Justin Lowe: Good, But Do Better Who we got tonight: Arizona Coyotes

Season Matchup:
Chicago ✔
Arizona

7-19-5 = 19 points
8th in Pacific (see: last)
Last game: LOSS vs. Blue Jackets (1-0) last night
GF: 73 / GA: 109
PP% = 17.5% (23rd in NHL)
PK% = 81.0% (15th in NHL)
Sniper: Clayton Keller- 11 goals
Producer: Keller - 23 points
Tough Guys: – Jason Demers - 23 PIMs & Luke Schenn - 97 hits

First

Hartman has shown the grit and the tenacity this team needs. He was ready for a breakout season. Teams like Detroit during offseason wanted him...Why he is being benched just for minor double penalty against Washington which we got clobbered is stupid on the part of Coach Q.
Q doesn't have the guts to bench #7 #2 #19 #10 and #14 but only likes to pick on certain guys...

The core on this team needs to start playing like the care. I noticed during the broadcast on NBC on Wednesday that Milbury called them out and during Friday's game I watched the Buffalo feed and Rob Ray did the same thing.

Rob stated that sometimes players lose there desire and at that point it is time to move them. This should both help the team and also maybe rejuvenate the core player that is traded. Sometimes new scenery is all they need.

IMO they need to retool the team by trading a few of the core guys and hire a new coaching staff this summer. I think they have a good balance of young kids.

I have a question, if both Toews and Kane received 42 million dollars up front on their 84 million dollar deals than wouldn't a team that trades for them only have to pay them 5.5 million, but have 10.5 million against the cap?

Hartman has shown the grit and the tenacity this team needs. He was ready for a breakout season. Teams like Detroit during offseason wanted him...Why he is being benched just for minor double penalty against Washington which we got clobbered is stupid on the part of Coach Q.
Q doesn't have the guts to bench #7 #2 #19 #10 and #14 but only likes to pick on certain guys...
- shidler

I agree with this comment 100%. I think the problem is that the dressing room has turned into a county club and Q is putting friendships with certain players ahead of what should be done and benching a few of the core players.

Toews contract is cleverly constructed between salary and bonus. The first years total income is $13.8 mildo and drops to 6.9 the final year. Cap hit of 10.5 mildo remains during the full term.

YEAR AGE STATUS BASE SALARY SIGNING BONUS INCENTIVE CAP HIT
2015-16 27 $6,800,000 $7,000,000 - $10,500,000
2016-17 28 $7,800,000 $6,000,000 - $10,500,000
2017-18 29 $7,800,000 $6,000,000 - $10,500,000
2018-19 30 $6,000,000 $6,000,000 - $10,500,000
2019-20 31 $3,800,000 $6,000,000 - $10,500,000
2020-21 32 $2,000,000 $5,000,000 - $10,500,000
2021-22 33 $2,900,000 $4,000,000 - $10,500,000
2022-23 34 $2,900,000 $4,000,000 - $10,500,000
2023-24 Free Agent Year 35
UFA

Hartman has shown the grit and the tenacity this team needs. He was ready for a breakout season. Teams like Detroit during offseason wanted him...Why he is being benched just for minor double penalty against Washington which we got clobbered is stupid on the part of Coach Q.
Q doesn't have the guts to bench #7 #2 #19 #10 and #14 but only likes to pick on certain guys...
- shidler

It's time 88 was added to that continual list as well..

Bouma is out so Hartsy will be back in.

Bouma didn't skate but Q said he'll be good to play tonight.

We'll see though I guess after the morning skate.

My guess is that real serious evaluation of the team will be done in about 2 months when the Blackhawks are completely out of the playoff picture. They will be selling their so called assets. Yes #19 has underperformed and looked like an average NHL player and not a player deserving of the highest payroll. There are people out there who believes #88, #7 #2 #19 the face of franchise will retire as a BHawk. That would be a mistake. Lets start rebuilding by trading what we can get most with our prized assets like #88 and #2.

I mean seriously our young players Cat, Hartzy, Hayden Forsling, Ruuta Schmaltz all looked great. Youngsters outperforming our so called veterans.

I’m sure I’ll get skewered from both sides on this, but if we are somehow able to trade for a good (top 6) center what do you think about moving Toews to wing (at least for a while)?

Takes some of the responsibility off and maybe he starts to score again. It seems to have works really well for Giroux. Yes, I know at 10.5 per year he should be running the league, and yes, I know he is still our best center, but we’ve had about 2.5 years of this below average play and it might spark him a bit.

Not a bad idea moving Toews to wing....But Q doesn't have the flexibility in his mindset to do it.

They already only have 2 centers, moving one of their only actual centers to wing doesn't make a ton of sense.

