Nabakov rumors are coming from Blackhawks side, not from Isles.
If we dont make a run within 2 weeks, Nabakov will be dealt, an your team wants him badly. He's playing lights out, an honestly, i would deal him instead of trying to make a playoff run.
Also whats going on with Kane, why the lack of regression or just problems going on. Any truth to the rumor of him an Teows not getting along, or just b.s. thrown out there. thanks, an good luck..............

This organization continues to operate under the insanity belief....that the same group of players, systems, will lead to different results.

Well, it hasn't worked for the past 2 years, and we were promised a "tougher" team, and utilizing cap space to fix in season holes...Well, neither has happened.

Fact is, this is THE Corey Crawford that got passed by in the organizational depth charts by Khabibulin, Patrick Lalime, Niemi, Huet, Turco, etc.....He's mentally soft and can't shake off a bad goal against. This whole slide started when he let in a 100+ footer against Nashville a few weeks back, and he hasn't recovered since.

The D is a joke. EVeryone is at fault. Keith, Leddy seem to make more glaring mistakes then Seabrook, but it's just a matter of WHEN not IF this defense costs this team.

Throw in that your 2 point guys are ass tired, beat up from carrying this team the 1st 50 games, and now thsi team can't score...because....again.....NO DEPTH. All Bowman's great adds are just that....all talk. Stalberg is Versteeg. Skilled, but absolutely moronic in his own zone. Frolik? Time to go...starts on the 1st line, and finds himself scratched the next night. Not a coincidence. That ship has sailed, this team needs more then just a guy "trying hard".

This team has quit, and honestly, as much as I love playoff hockey...maybe the only way THEY actually change their approach is when they miss the playoffs, and have to REFUND all that playoff money that they just collected, including mine.

I said a few backs, this road trip would kill them...Their on the verge of fallling into 7th, and soon 8th. OTher teams are ramping up and the Hawks are regressing. A 0-8-1 road trip is VERY REALISTIC and before I got bombarded by the pom-pom waiving kool aid drinkers....you tell me what reason I shoudl have to think anything different based on what we've seen....
- SteveRain

Columbus has won 3 of their last 4.

Been waiting for this blog all morning. The game thread from last night was brutal. You all should be ashamed of yourselves.
- bloatedmosquito

We should be ashamed? Just exactly what happened in Vancouver last June???

Nabakov rumors are coming from Blackhawks side, not from Isles.
If we dont make a run within 2 weeks, Nabakov will be dealt, an your team wants him badly. He's playing lights out, an honestly, i would deal him instead of trying to make a playoff run.
Also whats going on with Kane, why the lack of regression or just problems going on. Any truth to the rumor of him an Teows not getting along, or just b.s. thrown out there. thanks, an good luck..............
- Ur Not Me

They are coming from third parties.

Kane has allegedly been pouty over moves back and forth from center to wing. He and Toews are not the "pals" they have been promoted as. Different personalities.

Yeah...we'll take a guy that's been fired twice in 4 years
- philco28

lol, it's 8 years. Carolina is a garbage team, their record is no better now, than it would have been with him. That team lost it's spunk after that conference final run, which was the season he took over for Laviolette. After that season, Seidenberg and Babchuk were both let walk, big mistake on their part.

Columbus has won 3 of their last 4.
- John Jaeckel

more importantly...what will it take for any sign of a pulse from the tower? Losing streak, injuries....and all we hear is excuses from a guy who's underqualified to be a GM.

If this organization doesn't care, why should we?

lol, it's 8 years. Carolina is a garbage team, their record is no better now, than it would have been with him. That team lost it's spunk after that conference final run, which was the season he took over for Laviolette. After that season, Seidenberg and Babchuk were both let walk, big mistake on their part.
- snipesydangle

You're math is off bro...

Maurice was fired by the Leafs on May 7th, 2008

and by Carolina FOR THE 2ND TIME on Nov. 29th, 2011

This organization continues to operate under the insanity belief....that the same group of players, systems, will lead to different results.

Well, it hasn't worked for the past 2 years, and we were promised a "tougher" team, and utilizing cap space to fix in season holes...Well, neither has happened.

Fact is, this is THE Corey Crawford that got passed by in the organizational depth charts by Khabibulin, Patrick Lalime, Niemi, Huet, Turco, etc.....He's mentally soft and can't shake off a bad goal against. This whole slide started when he let in a 100+ footer against Nashville a few weeks back, and he hasn't recovered since.

The D is a joke. EVeryone is at fault. Keith, Leddy seem to make more glaring mistakes then Seabrook, but it's just a matter of WHEN not IF this defense costs this team.

Throw in that your 2 point guys are ass tired, beat up from carrying this team the 1st 50 games, and now thsi team can't score...because....again.....NO DEPTH. All Bowman's great adds are just that....all talk. Stalberg is Versteeg. Skilled, but absolutely moronic in his own zone. Frolik? Time to go...starts on the 1st line, and finds himself scratched the next night. Not a coincidence. That ship has sailed, this team needs more then just a guy "trying hard".

This team has quit, and honestly, as much as I love playoff hockey...maybe the only way THEY actually change their approach is when they miss the playoffs, and have to REFUND all that playoff money that they just collected, including mine.

I said a few backs, this road trip would kill them...Their on the verge of fallling into 7th, and soon 8th. OTher teams are ramping up and the Hawks are regressing. A 0-8-1 road trip is VERY REALISTIC and before I got bombarded by the pom-pom waiving kool aid drinkers....you tell me what reason I shoudl have to think anything different based on what we've seen....
- SteveRain

Key to your whole post is missing the playoffs & the millions of revenue....! That should make Rocky good and ...

Hey JJ I enjoy reading your stuff.

