Unless your name is Scotty Bowman you do not get to go out on your own terms. 10 years is more than twice the average tenure of a coach. The simplest fix (or attempt to fix) is to fire Q and Dineen. Ulf is too new to blame for this mess.
- tyweb69

Be curious to see what the team would do under Ulf. Dineen is also interesting. Coached the Canadian Women to gold and did some good things in Florida. If this team comes out flat again come Wednesday? Would drop us under .500. We may be older, but this team is still very talented.

Hey Mark,

Penguins have won last 2 stanley cups, not been out after a round. Talk about apples to oranges....
- TrueGrit

Exactly right. Hawks will have had 3 full days off before this game Wednesday. As a fan, I will be extremely disappointed if they come out with another flat start. After losing 5 of their last 6, it's gut-check time for this team.

Reports that NYR are shopping Chris Kreider. Krieder-Schmaltz-Kane anyone??

Be curious to see what the team would do under Ulf. Dineen is also interesting. Coached the Canadian Women to gold and did some good things in Florida. If this team comes out flat again come Wednesday? Would drop us under .500. We may be older, but this team is still very talented.
- z1990z

I don't really buy the this team is old narrative. 15/16 Sharks made it to the finals. Not like the Sharks "core" does not have miles on them that season.

Burns - 30
Marleau - 36
Pavelski - 31
Ward - 35
Thorton - 36

This down turn in the Hawks looks a lot more like poor coaching and complacency by your core players then the team is just too old to compete anymore. The core is simply not producing. Period. One 3/4th line player is not going to change anything.

The front office needs to decide if the core is really done or if a coaching change is needed.

Be curious to see what the team would do under Ulf. Dineen is also interesting. Coached the Canadian Women to gold and did some good things in Florida. If this team comes out flat again come Wednesday? Would drop us under .500. We may be older, but this team is still very talented.
- z1990z

I don't think Dineen is the answer. First, he's part of the overall coaching staff that is being called into question. Second, he's responsible for the power play which has been one of the worst aspects of the Hawks game right now.

Possible replacements? I'm not advocating any of these guys, these are just guys that have coached at the NHL level but are not currently employed as NHL coaches:

- Lindy Ruff (currently assistant coach with the Rangers)
- Willie Desjardins
- Marc Crawford (currently assistant coach with the Senators)
- Bob Hartley
- Paul MacLean (mustache quota would be filled)
- Darryl Sutter (return to Chicago)

So lets say Q decides to "retire" and become an ambassador... Who replaces Q short term?
- riozzo

Yes I believe it would be Dineen .The HAWKS fired one Assist coach and hire two if I am not mistaken . I have believed since last year end of the season play and the playoffs that Q has lost the room .Don't have a clue what happened . but think it has something to do with personnel decisions .

Will Dineen be the answer ,Don't know, but they need a change . Maybe a few minor tweaks from the A to appease some players .. It's all about Chemistry

I don't think Dineen is the answer. First, he's part of the overall coaching staff that is being called into question. Second, he's responsible for the power play which has been one of the worst aspects of the Hawks game right now.

Possible replacements? I'm not advocating any of these guys, these are just guys that have coached at the NHL level but are not currently employed as NHL coaches:

- Lindy Ruff (currently assistant coach with the Rangers)
- Willie Desjardins
- Marc Crawford (currently assistant coach with the Senators)
- Bob Hartley
- Paul MacLean (mustache quota would be filled)
- Darryl Sutter (return to Chicago)
- DarthKane

Darryl Sutter please....follow that with a Toews and Seabs jettison then we might have something

I don't really buy the this team is old narrative. 15/16 Sharks made it to the finals. Not like the Sharks "core" does not have miles on them that season.

Burns - 30
Marleau - 36
Pavelski - 31
Ward - 35
Thorton - 36

This down turn in the Hawks looks a lot more like poor coaching and complacency by your core players then the team is just too old to compete anymore. The core is simply not producing. Period. One 3/4th line player is not going to change anything.

The front office needs to decide if the core is really done or if a coaching change is needed.
- bhawks2241

What needs to happen is execution and production on the ice regardless of who the damn coach is. That means scoring on the PP at a rate of about 20%, dramatically cutting down on the penalties being taken and getting some 5 on 5 goal scoring from all 4 lines, especially the top 2. Playing pretty won't get it done, taking the puck and some bodies to the paint with regularity will.