The full article from which Dietz pulled that quote is interesting.

http://www.dailyherald.co...of-production-this-season

Goalie-33 may think he is a waste of a roster spot or worse, but I still believe Kane never stops trying to improve his game or the team. Really think they need to bring in a specialist coach just for the PP. No matter how off the charts their hockey smarts, sounds like these guys really have no idea how to fix it. It shouldn't be that complicated.

"We have these great entries and we get the puck set up, then we get the shot we want and -- boom -- it's down the ice," Kane said. "Sometimes you're out there and it's almost like a bag skate. You're going up and down the ice so many times. It shouldn't be that way on the power play."

Few NHL players watch more games than Kane, and he's almost envious of how teams like the Lightning, Penguins, Predators, Jets and Capitals operate with the man advantage.

"If you watch different teams like Tampa -- everything just seems so easy," Kane said. "They know where guys are. Every guy who gets the puck has a couple plays that he can make, and it just makes it easy on everyone.

"(We) need more screens in front of the net. That's one of the things we did so well in the past when we had a good power play. It seemed like the net-front guy was huge.

"We're looking to improve on it every day and looking to find solutions. It's a work in progress."

They already only have 2 centers, moving one of their only actual centers to wing doesn't make a ton of sense.
- broten

I don’t disagree. That’s why I added the caveat of trading for a top six center. I was more looking at the concept of Toews at wing that the actual likelihood or feasibility of it happening.

I don’t disagree. That’s why I added the caveat of trading for a top six center. I was more looking at the concept of Toews at wing that the actual likelihood or feasibility of it happening.
- Chunk

Word. I'm not sure he'd play any differently there than at center, other than taking fewer faceoffs (or maybe not?). He's still pretty defensively minded and I don't know, I just can't see him topping 25 goals at this stage of his career regardless of where he plays. I think they need more consistent wingers for him, ie Panik and Saad are two of the streakiest players on the Hawks.

Word. I'm not sure he'd play any differently there than at center, other than taking fewer faceoffs (or maybe not?). He's still pretty defensively minded and I don't know, I just can't see him topping 25 goals at this stage of his career regardless of where he plays. I think they need more consistent wingers for him, ie Panik and Saad are two of the streakiest players on the Hawks.
- broten

I’m kind of in that same boat. I just find it interesting they moved Giroux to wing with Couturier, whose high water mark is 39 pts, and he’s lighting it’s up. I wouldn’t mind seeing a change up like that every now and then. Knock some guys off the pedestal a bit and see what the reaction is.

If the double miner penalty hurt Hartzie, so should have the slew footing of Ovechkin.

If the double miner penalty hurt Hartzie, so should have the slew footing of Ovechkin.
- 35Tony0

I’m guessing the double minor was the straw that broke the camel’s back. He was not playing all that well leading up to the demotion.

I’m guessing the double minor was the straw that broke the camel’s back. He was not playing all that well leading up to the demotion.
- Chunk

I actually wonder if he is recovered yet from the slashing Corey Perry laid on him at the end of last regular season.

Hartman has shown the grit and the tenacity this team needs. He was ready for a breakout season. Teams like Detroit during offseason wanted him...Why he is being benched just for minor double penalty against Washington which we got clobbered is stupid on the part of Coach Q.
Q doesn't have the guts to bench #7 #2 #19 #10 and #14 but only likes to pick on certain guys...
- shidler



I agree with this comment 100%. I think the problem is that the dressing room has turned into a county club and Q is putting friendships with certain players ahead of what should be done and benching a few of the core players.

Agree with both, with Q only certain players are allowed the BOD
with a veteran team that might work but with a team with many young
ones, not so much.

I’m sure I’ll get skewered from both sides on this, but if we are somehow able to trade for a good (top 6) center what do you think about moving Toews to wing (at least for a while)?

Takes some of the responsibility off and maybe he starts to score again. It seems to have works really well for Giroux. Yes, I know at 10.5 per year he should be running the league, and yes, I know he is still our best center, but we’ve had about 2.5 years of this below average play and it might spark him a bit.
- Chunk

Actually would love to see a guy like Higmore, high energy go getter in between
19-20, why not.

Actually would love to see a guy like Higmore, high energy go getter in between
19-20, why not.
- gazza53

Because he's never played a game in the NHL?

Not a bad idea moving Toews to wing....But Q doesn't have the flexibility in his mindset to do it.
- shidler

So you would move an NHL top 10 face-off player to the wing?

So you would move an NHL top 10 face-off player to the wing?
- riozzo

I was wondering this too. Is it an obligation that the center take all the faceoffs, at least to start? Could he play wing but still take the bulk of faceoffs for his line? Not sure if there's a rule or if it's just more of a convention.