this system. Hardheaded Q won't change. He leaves a moron in charge of special teams, his drinking buddy Kitchen. My god, I am pretty sure any of a number of guys I know could run either special team unit better.

If Q doesn't get served his walking papers before the end of this road trip, I would be very surprised. The dolts in the front office must know all is not well in paradise.

SteveRain, we're coming back 0-8-1 from this journey, just as you feared. Those elevator doors have opened and it's a one way trip to the basement . . .
- savvyone-1

You might be on to something here.......
It makes more and more sense now why some of the players were (brower last year)and some of them (Lapisto this year) still are not playing or being demoted to the 4th line for not following Q's sytem.

Bogie,
They will do nothing.

Ogie's tick tock clock hands already struck midnight by the time this road trip started. We're seeing nothing new. Al has talked about this as we've all discussed before -- does Q have the right players for the system he wants to play (and clearly is forcing the players to play) -- or is Q just oblivious and it became a power struggle a long time ago???

A good/great coach works within the constraints of the talent he's got to work with.

I believe we're now seeing the fruits of this disharmony finally show up in all the L's. Players have tried (and maybe some have not believed all along) that this style was not going to work. You know, as a player, it doesn't take a genius when you're in the midst of it all to realize what you are being told to do is utter bullsh!t. But what choice do you have? You go out and try to do your job the way Q want you to play. Regardless.

Q's getting now what he deserves. The talent does not and has not fit this system. Hardheaded Q won't change. He leaves a moron in charge of special teams, his drinking buddy Kitchen. My god, I am pretty sure any of a number of guys I know could run either special team unit better.

If Q doesn't get served his walking papers before the end of this road trip, I would be very surprised. The dolts in the front office must know all is not well in paradise.

SteveRain, we're coming back 0-8-1 from this journey, just as you feared. Those elevator doors have opened and it's a one way trip to the basement . . .
- savvyone-1

I don't know how they can't make moves involving the coaches.

Another shutout by the Blues vs the Sharks. Sharks didn't score in St. Louis this year. Get this stat: the Blues have allowed 1 or none in 21 of their 55 games!

They face Rinne and Lundquist in consectutive games. They don't beat Lundquist and the Rangers when they sucked. It's incredible but I am now watching these games to see how they will lose!

My god the Hawks have 10 games left with the Preds (3), Blues (4), And Wings (3). What is over under on points earned out of those 20...how about 5...6!!!

For the Hawks to be fighting teams like Calgary, Colorado, Dallas and Phoenix for a playoff spot is a complete and inexcusable WTF!!!!

I don't care what Q does on his own time, but his personnel decisions are killing this team.
- Ogilthorpe2

Early last season I said Q was ruining Brouwer by jerking him from line to line. I never thought of it in term of Frolik until JJ brought it up in the blog. Q reminds me of the college basketball coach who has to call five time outs in the last minute because the only way his team will win is with his brilliant strategy. Sometimes throwing the pucks on the ice and letting them play is needed.

One thing that needs to be asked is how close to healthy are Toews, Sharp and Hossa? If Hossa has the flu, that would explain his game on the trip thus far. If Toews and Sharp are not going to get better until the summer, anyone they bring in will fail. If the three of them will all be at full strength in a week or two, it might be a perfect time to bring in a new coach by giving him at least a prayer of succeeding.

I hate to say it but I will....congrats to the Redwheels for winning their 20th in a row at home. And this win was in regulation...how about that for once!

Not bad for a bunch of "old" guys and they continue to win with Howard out. 13 pts up on the hapless Hawks!!

Howard being out with an injury is also a big plus looking forward...he gets a break/rest after Babcock was riding him way to much and they still keep winning.

I hate to say it but I will....congrats to the Redwheels for winning their 20th in a row at home. And this win was in regulation...how about that for once!

Not bad for a bunch of "old" guys and they continue to win with Howard out. 13 pts up on the hapless Hawks!!

Howard being out with an injury is also a big plus looking forward...he gets a break/rest after Babcock was riding him way to much and they still keep winning.
- bogiedoc

I'll congratulate the Wings only because they didnt let the Flyers, who I hate, break the streak...

One thing that needs to be asked is how close to healthy are Toews, Sharp and Hossa? If Hossa has the flu, that would explain his game on the trip thus far. If Toews and Sharp are not going to get better until the summer, anyone they bring in will fail. If the three of them will all be at full strength in a week or two, it might be a perfect time to bring in a new coach by giving him at least a prayer of succeeding.
- NewToHockey

They say Sharp is looking at surgery after the season on his wrist. If that is hurting him or his play I don't see it. His shot looks ok to me. Had a bullit on net that went off of Smiths cranium....of course!

I see no evidence of him favoring or showing any discomfort.

Hossa...yeah...maybe he was playing sick. He was a ghost out there vs Sharks and Coyotes!

Toews, who knows, the frustration and anger is written all over him during the last 2 games. Man does he play hard. He suspect he might be trying to hard and forcing the issue...but hey when the wheels, the axles and struts come off....what are you going to do!!

I'll congratulate the Wings only because they didnt let the Flyers, who I hate, break the streak...
- Glenman12

fair enough....

They say Sharp is looking at surgery after the season on his wrist. If that is hurting him or his play I don't see it. His shot looks ok to me. Had a bullit on net that went off of Smiths cranium....of course!

I see no evidence of him favoring or showing any discomfort.

Hossa...yeah...maybe he was playing sick. He was a ghost out there vs Sharks and Coyotes!

Toews, who knows, the frustration and anger is written all over him during the last 2 games. Man does he play hard. He suspect he might be trying to hard and forcing the issue...but hey when the wheels, the axles and struts come off....what are you going to do!!
- bogiedoc

Hossa and Toews - neither seems to be able to dominate the puck as they usually do

Just an aside:

Rolling In The Deep - best song of the last 20 years.

Organizational cultures start from the top and continue throughout the organization. Heard from a source that McD is a yeller and screamer. When he took over he made all vendors and personal jump through hoops and in the end he picked his friends. I find it shameful that McD has so much influence over Rocky and the Hawks organization is turning into the Cubs. McD wants to control everybody and he is tearing this team apart from top to bottom. There are to many layers to get to the top and McD is in over his head when it comes to running a hockey team. I know many people think he has done a good job or some great marketing wiz, but when one is given an unlimited budget marketing becomes a lot easier. Rocky if you are reading . . . .please please let McD go and get rid of all the red tape and you will see the Hawks rise to greatness again. Let the GM's make decisions, let the coaches coach and the players play.

Kitchen has one job and its the PP. and what a solid PP it has been, but the time is now to get rid of him. I think the guys are playing tired. Last years team was better and never gave up.