The 'core' isn't going to be dismantled, salaries and contract clauses won't allow it. Its up to the playing personnel to perform better, play smarter and harder. Nobody in the NHL cares about what Cups they have won in the past or who's making how much money.

What needs to happen is execution and production on the ice regardless of who the damn coach is. That means scoring on the PP at a rate of about 20%, dramatically cutting down on the penalties being taken and getting some 5 on 5 goal scoring from all 4 lines, especially the top 2. Playing pretty won't get it done, taking the puck and some bodies to the paint with regularity will.

The 'core' isn't going to be dismantled, salaries and contract clauses won't allow it. Its up to the playing personnel to perform better, play smarter and harder. Nobody in the NHL cares about what Cups they have won in the past or who's making how much money.
- RickJ

Agree completely except for the last part. I think other teams still care when the Hawks come to town. I think other NHL teams still want to take it to the Hawks and a core that is sitting on 3 rings. Just look at how the Wild, Preds, and Blues show up for Hawks games. They all bring a little extra to those games.

On another note. I have watched the Winnipeg Jets a few games here lately and THEY are freaking good. If they can get any kind of tending there is no reason that team should not finish among the top of the Central. They have legit size, speed and skill. Sometimes their D gets scattered, but boy they are a fun team to watch.

Be curious to see what the team would do under Ulf. Dineen is also interesting. Coached the Canadian Women to gold and did some good things in Florida. If this team comes out flat again come Wednesday? Would drop us under .500. We may be older, but this team is still very talented.
- z1990z

Technically the hawks are 2 games under .500. Won 5, lost 7.

On another note. I have watched the Winnipeg Jets a few games here lately and THEY are freaking good. If they can get any kind of tending there is no reason that team should not finish among the top of the Central. They have legit size, speed and skill. Sometimes their D gets scattered, but boy they are a fun team to watch.
- kwolf68

Schiefele, Laine, Ehlers, Wheeler, Little, and Connor are a formidable Top 6 Forward Group, but their defense/goaltending is still a major question mark, IMO.

Agree completely except for the last part. I think other teams still care when the Hawks come to town. I think other NHL teams still want to take it to the Hawks and a core that is sitting on 3 rings. Just look at how the Wild, Preds, and Blues show up for Hawks games. They all bring a little extra to those games.
- bhawks2241

Ya, because those teams show up to play hard because they know that points within the Central Division are absolutely critical to making the playoffs. There is no magic with that, playing below .500 within the division pretty much means you are watching the postseason on TV. So far this team has 2 standings points out of 10 available within the Central. At that rate they are being flushed down the porcelain pony and they haven't even played Winnipeg yet.

Schiefele, Laine, Ehlers, Wheeler, Little, and Connor are a formidable Top 6 Forward Group, but their defense/goaltending is still a major question mark, IMO.
- EnzoD

Tending for sure, but Hellybuck (however you spell it) has been very good lately.

Ya, because those teams show up to play hard because they know that points within the Central Division are absolutely critical to making the playoffs. There is no magic with that, playing below .500 within the division pretty much means you are watching the postseason on TV. So far this team has 2 standings points out of 10 available within the Central. At that rate they are being flushed down the porcelain pony and they haven't even played Winnipeg yet.
- RickJ

LOL. The Peg is a better team than Chicago and the hawks look like garbage, but the Hawks will beat them 5-0 first time they play, because hockey.

Darryl Sutter please....follow that with a Toews and Seabs jettison then we might have something
- Hawkster

I think Sutter would be a good fit here. He is a no BS get after it on this ice HC. His last year in Chicago was 1995 and the Hawks went to the Conference Finals that year. Sutter teams play heavy and LA was a force when he was there. Now they went through what we seem to be going through and yes it cost Sutter and the GM their jobs. Sutter would turn the fore check loose. And Sutter would held mold an identity for us. Just a thought.

0-2 this past weekend and coming off an a$$ whooping from a bad Avs team. Now we get the Flyers. Another heavy/come after you club. Gonna be interesting.

I think Sutter would be a good fit here. He is a no BS get after it on this ice HC. His last year in Chicago was 1995 and the Hawks went to the Conference Finals that year. Sutter teams play heavy and LA was a force when he was there. Now they went through what we seem to be going through and yes it cost Sutter and the GM their jobs. Sutter would turn the fore check loose. And Sutter would held mold an identity for us. Just a thought.

