Who really is in charge of the Chicago Blackhawks? Rocky is up poop creek without a paddle. Unfortunately the Stanley Cup win allowed some already big egos to grow to the size of the United Center. John McDonough has always been cocky, as he knew he was very good at what he did, as he could get 40,000 + to come to Wrigley Field every day to watch a last place team and enjoy America's biggest beer garden. Once he finally won something as he did with the Hawks in 2010, you should have known that in his mind he was the reason why the Hawks turned things around with his marketing and making the Hawks a relevant team with all his gimicky ideas. Excuse me John, but the product on the ice won, not the gimicks. Coach Q quickly became a coaching icon, as he was being compared to Mike Ditka for his tough style, moustache, and unique personality. Q has not even been close to the same coach as he was since his first 2 years here. Yes, the product has not been as good, but he has backed off, guys are not held as accountable as they were at first. Hey Q remember when you benched Sharp and Kane at Phoenix one night......just reminding you buddy. I really think Q got the feeling that he was better at coaching than he really was as well. The Bowmans got their way as Tallon was shown the door for overspending and putting the Hawks in a terrible situation cap wise. I will say this, Tallon offered those contracts, but you cannot tell me that everybody else was blind to this. They knew the offers and they could have said no, but the Hawks were the little media darlings of the NHL, and the brighest young team in the NHL. I think Tallon screwed up, but others did as well. Bowman had to get the Hawks out of a salary cap mess, and he did so at an awful price, as just about half of the Stanley Cup roster was turned over. However, ever since then since the Hawks have had cap space they have not been able to lure any quality players to Chicago. Unless of course you are in love with Oduya and Campoli. Exactly, you got my point. Bowman has been way too conservative, but he and daddy are never wrong, and that family's egos have always been huge as well. As for the players, we still have a tremendous core, but some of them (Kane and Keith) have not been the same since winning the Cup. They have not worked as hard to stay dominant. Toews and Seabrook, no complaints, those boys bring it every night and do their best. Hossa is a stud.......when healthy, but wear and tear is catching up with #81. I do like Sharp as well, but I do think Team Management has overrated him. Just maybe, this core is not as good as it is stacked up to be and the spare parts of what is needed to help all teams win is obviously not good enough either. Time for the Chicago Blackhawks to get off of their high horses, and realize that something is not right here, and I am sorry I have said it all summer, the Stanley Cup sure seems like a long, long time ago.

Really?! You know the man well enough to suggest megalomania caused this hire?

I have no idea what the relationship is between Barry Smith and Q, and I bet you don't either.

Does Smith even want to get behind a bench again? No clue...

If Smith and Q have problems, why do they work for the same organization? No clue...

Would Smith be the answer to all that ails the Hawks PP? No clue...

I just refuse to get bent out of shape about the hire of an assistant coach...and my complaints will come AFTER he fails.
- ArlingtonRob

Smith was on ice for one practice working on the PP. Immediately after the PP improved for a few games. Then they went back to the predictable way they played it all year.

Smith was on ice for one practice working on the PP. Immediately after the PP improved for a few games. Then they went back to the predictable way they played it all year.
- NewToHockey

I believe Q asked management to keep Smith off the ice just before the playoffs, if I'm not mistaken.

How is the hiring of an assistant a sign that we are screwed...

...sure Q knows him, why is that a problem?

...the guy just got a ring, why is that a problem?

Why would Haviland be laughing? Has he even found another job yet?

Relax Eli...

I would think we need to actually watch the team play to see how this plays out. Getting upset about the hiring of an assistant...a guy who just got a ring...is ridiculous.
- ArlingtonRob

(frank)ing Eddie Curry just got a ring. Your argument holds no water.

While I am frustrated by some of Stan's moves (or lack thereof) I don't think things are as bad a lot of fan are expressing on this (and other) board.

At forward having Sharp, Hossa, Toews and Kane is pretty damn good. I know their games aren't perfect but there aren't too many teams with a better top 4. We have one of the best 3rd line centres in the game in Bolland and the future for Shaw looks pretty good. Sure, the quality of our depth isn't like the 2009/2010 team but it's still good.