Is the current situation really just Cap Purgatory for making the deal with The Devil 2 yrs ago? They put together a juggernaut to win the Cup knowing full well they couldn't keep it together. It really is a case study of needing consistency up and down a lineup to be successful.

An 8 game slide will make every wart look like K2 but other than the goalie worries is the team really that awful?

more importantly...what will it take for any sign of a pulse from the tower? Losing streak, injuries....and all we hear is excuses from a guy who's underqualified to be a GM.

If this organization doesn't care, why should we?
- SteveRain

Lack of clear leadership within the organization.

There is obvioulsy more to this than any of us will ever know, but is this not simply a result of the entire season? Many of us said that this team was not nearly as good as their record indicated well before Christmas. Even Toews is not himself! Whether their is internal strife in that dressing room or not Q has to go. He has done nothing to adapt to what he has for players and every other team in the league knows how to be successful in playing the Hawks. Consistently juggling the lines doesn't cut it. I originally gave Bowman a pass, (and still wonder if he actually is making the decisions) however, he trades for Brendan Morrision who after four games becomes a healthy scratch. And he still doesn't have a point! By trade deadline day the Hawks very realistically could be sellers.

Sutton close to signing an extension in Edmonton. Hawks were clos eon him but it looks like the possible re-up was the holdup.

Gill, Nabokov and Ruutu would be fine for a start, but the price is higher than the Hawks can pay without cutting into the core.
- John Jaeckel

So many teams are interested in those two names .Do you really wnt to give up two first rounders for a rental. I think you will need to be dealing with Wash Tor Ott Wpg. Teams from the other conference in the 7 to 10 slots that are looking to make the playoffs also who need parts.Some one last night mentioned a trade with Minny.Why would Minny LA Nash Col make deals with the Hawks to improve them when they are competing for a playoff spot against them?

PS I know it wasn't JJ that suggested this.I just commenting on his post instead of the original

Lack of clear leadership within the organization.
- John Jaeckel

I love Tazer....LOVE HIM...but he's got to bulk up a bit, learn how to throw an elbow and a right hand....OR the opponents have found a key way to neutralize him and that is by targeting him physically. It's now incumbent upon Johnny to add a physical presence to his game.

Earlier today i suggested Randy Carlyle as a new head coach either now or in the offseason. He knows how to coach defense and play tough and has Cup experience.

Hey JJ I enjoy reading your stuff.

Is the current situation really just Cap Purgatory for making the deal with The Devil 2 yrs ago? They put together a juggernaut to win the Cup knowing full well they couldn't keep it together. It really is a case study of needing consistency up and down a lineup to be successful.

An 8 game slide will make every wart look like K2 but other than the goalie worries is the team really that awful?
- coaster28

Hey Pal,

SOME of this for sure can be traced to the 2010 cap issue. But the cards could have been played differently since then.

It came down to less than a million dollars in keeping or losing Niemi. They didn't plan apparently, for the possibility of Toews (or Kane) winning the Smythe and the bonus triggered— in contracts the Hawks wrote.

There's blood on a lot of hands.

The mistakes also include elevating Jack Skille last season, which hurt on and off the ice.

When I allude to "sacred cows," it includes a core player (or two or three) whose net impact on the team might be negative—although the team invests millions (literally) beyond their salaries in marketing them as "good guys" and "winners."

The decision-making process is broken. The evidence speaks volumes.

Earlier today i suggested Randy Carlyle as a new head coach either now or in the offseason. He knows how to coach defense and play tough and has Cup experience.
- golfbard

This is interesting.

They are coming from third parties.

Kane has allegedly been pouty over moves back and forth from center to wing. He and Toews are not the "pals" they have been promoted as. Different personalities.
- John Jaeckel

Question JJ, in your opinion, do u feel the Hawks are tied up with too much salary to improve other areas of the team? Or the lack of depth the organization didnt realize to improve?

This is interesting.
- John Jaeckel

Saw simething this am where he said hes ready to get back into coaching and has taken some time to work on personal approach to players or something. Rregardless i read thoufht not only the timing of these public statements was interesting but what about giving him a shot?

nice writeup jj
i said yesterday they need to bring up any grit they have in the organization and tell the guys to hit anything and try to engage in fights
the opposition is bit$h slapping our core players and there is no one coming to their defense
froelic after he stood there and watch his captain get mugged the other night in my eyes proves he has not heart and is a bad teammate

i also think this season is lost but a new goalie is needed. ours are so slow go post to post it embarrassing
i think if we swiched goalies last night we win

A few years back Pittsburgh fired their coach mid-season after a lengthy losing streak and hired Dan Bylsma,that worked out out ok for them.Consistency with the lines has to be first and foremost with a new coach,the player look lost out their trying to figure out who they are playing with(from shift to shift).STOP the drop pass coming out of our end,every body knows that is what our defense is going to do.

So annoyed
So annoyed
so annoyed
so annoyed

>>>Finally, Rocky Wirtz, perhaps with Scotty Bowman on permanent speed dial, needs to take a long look at this entire organization. Because the Hawks themselves have gone to great lengths to call their recent successes "organizational." And the other side of that coin, the other direction that knife cuts, is that this failure is also organizational.

Give that man a cigar......

We should be ashamed? Just exactly what happened in Vancouver last June???
- blackhawk24

We didn't win the cup.

Go after Toews, gum up the neutral zone, force them to the perimeter. And the Hawks have no answer.
- John Jaeckel

And wait for inevitable Hawk mistakes and attack.

Been waiting for this blog all morning. The game thread from last night was brutal. You all should be ashamed of yourselves.
- bloatedmosquito

What was so brutal..all the "brutality" currently on display each Hawk game!