0-2 this past weekend and coming off an a$$ whooping from a bad Avs team. Now we get the Flyers. Another heavy/come after you club. Gonna be interesting.
- z1990z

Flyers will be on back end of back to backs so thats the only time the Hawks have EVER looked good this year, playing a team in that situation. I put no stock into tomorrows game...unless the Hawks get blasted, then uh oh.

@MarkLazerus

A little perspective for Blackhawks fans: Penguins have lost 10-1 to the Blackhawks, 7-1 to the Lightning, and now 7-1 to the Jets. #october
- DarthKane

Think all of those are the 2nd game of back to backs. Not an excuse, just adding context. Penguins have some absurd amount of back to backs, like 25% of their schedule.

Think all of those are the 2nd game of back to backs. Not an excuse, just adding context. Penguins have some absurd amount of back to backs, like 25% of their schedule.
- Gerk

19 Back to Backs, ridiculous.

Flyers will be on back end of back to backs so thats the only time the Hawks have EVER looked good this year, playing a team in that situation. I put no stock into tomorrows game...unless the Hawks get blasted, then uh oh.
- kwolf68

I always marveled at the simplicity of the Kings PP. Any kind of clean look and the puck is to the net. Kings always have 1-2 guys parked near the crease. Then it is crash time and chaos ensues. Its not rocket science. We have big guys we can put there too. 20, 14, 15, 38, 19??? Its not hard Q. Hell we can park 7 there too.

Think all of those are the 2nd game of back to backs. Not an excuse, just adding context. Penguins have some absurd amount of back to backs, like 25% of their schedule.
- Gerk

Pens have 19 back to backs this year and in every back to back they've been a dumpster fire. Peg skated them out the building last night. Pens defense is atrocious without Shultz and Hunwick (amazing to be saying that). They make the Hawks Defense look like we have 6 Lidstroms.

Flyers will be on back end of back to backs so thats the only time the Hawks have EVER looked good this year, playing a team in that situation. I put no stock into tomorrows game...unless the Hawks get blasted, then uh oh.
- kwolf68

Hawks were good against the Preds despite the loss. Not saying they played a perfect game, but they looked good most of the night. They didn't get enough traffic on the goalie, but they had a good edge in play against a division rival that was rested and ready.

The Hawks have had some highs and lows so far this season but I don't think anyone should be too surprised at the 0.500 record to start the season. I made this point back when the season started.

1) Lots of changes to the team
2) playing a number of playoff quality teams to start the year

The bad things from this weekend.

1) Not handling the back-back well (going on the road to Denver after playing the night before)
2) Taking too many penalties
3) The PP has looked more dangerous without the Hawks best PP weapon (Kane) not on the ice.

This is where the coaches need to earn their $$$ and get the team to play a more consistent and complete game.

Pens have 19 back to backs this year and in every back to back they've been a dumpster fire. Peg skated them out the building last night. Pens defense is atrocious without Shultz and Hunwick (amazing to be saying that). They make the Hawks Defense look like we have 6 Lidstroms.
- kwolf68

Your season is 7 months long, I have no idea how you screw up scheduling this much.

I always marveled at the simplicity of the Kings PP. Any kind of clean look and the puck is to the net. Kings always have 1-2 guys parked near the crease. Then it is crash time and chaos ensues. Its not rocket science. We have big guys we can put there too. 20, 14, 15, 38, 19??? Its not hard Q. Hell we can park 7 there too.
- z1990z

Great point. I think the team also needs to work on setting up the point shot and getting in on net. So those guys in front can actually have pucks to tip,deflect or rebounds to get to. Hawks do a lot of passing to setup a shot that often gets blocked.

Great point. I think the team also needs to work on setting up the point shot and getting in on net. So those guys in front can actually have pucks to tip,deflect or rebounds to get to. Hawks do a lot of passing to setup a shot that often gets blocked.
- breadbag

And you dont need a booming point shot for an effective PP. Nick Lidstrom made a living with the quick/accurate wrist shot that always seem to make it the net. Then the big guys down low went to work.

And you dont need a booming point shot for an effective PP. Nick Lidstrom made a living with the quick/accurate wrist shot that always seem to make it the net. Then the big guys down low went to work.
- z1990z

Lidstrom also had one of the best net front guys in history to work with. It was a good combo.