On defense I don't think there's a better combo than Keith and Seabrook. Leddy is a decent 2nd pairing puck moving defenseman and Oduya did pretty well for us.

Goaltending needs to improve, but Crawford has shown he can play at a much higher level than last season. But the jury is still out on if he'll rebound. As far as back-ups Emery is a decent as they come.

Prospects - we have a good pool of prospects. They all won't be superstars but we should have a 2-3 solid contributors in the next couple of years.

The only area that really concerns me is the GM position. Stan has only made the moves he's been forced to (i.e. the purge) or made minor deals with former Blackhawk employees. We need a solid hockey mind in charge of the daily operations of the team, and that's not Stan. I've been reserving judgment on Stan for a while now, but he needs to go. Stan's lack of action is hurting the quality players we do have and we need a GM who'll get proper support for the likes of Toews, Kane, Sharp etc.

I think going public with the "core players" concept was a blunder too. I don't mind the Hawks having this concept behind the scenes, but don't make it public. People wonder why players like Frolik under perform - how would you feel working in an environment where it's public knowledge you're a 2nd class employee. I know I wouldn't be too motivated.

It's time for Stan to go.

[quote=Dannyboy](frank)ing Eddie Curry just got a ring. Your argument holds no water.


F u c k ing Colin "Please Punch me in the face" Fraser has two rings !!!! He still sucks at hockey !!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSggt2fPqM0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQn_g2VIMRI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTD9BQcqDCs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdAz8GwyF3s

I believe Q asked management to keep Smith off the ice just before the playoffs, if I'm not mistaken.
- EKolb13

Rob had said we didn't know if Smith would have a positive effect on the PP. I was just pointing out we had evidence that he at least made it look better.

While I am frustrated by some of Stan's moves (or lack thereof) I don't think things are as bad a lot of fan are expressing on this (and other) board.

At forward having Sharp, Hossa, Toews and Kane is pretty damn good. I know their games aren't perfect but there aren't too many teams with a better top 4. We have one of the best 3rd line centres in the game in Bolland and the future for Shaw looks pretty good. Sure, the quality of our depth isn't like the 2009/2010 team but it's still good.

On defense I don't think there's a better combo than Keith and Seabrook. Leddy is a decent 2nd pairing puck moving defenseman and Oduya did pretty well for us.

Goaltending needs to improve, but Crawford has shown he can play at a much higher level than last season. But the jury is still out on if he'll rebound. As far as back-ups Emery is a decent as they come.

Prospects - we have a good pool of prospects. They all won't be superstars but we should have a 2-3 solid contributors in the next couple of years.

The only area that really concerns me is the GM position. Stan has only made the moves he's been forced to (i.e. the purge) or made minor deals with former Blackhawk employees. We need a solid hockey mind in charge of the daily operations of the team, and that's not Stan. I've been reserving judgment on Stan for a while now, but he needs to go. Stan's lack of action is hurting the quality players we do have and we need a GM who'll get proper support for the likes of Toews, Kane, Sharp etc.

I think going public with the "core players" concept was a blunder too. I don't mind the Hawks having this concept behind the scenes, but don't make it public. People wonder why players like Frolik under perform - how would you feel working in an environment where it's public knowledge you're a 2nd class employee. I know I wouldn't be too motivated.

It's time for Stan to go.
- DarthKane

I think that's a fair criticism but let's be real here, nobody is surprised at who the Hawks' "core" is, it's like saying back in the day, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Horace Grant was the Bulls' "core", and you wouldn't want to play with them? If you are a player that can accept a role (like Rodman, Paxson, Kerr, Kukoc, etc) did, then you could be part of a great team. If you're looking for more, you're not going to get it.

Rob had said we didn't know if Smith would have a positive effect on the PP. I was just pointing out we had evidence that he at least made it look better.
- NewToHockey

I totally understood that. I was just trying to point out that when someone other than Q or his people got something working right, Q got rid of it. I was just pointing to Q's poor decision making.

