The other three? Are two of them in your division?
- bloatedmosquito

Hitchcock, Babcock & Bylsma IMO.

The person responsible for the big decisions understands what losing means and how it effects the bottom line....season tix sales., media interest, mercahndising sales, ad revenue etc...

Rocky won't waite too lonf but the issue might be avoiding another miistake/mistakes due to acting quickly out of desperation.
- Al

Spot on Al,

Obviously there are big problems, but moving too quickly or making a panic move is not the answer. But Rocky is no fool, just look at the transformation this team has had since he took over. Things will change, it's the nature of the business, and let's hope Rocky and Co. make the correct decisions moving forward.

Hitchcock, Babcock & Bylsma IMO.
- blackhawk24

Should be Hitchcock, Babcock & Bylsma, LLC - a law firm.

Spot on Al,

Obviously there are big problems, but moving too quickly or making a panic move is not the answer. But Rocky is no fool, just look at the transformation this team has had since he took over. Things will change, it's the nature of the business, and let's hope Rocky and Co. make the correct decisions moving forward.
- ArlingtonRob

Don't get me wrong. I'm not sure what the right move is.

At the same time, I have a feeling what the next move is. I don't think they feel they can afford to stand pat very long, if at all.

Should be Hitchcock, Babcock & Bylsma, LLC - a law firm.
- StLBravesFan

Babcock, Trotz, Tippett, Julien.

Babcock, Trotz, Tippett, Julien.
- John Jaeckel

Accounting firm....

JJ - you think they'd can Havalind too? Some think that they, and the league are high on him, so therefore he'd stick around and be the coach at least thru end of yr. But maybe he can't give the independent assessment you were talking of.

I agree with you. Given that this can't be fixed with a deadline deal or two, maybe you make a coaching change, don't do anything desperate trade-wise and assess where you are at. Then make changes via trade at the draft, etc.
- Dino_Sucks

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

Spot on Al,

Obviously there are big problems, but moving too quickly or making a panic move is not the answer. But Rocky is no fool, just look at the transformation this team has had since he took over. Things will change, it's the nature of the business, and let's hope Rocky and Co. make the correct decisions moving forward.
- ArlingtonRob

Rocky gets too much credit for the on ice turnaround IMO. If anything, he was the beneficiary of what had been building up just before the old man died.

Also IMO, McDonough is to blame for much of this mess. I've been told before, by someone who has worked for McDonough, that he is an arse to work for, and doesn't want strong personalities working for him. Tallon took the fall for the whole RFA disaster, but I find it difficult to believe that he would be the one sending those faxes. Wouldn't it be the contract/cap guy, who I believe was StanBo. Also, would would they not have looked at a successful guy like Rick Dudley to take over Tallon's job? He has quite the resume. Unless McDonough just conspired, as so I've been told, to consolidate power by putting Scottie's boy in power, and moving out a couple of strong personalities in Dudley and Tallon.

I'm not saying Tallon didn't screw up by going over the cap, but he was largely responsible for that cup.

Also, I'd rather they not do a darn thing, if they're just going to vastly overpay for a rental. They could have had a guy like Nabakov a few months ago, but its too late now. This team is done for this year. Sure, they might make the playoffs, but does anything think they're any better than even last year's team?

Q needs to go (and Kitchen), and I like Q, but this team is dead. I'd give Haviland a shot through the end of the year. No need to make panic deals if you're gonna get screwed.

Of course I'd also launch Stan, or move him to a different position, regardless if Scotty would leave because of it. Stan has shown me nothing so far, and between him and Q, what good moves have come from this marriage? The Brouwer trade still pisses me off. A guy with 200 plus hits per year, 20 goals a year, and low penalty minutes, at a reasonable salary. Just the type of guy they're trying to get now, and whom they'll greatly overpay, on an expiring contract no less.

They don't need to blow up the team, but they will have to make some tough decisions.

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

I think you're my hockeybuzz soul mate

I've had this very same argument with a bud of mine, who drinks that kool aid regularly.

