Do the hawks have pride my god got pushed around like little school girls crow gets run over no response toews gets hit no response come on show that you have a pair stand up for one other. Sad to watch to many skilled talented players not enough HOCKEY PLAYERS!!!! Need some fight heart character grit bunch of pussies skating around out there. So here is a question to the panel what are the odds bowman gets fired? Justin any rumors of trade talks where we can improve this garbage on the ice that we as fans have to watch?
- Scott1977

Sounds like the GM in Slapshot near the end of the movie.

To the Americans here- Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families. If you're traveling, stay safe.

To the Canadians here- you had Thanksgiving a month or 2 ago, right? Well anyways, stay safe and slainte.

Hoping for a Bears win today, Mitchie needs to play, and I look forward to coming back tomorrow to talk hawks and tb.

This is a joke this team. I can't understand why schmaltz hasn't been benched his performance is atrocious.


Debrincant I believe is a top 6 guy but he is struggling and maybe that has to do with the sorry excuse of linemates whom can't either be fast ( anisomov) or just can't maintain enough possession and offensive threat .



Anyone who thinks or believes this team is a playoff team is living in a bubble.

The power play is more like a power outage.
- Taylorst1

Debrincat's talents are not being utilized properly. Just more mismanagement by this organization. And to magnify the situation, putting Saad with Kane and Toews is ridiculous. Kane's strength is pulling up on the right side and looking for that right handed shooter as the trailer. With 2 lefties on his line, they're
losing more offensive opportunities.

Saad is playing better and can do the job with Toews and Schmaltz on L1. Anisimov, Kane and Debrincat should be our L2. It's not that difficult fellas.

Debrincat's talents are not being utilized properly. Just more mismanagement by this organization. And to magnify the situation, putting Saad with Kane and Toews is ridiculous. Kane's strength is pulling up on the right side and looking for that right handed shooter as the trailer. With 2 lefties on his line, they're
losing more offensive opportunities.

Saad is playing better and can do the job with Toews and Schmaltz on L1. Anisimov, Kane and Debrincat should be our L2. It's not that difficult fellas.
- Hawkytalk

I bet Coliton never considered that!

Was watching yesterday free game on NHL TV Pens- Stars and was wondering why Crossby can play like that right after upper body injury (he was day time decision)being older than 88 and 19 why Pens can still throw entertainment game for fans scoring 5 goals even when team is no longer deep. Hawks games have been dry and boring and our expensive superstars cannot put what older Malkin and Crossby do and I bet they have more playoff games in their career so being tired is no excuse.

To the Americans here- Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families. If you're traveling, stay safe.

To the Canadians here- you had Thanksgiving a month or 2 ago, right? Well anyways, stay safe and slainte.

Hoping for a Bears win today, Mitchie needs to play, and I look forward to coming back tomorrow to talk hawks and tb.
- I Am The Breadman

Chase is playing today which makes the win harder but not unattainable. Lions are pretty much poop outside of Ford Field but really good at home.

The offense will be having to deal with crowd noise all day so if they can keep the illegal motion penalties to a minimum and not shoot themselves in the foot, they should be alright.

I think even with Chase they can do enough on offense and if the defense plays how it has been, they can still come out with a win.

Also, with such a short turnaround week, I’d rather they let Trubinski’s shoulder heal up.

Was watching yesterday free game on NHL TV Pens- Stars and was wondering why Crossby can play like that right after upper body injury (he was day time decision)being older than 88 and 19 why Pens can still throw entertainment game for fans scoring 5 goals even when team is no longer deep. Hawks games have been dry and boring and our expensive superstars cannot put what older Malkin and Crossby do and I bet they have more playoff games in their career so being tired is no excuse.
- vshun

The easy answer, is everybody’s body is different and we don’t know the nature of their injuries.

Debrincat's talents are not being utilized properly. Just more mismanagement by this organization. And to magnify the situation, putting Saad with Kane and Toews is ridiculous. Kane's strength is pulling up on the right side and looking for that right handed shooter as the trailer. With 2 lefties on his line, they're
losing more offensive opportunities.

Saad is playing better and can do the job with Toews and Schmaltz on L1. Anisimov, Kane and Debrincat should be our L2. It's not that difficult fellas.
- Hawkytalk

On Saad’s goal you see he actually broke in from the right side, his off-wing. Better angle to the net for power moves and shooting. I have been saying for a long time to play him on his off-wing.

This, of course would mean he should not play with Kane. Each and every game Kane and Saad should be the RWs in the top 6 period.

For the team to be successful there simply has to be certain givens game in and game out. One of these is that the leading goal scorer from last year plays top 6. Cat must play top 6 every single game. The team needs him to be an offensive force. Another given should be that Cat is Kane’s right-shooting LW every game. Kane-Toews-Cat or Kane-Anisimov-Cat every single game.

