So once again, another Bowman bad contract/early extension/No movement clause has tied the organization's hands in trying to deal a player.....especially with some nice young depth in Rockford.

I just can't put my finger around who will go first, Quenneville or Bowman....if the season continues at the current highly questionable rate.

Moving 2 forwards out of their normal positions tonight is a gamble. Panic is not a left wing and ADB is not a right wing. More questionable thinking by Quenneville. I hope it works, but if it doesn't, more changes to come I guess.
- Hawkytalk

It's been 10 games. AA was a force last season. A little silly to be declaring it a bad contract that needs to be moved already.

Did his shot EVER get through, more than now?

I remember female doging about it (and reading about female doging about it) for years.
- StLBravesFan

Not really. But he skated and passed more before. Now it's... Keith shoots. Or Keith back to Kane (who is swarmed before Keith passes, because everyone knows he's going to do that)

Hence the "philosophical" part. I've read numerous quotes from him about being "less serious" and "more balanced".

Fine and dandy. But he is paid for performance that comes at a personal cost.
- kinigitt

Agreed and that's my point......

This team overall seems complacent. IMO you look at coaching and your core and while others can say "who is better after 8 years" I'll point to 88 who used to be a defensive liability, didn't truly have a great shot and was a pass first guy, and look now....his overall game is strong, and his shot forehand or backhand is arguably the best on the team. A guy who routinely wants to get better and improve, and not complacent.

Has Keith worked on his offensive game? His point shot?
Has Seabrook worked on his skating so he isn't torched nightly?
Has toews worked to improve his overall game?

I just dont' see our so called big 3 leaders improving year after year and how does a lesser tiered guy get demanded of that by coaching/organization while these 3 are left to NOT be judged?

72 was an easy scape goat in the offseason and brought 20 in to solely revivie 19 who can't/couldn't do it on his own......

Not really. But he skated and passed more before. Now it's... Keith shoots. Or Keith back to Kane (who is swarmed before Keith passes, because everyone knows he's going to do that)
- kinigitt

I usually get up when they are on the PP because the drop pass is moronic and the lack of creativity is just mind numbing.

I still contend they need to hire a coach who specializes in the PP and can maximize their talent and I will bet $$ if they did 2 wouldn't be on the top unit.

I'd put my money on Quenville leaving first... Although there's a case to be made for both, but they wouldn't do both at the same time and I think they have the talent this year to compete for a cup, they just don't seem to have the work ethic right now.

Q has done great here, but I think the core guys have grown too comfortable with him. They know they won't be held accountable for mistakes or lax effort. If they're at the bottom of the division by mid season, I would be fine with a switch. If no good coaches are available then promote Dineen or Samuelson as interim. Change the systems, get the power play to an acceptable level, get these guys out of their comfort zone and prove their spots on the roster. That's the mentality it takes to play at the top of their game. Like I've said if they play the whole game...hell... even a whole period or two like they do when they are losing in the last 5 minutes of a game, that alone would make a big difference in their record.

Again I'm only suggesting this if they are struggling to play to their ability come mid season, but I guess let's see what happens.

Did his shot EVER get through, more than now?

I remember female doging about it (and reading about female doging about it) for years.
- StLBravesFan

Well, Steve Konroyd says his shot rarely gets blocked

Well, Steve Konroyd says his shot rarely gets blocked
- tvetter

HA. that was an all timer here.

Beat Foley to the punch....

It's been 10 games. AA was a force last season. A little silly to be declaring it a bad contract that needs to be moved already.
- JRoenick97

I wouldn't go as far to say he was a force.... He was playing between not just one but two elite play makers and scorers... I think the version we've seen this season is a more accurate representation of what he is.

I usually get up when they are on the PP because the drop pass is moronic and the lack of creativity is just mind numbing.

I still contend they need to hire a coach who specializes in the PP and can maximize their talent and I will bet $$ if they did 2 wouldn't be on the top unit.
- SteveRain

Or do some free-form scrimmages with real risk/reward. Get the creative juices flowing. Get the vets "learning" again, instead of reflexively doing what they know. Challenge the players during practices. The games are becoming their practice sessions now. They're only "present" for short bursts during games.

That's a problem of motivation, not skill. Not roster make-up. It's a game. You stop being playful (creative) you lose.

I wouldn't go as far to say he was a force.... He was playing between not just one but two elite play makers and scorers... I think the version we've seen this season is a more accurate representation of what he is.
- Toew Drags 4 Daze

He was excellent at the start of last season. Not seeing that is on you. He has good hands and good instincts.

My expectations when the season started was a fringe playoff team and that hasn't changed through 10 games....way early I know. Lost of warts that can be fixed, and I'm not writing off the season.......

However, this team once again is 1 line. Toews and Saad and whoever else. They are asking Kane to carry not 1 legitimate top 6 guy....Panik is nice but inconsistent. Hartman's NHL future is a bottom 6 role player...Schmaltz? No idea, but is he a proven commodity as a top 6? No.....and it's no surprise to me that kane's production has slipped because you took marque skill away from him. To me I would go the Ducks route and load up....Saad-Toews-Kane and let that line explode, and fill in the rest.