I'd post more, but more earlier post is a short novel of my frustration and the bs going on. Would rather they not make any panic moves and overspend, ride out the season, playoffs or not, and trade in a more fair market during the off season. This team is going nowhere, so why overspend.

As far as Crawford, I had this discussion with a relative of my over Turkey day. His glove is terrible, he's slow post to post, and gets stuck out of position. As you said, let everyone remember that he wasn't all that great in the AHL. He did have a really good season last year, and I'm not saying I'd want to trade him right away due to his youth, but I'd definitely shop for a starting goaltender.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not sure what the right move is.

At the same time, I have a feeling what the next move is. I don't think they feel they can afford to stand pat very long, if at all.
- John Jaeckel

I think we should have woken up to the Headline that "Blackhawks shave the 'stache - Coach Q and Kitchen fired, Torch brought in as head coach with Haviland and Savard as assistants." This team has quit on Q. 5 points from being out of the playoff picture and players need to learn a new system with a new coach. Kudos to Toews. He is obviously playing hurt. Kane seems to be a mightier than thou distraction and would fetch a nice package in return. Toews, Shaw, Bolland, Seabrook, and Hossa are my untouchables. I am close to jumping on the bandwagon that the Hawks should become sellers. If Q stays the coach...sell, sell, sell while it is a sellers market.

You need help. Ask bogiedoc how to respond to a legitimate question. He might be able to tutor you after school.
- bloatedmosquito

Unfortunately, every fan base has their meat heads.

Dave Tippet is one of the top four coaches in the game in IMO.....
- Al

It's a shame that team and coach are wasted in that market. They only time they draw is when they play Detroit, Hawks, or another team with lots of cold weather transplants.

What a shame, as that team plays well for Tippet.

Rocky gets too much credit for the on ice turnaround IMO. If anything, he was the beneficiary of what had been building up just before the old man died.

Also IMO, McDonough is to blame for much of this mess. I've been told before, by someone who has worked for McDonough, that he is an arse to work for, and doesn't want strong personalities working for him. Tallon took the fall for the whole RFA disaster, but I find it difficult to believe that he would be the one sending those faxes. Wouldn't it be the contract/cap guy, who I believe was StanBo. Also, would would they not have looked at a successful guy like Rick Dudley to take over Tallon's job? He has quite the resume. Unless McDonough just conspired, as so I've been told, to consolidate power by putting Scottie's boy in power, and moving out a couple of strong personalities in Dudley and Tallon.

I'm not saying Tallon didn't screw up by going over the cap, but he was largely responsible for that cup.

Also, I'd rather they not do a darn thing, if they're just going to vastly overpay for a rental. They could have had a guy like Nabakov a few months ago, but its too late now. This team is done for this year. Sure, they might make the playoffs, but does anything think they're any better than even last year's team?

Q needs to go (and Kitchen), and I like Q, but this team is dead. I'd give Haviland a shot through the end of the year. No need to make panic deals if you're gonna get screwed.

Of course I'd also launch Stan, or move him to a different position, regardless if Scotty would leave because of it. Stan has shown me nothing so far, and between him and Q, what good moves have come from this marriage? The Brouwer trade still pisses me off. A guy with 200 plus hits per year, 20 goals a year, and low penalty minutes, at a reasonable salary. Just the type of guy they're trying to get now, and whom they'll greatly overpay, on an expiring contract no less.

They don't need to blow up the team, but they will have to make some tough decisions.
- howiehandles

Yup, Q needs to go. It's going on two years now and we have seen nothing in the way of improved play from this team. His constant herking and jerking the lower tier players around has ruined them and the "star" treatment to managements beloved "core" seems to escape this wrath. This certainly does not promote a healthy atmosphere in the club house. You can blame Stan too, but he's not going anywhere without a chance to right the listing ship. His only option is going to be to can Q.

Here's a link to an interview with Peter Chiarelli. Not much going to happen at TD according to him.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam.../2012/02/12/19370346.html

So Stan's options to improve this team by trade, even though that really isn't going to solve anything, are slim to none. So, whether you think he should go or not, the only thing SB can do to lite a fire is can the coach.

