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Set Up to Be Losers

December 7, 2018, 8:45 AM ET [953 Comments]
Tyler Cameron
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT


"You spin me right round, baby
Right round like a record, baby
Right round round round"


Sorry, I'm going a little crazy over here with all of these losses over here. It feels like broken record time again.

Another loss last night (4-3 to Vegas) makes that just 3 wins in their last 20 games. 3(!) victorious matches in their last 20(!). Wow.

Mark Lazerus wrote in The Athletic yesterday about the losing culture seeking in. He posed questions to Kane and Saad and they, along with the other vets are still trying to put on a brave face but the fear of that creeping in was real.

I thought a lot about the losing culture even before Mark's piece after watching the demeanour of the players (especially the leaders on this Hawks team) since Colliton took over.

They look deflated more easily. They now show blatant frustration (like Corey Crawford did on goal #2 last night). Heck, there's even been the odd freak out (Duncan Keith in Nashville).

This isn't going to be easy guys and gals. This team is a mess and as I wrote in my last article, maybe John McDonough and Stan Bowman sensed this was coming. Well, I mean, they would have to be naïve to think that this team was a shoo-in playoff team after limping out of their summer "improvements" of Brandon Manning, Chris Kunitz and Cam Ward.

They didn't make the playoffs last year and now it looks like they are already on their way to missing this year and it's only early-December.

I'm not sure what the realistic expectations were heading into this season but I would have to assume it would have been something like:

"Stan, Joel, just get this team in the playoffs and we'll lean on our core to hopefully take us on a run"

Love, John McDonough



As we know, things went off the rails relatively early. Joel Quenneville's 6-6-3 record wasn't terrible but the team was clearly not at the same level as the upper echelon teams in the NHL. This was evident by the holes in depth, overall skill and consistent effort.

Joel was fired and now Jeremy Colliton was in charge of making magic out of the same roster that lacked depth, overall skill and consistent effort. He is now 3-10-2 as an NHL coach.

What I've been looking into is what happens next.

I was told that it appears that the execs at 1901 Madison are accepting that this season is getting away on them and have been getting ready for that next step for a while despite the "this is a playoff team" narrative which is simply to maintain lackluster tickets sales.

The Joel Quenneville firing was the true bringing of the "end of a winning era" in Chicago.

My theory is management knew that firing Quenneville would be easier for fans to digest as he's not on the ice playing shift-after-shift. They would be sad and angry, but that will be the first soft recognition that the big shift in the Blackhawks organization has begun.

Then, next up, insert new (and young coach) and echo that he's great with young players and is an excellent communicator; a "today's NHL coach" type.

Then, start to bring in new, younger players while simultaneously shipping out parts of my heart… I mean… parts of the Championship core.

Enter Dylan Strome and Brandon Perlini for said new, younger players. The shipping out of veterans has not happened….yet, however, I was told to expect anything at this point.

In my opinion, Kane and Toews stay. They have been the face of this franchise forever and are marketing workhorses for the team.

The remainder of the core Seabrook, Keith and Crawford I believe can and will be shopped to see if there is anything out there that can help 2-3 years down the line in a big way.

Remaining optimistic for this season is one thing, but at this point, we all need to tell each other the truth (stole that line from Colliton) and realize that we're back at the bottom of the mountain. Who's ready to climb back up to the top with me?

See ya out there,

JL
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