As far Toews eating habits.....these are professional athletes. They have dieticians and planned meals etc to fuel their bodies correctly. Do other professional athletes have grow houses they pimp? Ahh.....no. So what magic bean is Toews ingesting that has results into on ice increased performance because of it?

When I look at this core.....and this core to me now is 6 deep.......19/88/2/7/50/20 I see two guys 88/50 who have gotten better year after year. I see 3 guys whos skill sets have plateaued. That's the issue and by the way that's also your veteran leadership .
- SteveRain

*Fixed. Added Saad. He was part of the core before he was traded and his return only solidifies his value to this team.

*Fixed. Added Saad. He was part of the core before he was traded and his return only solidifies his value to this team.
- Slofire94

Saad is MVP after Crawford so far.

I wouldn't go as far to say he was a force.... He was playing between not just one but two elite play makers and scorers... I think the version we've seen this season is a more accurate representation of what he is.
- Toew Drags 4 Daze

Except he's pt up consistent points every year on every team he's been on. This season is the outlier.

Some weird stuff at practice this morning:

@johndietzdh
Kane and Keith were not at morning skate. We'll see why soon.

@TramyersNBCS
#Blackhawks didn’t roll their lines at skate this morning so... let’s see what’s up.

He was excellent at the start of last season. Not seeing that is on you. He has good hands and good instincts.
- kinigitt

And how was he after that... How about in the playoffs?

Some weird stuff at practice this morning:

@johndietzdh
Kane and Keith were not at morning skate. We'll see why soon.

@TramyersNBCS
#Blackhawks didn’t roll their lines at skate this morning so... let’s see what’s up.
- JRoenick97

Trade alert E(9)

And how was he after that... How about in the playoffs?
- Toew Drags 4 Daze

His leg was busted. Silly.

I usually get up when they are on the PP because the drop pass is moronic and the lack of creativity is just mind numbing.

I still contend they need to hire a coach who specializes in the PP and can maximize their talent and I will bet $$ if they did 2 wouldn't be on the top unit.
- SteveRain[/quote]


Ya Rain, I think you're right. And if worrying about ruffling feathers is why they haven't replaced Keith that poop needs to stop. I know we have talked about this, but Forsling is who I'd be grooming for Keith's slot on the PP.

A good PP can offset a lot of problems in other areas.

Bummed to see you leave JJ! Hockeybuzz has been a great outlet for us die-hard Hawkey fans.

"And pressure grows on Quenneville and GM Stan Bowman to find other answers."

IMO, that pressure is already on. Anyone who believes this team has the horses to win 16 playoff games needs to pass the joint. Depth scoring, depth center production, and essentially the entire defense core past Duncan Keith are HUGE question marks that have been far from answered through 10 games. Additions are needed to round out this roster and fill at least 1 hole in the lineup. How, or if, Bowman can accomplish this is yet to be seen.

I wouldn't go as far to say he was a force.... He was playing between not just one but two elite play makers and scorers... I think the version we've seen this season is a more accurate representation of what he is.
- Toew Drags 4 Daze

Totally agree. ...Anisimov a force ???
That's just plain ludicrous. He's good around the net.... and with Kane and Panarin, so would many others.
He's an aging, slow, big center that's now possibly immovable because of his contract.

Lets be honest here....keith has always been a liability on the PP because nobody is afraid to step in front of his shot and his offensive ability to create isn't there. Keith is/was a top notch defensemen but his offensive skill set was/is his biggest weakness IMO
- SteveRain

He does a great job fielding the bouncing pucks when he's at the point, but beyond that, I agree. I've said that if he ever could get his shot on goal consistently, he'd be the default Norris candidate every year.

Except he's pt up consistent points every year on every team he's been on. This season is the outlier.
- JRoenick97

I guess. But he's also 29 and is going to start to decline. Whether that's this year or not we will see but you can't keep these guys into their 30s and then expect to get value once their play has dropped off.

Honestly he's far from the biggest problem on this team, I'm just saying let's stop acting like he's a 50-60 point player. He's a pretty average player who had a better than average year last year between two of the best in the game.

Totally agree. ...Anisimov a force ???
That's just plain ludicrous. He's good around the net.... and with Kane and Panarin, so would many others.
He's an aging, slow, big center that's now possibly immovable because of his contract.
- Hawkytalk

Big, strong-on-their-skates centers with good defensive instincts and decent finishing skills, making less than 5 million are Unicorns in today's NHL. He's not great, but he's good enough.

Totally agree. ...Anisimov a force ???
That's just plain ludicrous. He's good around the net.... and with Kane and Panarin, so would many others.
He's an aging, slow, big center that's now possibly immovable because of his contract.
- Hawkytalk

He was definitely a force for at least the first half of last season. 19 points in his first 20 games and surpassed his career top point total with 45 points in 64 games... including the previous season where he was playing with Kane and Panarin also.

He was definitely a force for at least the first half of last season. 19 points in his first 20 games and surpassed his career top point total with 45 points in 64 games... including the previous season where he was playing with Kane and Panarin also.
- JRoenick97

Again... Between two of the best in the game. Average player who turns good when placed with Elite talent... not so hard to find. I'd rather have a 3C who can win a draw. Our possession and face-off numbers are horrid so far.