Thanks for responding. Just remember someone saying JT was weak or soft or something. Can't believe Keith has topped out. He's still in his prime with a ton more experience. That has to make a player better doesn't it?
JJ, do you think there's anything to the theory that some players/teams win the cup too early? These teams/players don't realize the sacrifice it takes to win it all. Someone brought this up in the Nuck tread. Thought it was interesting...
- bloatedmosquito

This is why Lu for Keith is a good deal. Lu has rode the wave and is out of his funk now . He has matured . Both have similar contracts for term and salary . Chi needs goaltending ,we need D .A marriage made in heaven.

Thanks for responding. Just remember someone saying JT was weak or soft or something. Can't believe Keith has topped out. He's still in his prime with a ton more experience. That has to make a player better doesn't it?
JJ, do you think there's anything to the theory that some players/teams win the cup too early? These teams/players don't realize the sacrifice it takes to win it all. Someone brought this up in the Nuck tread. Thought it was interesting...
- bloatedmosquito

Interesting question....when 08-09 Hawks got past the Flames and then upset your guys in 6 but lost to the wings in WC finals. There was alot of talk that this team was a couple years early. Toews and Kane were 20 year olds and the rest of the team other than the goalies and Cambell were in their early to mid 20's. A quick/fast puck possession/moving team. They really came together the following year as Tallon was able to sign 1b and 2a type players to big contracts cuz Toews and Kane were still on rookie contracts.

Anyway I don't think any team can win to early....and I don't thinkcurrent struggles have anything to do with resting on that cup win from 2 years ago.

Wild make a lot of sense.

Brodziak, Harding, Zanon, Lundin even Zidlicky
- Sharktank45

Wont happen.

Thanks for responding. Just remember someone saying JT was weak or soft or something. Can't believe Keith has topped out. He's still in his prime with a ton more experience. That has to make a player better doesn't it?
JJ, do you think there's anything to the theory that some players/teams win the cup too early? These teams/players don't realize the sacrifice it takes to win it all. Someone brought this up in the Nuck tread. Thought it was interesting...
- bloatedmosquito

Yep

My brother and I noticed yesterday on the PP, the Hawks were all just standing around playing catch with the puck. There is no movement, no interchanging of positions. When the players don't move, the D doesn't have to and as such there is no shooting OR passing lanes through the box, because they can just stay compact and not be harmed on anything. I think that getting these guys moving and changing positions AND as Steve Konroyd said...start getting shots from all angles. Tell Patrick Kane to just start ripping them off the halfboard and get two-three people crashing the net. You HAVE to soften up that box, you HAVE to move to draw D-men out of position. The way their PP is playing a PK including a Sunday afternoon rec-league player could keep them below 20%.

Just think about all the best opportunities on the PP around the league It starts with 1 guy getting drawn out of position. Because then players have to move to cover passes through the box, which generates shooting lanes from the point. OR they allow the pass through the box to prevent the point shot and you get an open half of a net to shoot at. Really just stagnant and stale is the best way to describe their PP. Because it isn't entries. They get set up plenty by winning draws and on occasiong get a good entry. It is what they do after setting up that is killing them.
- anawrocki

Yes

OK, what's your solution?

Sometimes it's not about the message, or even the relative tone of the message, but just a fresh voice and a fresh perspective.

I am a fan of Haviland. And I don't presume to know the answer to this, but it seems to me that a fresh voice and a fresh perspective might be the only hope here, unless Quennevile, by himself or together with Kitchen has become really clearly the problem. And thus Haviland as head coach would be a fresh voice and perspective.
- John Jaeckel

JJ, if the Hawks can't fill needs through pre-trade acquisitions (a long shot), I'd hope they trade some dead weight (we know who they are) for picks and do a little selling in a reportedly deep draft year & bring up a little toughness/grit from Rockford. It'd be a bit of an audition, but might also keep JT & other core guys out of the hospital before the season ends. Besides, the two grinders might end up being a shot in the arm and actually help, since this mostly perimeter team usually avoids the other team's net...and wonders why they don't score.

Kitchen at a minimum needs to be replaced with a competent assistant, though at this point I'm not opposed to Q moving on if the patient doesn't get a pulse in the next couple of games. SB better get it right this offseason or he moves on (perhaps Dudley next).

Can't comment much on the front office, but it does seem overly top heavy for a healthy decision-making organization.