First time poster, and a couple year reader. I have always enjoyed reading your blogs John. I enjoy the points here too.....I agree with some, and others not so much.....You'll see where I sit when it comes to this..

I started reading back before the trade deadline of 2010. At that point I could tell the Hawks were going to win the cup, and that was since the 2009 playoffs. You could see it and feel it. I started reading here when everyone (myself included) thought the Hawks needed more than Niemi in net...That seemed to be the only concern, as the rest of the team had heart, grit, energy, and enjoyed playing together....Them's were some good days.

A few weeks ago it seemed like trading for one or two players was enough to boost the Hawks to cup contention, now it seems like a whole lot more.

I've never cared for Leddy. I see him make mistake after mistake. I have a hard time seeing his potential like most people on here. If I'm mistaken, then great. Next is Patrick Kane. Trade him and you can probably get a couple solid players in return. You'd get more for him than Sharp. What I see from Kane is lazy effort almost 100% of the time. I also question him in the lockeroom. I could see a Heatley there. I could be wrong here too, but his effort lacks and it seems to spread to others on the team. Crawford is not a number one goaltender. That was apparent three years ago. Get rid of him too.

The team is scouted. Then beaten. Where is creativity and above all else, the hitting?? Keith is a shell of his former self, and Toews has had it with the way the team is playing. He's not going to be pushed around, and he's pushing back.....In the last couple of games anyway. Why does Keith have an 'A' and Seabrook doesn't?? Bizarre.

Watching the Hawks of last night is like watching the Hawks at the start of the season, or in the middle of last season. They go through the same motions with little to no success. Watch Kane for a few games, and you'll see him skate the same paths, then shoot and miss high. The power play is the exact same, where is the creativity?? What needs to be done??

Get rid of Kitchen. Why have a Toronto Maple Leaf guy?? Bowman was put into a hard situation, and hasn't handled it well. He needs some schooling and unfortunately at the Hawks expense he's getting it. Coach 'Q' was a great addition at first, or so it seemed, but I think anyone could have coached the 2009/2010 Hawks to a cup. Has he ever had the team buy in, or was he fortunate because of circumstance?? Get rid of him. Overall there is something a miss in that lockeroom and we see it simmer on the ice. The team has no identity at this point, and to hear Chelsea Dagger play sounds like an insult to the cup team. Lose that song because it sounds tired now.

In the end, this team has fallen from grace. Tallon should still be in Chicago, if anything to fix the mess he created. But in all that mess he created a Cup winner. That should have meant more than the door.

Ohh and Bickell sucks. Get rid of him.

I haven't added much to what's been said on here. Pretty much another post that's been said before, but hey, it's my first. Go Hawks, get some heart!!
- _diatribe_

welcome
i totally agree with you
i would love to see what the hawks could get for kane
i have no proof but i picture his behavior being a problem in the locker room
good time kane does not pay well when the team is struggling
trade guys that you can and bring up the beef from rockford

Also IMO, McDonough is to blame for much of this mess. I've been told before, by someone who has worked for McDonough, that he is an arse to work for, and doesn't want strong personalities working for him. Tallon took the fall for the whole RFA disaster, but I find it difficult to believe that he would be the one sending those faxes. Wouldn't it be the contract/cap guy, who I believe was StanBo. Also, would would they not have looked at a successful guy like Rick Dudley to take over Tallon's job? He has quite the resume. Unless McDonough just conspired, as so I've been told, to consolidate power by putting Scottie's boy in power, and moving out a couple of strong personalities in Dudley and Tallon.

I'm not saying Tallon didn't screw up by going over the cap, but he was largely responsible for that cup.

nice analysis
i just dot see the season turning around with the lack of heart on the team
if its a sellers market i say sell but i would also like tallon or dudley making the decisions

when the bid to offer is so far apart for players i dont think we will see alot of movement untill a few days before the deadline or even possibly a few hours before the deadline