Rob had said we didn't know if Smith would have a positive effect on the PP. I was just pointing out we had evidence that he at least made it look better.
- NewToHockey

I dont understand why the PP is so difficult to run ?? Please explain this to me ?? Is the system really that important ?? WHy cant the Hawks (with their skill) play straight up and simply use the extra player to keep the puck possession longer ?? All the "set up " bull s h i t does is limit the hawks to low percentage 1 timers and shots from 60 feet out . Play hard , and get rebounds ??? Is it really that difficult ?? I never players pros pr college but damn it doesn't seem that hard to generate shots on the PP that create rebounds ?? Are the guys on the Hawks that weak that they cant get to the front of the net ??? So terrib;e from the point (Mr. Keith im looking at you ) that they cant get a wrist shot thru traffic or a hard shot on net to create rebounds ?? WTF ???

(frank)ing Eddie Curry just got a ring. Your argument holds no water.
- Dannyboy

What does Eddie Curry, bench-riding big man on the Miami "friggin" Heat, have to do with the hiring of an assistant coach by an NHL team in Chicago?

Please explain...

I dont understand why the PP is so difficult to run ?? Please explain this to me ?? Is the system really that important ?? WHy cant the Hawks (with their skill) play straight up and simply use the extra player to keep the puck possession longer ?? All the "set up " bull s h i t does is limit the hawks to low percentage 1 timers and shots from 60 feet out . Play hard , and get rebounds ??? Is it really that difficult ?? I never players pros pr college but damn it doesn't seem that hard to generate shots on the PP that create rebounds ?? Are the guys on the Hawks that weak that they cant get to the front of the net ??? So terrib;e from the point (Mr. Keith im looking at you ) that they cant get a wrist shot thru traffic or a hard shot on net to create rebounds ?? WTF ???
- mrpaulish

Ask Kitchen about that. Or the new guy, Asst. Coach Tampon.

Ask Kitchen about that. Or the new guy, Asst. Coach Tampon.
- EKolb13

Smith was on ice for one practice working on the PP. Immediately after the PP improved for a few games. Then they went back to the predictable way they played it all year.
- NewToHockey

Perhaps my memory is off, but I don't recall Smith having an impact either positive or negative on PP performance.

I think that's a fair criticism but let's be real here, nobody is surprised at who the Hawks' "core" is, it's like saying back in the day, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Horace Grant was the Bulls' "core", and you wouldn't want to play with them? If you are a player that can accept a role (like Rodman, Paxson, Kerr, Kukoc, etc) did, then you could be part of a great team. If you're looking for more, you're not going to get it.
- hawkfan79

I'm sure we all could have guess who the core was, and every employer identifies their top employees. However, going public with the "core" concept shows a major gap in how the team approaches their players. How would you feel if your employer put out a top 10 employee list in their company newsletter and you weren't on it. Some players will know they are role players (i.e. Bollig) and they'll be fine. But other guy who we could get more out of (i.e. Frolik) may take the message the wrong way. The Hawks needs to do a better job with the bottom half of the roster, winning is about the team not about you're core group.

That being said, I', not totally buying the whole 'UFAs don't want to play here' subject. Some UFAs may not want to play in Chicago, but the same could be said for every team. We almost sign Jason Garrison, he would have taken less money to come to Chicago but his hometown came in with a decent bid (not the top bid) so he took took it. If Vancouver didn't make an offer to Garrison he'd be a Blackhawk now.

Perhaps my memory is off, but I don't recall Smith having an impact either positive or negative on PP performance.
- ArlingtonRob

While there was no impact to the PP percentage, with Smith helping out, the Hawks did end a zero for forty something PP goal drought.

We almost sign Jason Garrison, he would have taken less money to come to Chicago but his hometown came in with a decent bid (not the top bid) so he took took it. If Vancouver didn't make an offer to Garrison he'd be a Blackhawk now.
- DarthKane

Where's your proof of this?

While I am frustrated by some of Stan's moves (or lack thereof) I don't think things are as bad a lot of fan are expressing on this (and other) board.

At forward having Sharp, Hossa, Toews and Kane is pretty damn good. I know their games aren't perfect but there aren't too many teams with a better top 4. We have one of the best 3rd line centres in the game in Bolland and the future for Shaw looks pretty good. Sure, the quality of our depth isn't like the 2009/2010 team but it's still good.
- DarthKane

Yet a constant refusal to dump and chase when the blue line is stacked. They are either coached to do this or are allowed to continue to try to skate through the entire other team by coaching. Q fails.

On defense I don't think there's a better combo than Keith and Seabrook. Leddy is a decent 2nd pairing puck moving defenseman and Oduya did pretty well for us.
- DarthKane

The defense is taught to play the Harry Potter magic stick style of defense. The D are not engaging anyone in front of the crease, ever. Q fails.

Goaltending needs to improve, but Crawford has shown he can play at a much higher level than last season. But the jury is still out on if he'll rebound. As far as back-ups Emery is a decent as they come.
- DarthKane

We can only hope and pray Crawford does it at this point.

Prospects - we have a good pool of prospects. They all won't be superstars but we should have a 2-3 solid contributors in the next couple of years.
- DarthKane

Have we seen even one young player developed by this coaching staff? Q's constant line juggling cannot be beneficial to someone trying to figure out things at the NHL level. Q fails.

The only area that really concerns me is the GM position. Stan has only made the moves he's been forced to (i.e. the purge) or made minor deals with former Blackhawk employees. We need a solid hockey mind in charge of the daily operations of the team, and that's not Stan. I've been reserving judgment on Stan for a while now, but he needs to go. Stan's lack of action is hurting the quality players we do have and we need a GM who'll get proper support for the likes of Toews, Kane, Sharp etc.

I think going public with the "core players" concept was a blunder too. I don't mind the Hawks having this concept behind the scenes, but don't make it public. People wonder why players like Frolik under perform - how would you feel working in an environment where it's public knowledge you're a 2nd class employee. I know I wouldn't be too motivated.

It's time for Stan to go.
- DarthKane

I am in no way, shape or form a Stan supporter. I don't think he's the first one that needs to go, however.

I am in no way, shape or form a Stan supporter. I don't think he's the first one that needs to go, however.
- NewToHockey

They both need to go, but Stan won't be the first. I'm hedging my bets on Q getting hung before the halfway point of the season (I picked game 24 in the pool) and The Bowman getting swept out after the season.

Why did Rocky ever hire Stan in the first place? The job should have gone to an experienced gm or at least and assistant gm with some bona fides
- molly2522

Better yet... Why did Rocky allow or give his blessing on booting Tallon. This is on him just as well for that blunder.

(frank)ing Eddie Curry just got a ring. Your argument holds no water.
- Dannyboy

I believe I see your point...but it's not a good one in my book.

F'n Eddie Curry was a late season addition for depth who saw ZERO playing time...since he was on the roster, the man got a ring.

Coach Kompon spends 6 years behind the bench in LA and gets a ring in his last campaign. Team does not renew his contract and he moves on...finds work with the Hawks.

Your argument holds no water since comparing a player who contributes nothing to team while under contract for a month or 2 is NOT comparable to a coach winning a ring in the last year of his contract following 6 years of employment.

As hawks fans, It looks like we are in for another disappointing season.
The ONLY spot addressed was a 6/7 dman! C'mon!!!!!!
We will have craw in net and that ain't good.
If they make the playoffs, a betting man would expect a one and done again.
At this point, the most we can hope for is semin. Not the best option, but may be only option. Should improve PP, put him on first line with sharp and toews. 2 very solid scoring lines, pray they win games 7-5

(frank) Q.
(frank) Stan.
(frank) McD.
(frank) Kitch.
(frank) Rocky.

This entire organization blows.
- Ogilthorpe2

Was thinking about you today as I took a photo of my 6 year old with Q at camp today. Felt myself murmur "tick tick" as I snapped...

Was thinking about you today as I took a photo of my 6 year old with Q at camp today. Felt myself murmur "tick tick" as I snapped...
- ilinkhawk

[quote=ArlingtonRob]I believe I see your point...but it's not a good one in my book.

I don't like your book!