I don’t even know what Schmaltz is at this point. The thought of signing him for a lot of money on his next contract turns my stomach. His multi flybies on the Caps’ first goal were ridiculous and disgusting. He skated around checking nobody. It was actually harder not to check than to check but he managed it. While Cat has been buried Schmaltz is treated as if he has been highly productive with a great attitude and great leadership skills.

I so much want to put him on the 3rd line. He has already frittered away his C opportunity. He is now doing his best to fritter away a top 6 LW opportunity. When he is in the top 6 he is a right shooting LW who never shoots. He should NEVER be Kane’s LW so he plays across from Saad, who will shoot.

Anisimov is best suited on the third line but until someone better, faster comes along it looks like he plays top 6.

Cat LW with Kane RW, Schmaltz LW with Saad RW - Toews and Anisimov as the Cs.

They have been like little snow flakes on ice for years now,okay they won a few cups which is great, but they will never fight back or play like grown men it's not in them.
- GlennL

Agree since bowman has taken that part of the game has been for the most part ignored. Need to build this like the 2010 team a team that could play any style. To me out of 3 cup winnging teams that was the best.

They have been like little snow flakes on ice for years now,okay they won a few cups which is great, but they will never fight back or play like grown men it's not in them.
- GlennL

Yeah - better to fight back than to win Cups playing like snow flakes - let’s lament the lack of retaliation rather than celebrate the winners.

Certainly don’t need to be “grown men” to win in the best hockey league in the world.

Look (and I hate using that to begin an opinion, but) - they played the game dictated by their skills - and won three Cups with a speed (for the time) and puck possession game. They beat teams trying to play their game, and they beat teams playing a heavier body-first strategy

Probably - given today’s talent level on the team - and the league’s move to a more speed oriented game - they can’t play that game and win. But it worked with what they had way back in the day....

Sloppy play last night defensively. Proving my point that this team isn't winning lately unless Crawford is in beast mode.

1st Caps goal - blown coverage, well illustrated on the broadcast.

2nd Caps goal - all 4 guys on the PK followed the puck and while I know what they are trying to do to collapse down, they took it too far and the result was a wide open chance. To me, AA kinda got in no man's land and we had two guys tying up the same player...




3rd Caps goal - Martinsen taking the draw for Kruger, in the confusion to try to win the draw they didn't get on their coverage and the point shot got by CC.

4th Caps goal - Was the Caps kinda lucky play to stop the AA breakaway, but from that point, it looked like fatigue was an issue. Kane has been playing way too many minutes (I've said it a couple times now) and it shows in this play. (Just for reference Kane was near 25 minutes again last night, Toews approached 24 minutes and Saad 23. Hayden played under 3 minutes. Martinsen just over 4 minutes. Kruger under 7. This is not good management of the players by the new head coach.

The Caps turned the play back on the Hawks and Keith got isolated into a mini 2-1. Not really any help from the Hawks forwards so it was basically a 3-2 for the Caps to gain the zone.


One Caps player pulled up after dishing the puck to allow them to get by Keith. Kane after his pass was picked off (trying to send AA on a breakaway) slowly makes his way to the bench. Joki moves over to help Keith.


AA, who was the high guy who almost had a breakaway is the only forward back that had a chance to get on the goal scorer, but didn't make it back in time.


3-2 game and Kane was too tired or unwilling to stay on the ice when they turned it over in the middle. Saad kinda floated back but didn't really do much coverage.

Was watching yesterday free game on NHL TV Pens- Stars and was wondering why Crossby can play like that right after upper body injury (he was day time decision)being older than 88 and 19 why Pens can still throw entertainment game for fans scoring 5 goals even when team is no longer deep. Hawks games have been dry and boring and our expensive superstars cannot put what older Malkin and Crossby do and I bet they have more playoff games in their career so being tired is no excuse.
- vshun

. I agree. We had lots of. Septh to the 4 th line in those 3. Cups. AND. Pitts is getting mucch more value in Crosby and Malkin. Look at our powerplay, a huge sample of time now, out 11 nil boys can't make it click. Sometimes Toews clicks with some on his line BUT it never lasts.

On Saad’s goal you see he actually broke in from the right side, his off-wing. Better angle to the net for power moves and shooting. I have been saying for a long time to play him on his off-wing.

This, of course would mean he should not play with Kane. Each and every game Kane and Saad should be the RWs in the top 6 period.

For the team to be successful there simply has to be certain givens game in and game out. One of these is that the leading goal scorer from last year plays top 6. Cat must play top 6 every single game. The team needs him to be an offensive force. Another given should be that Cat is Kane’s right-shooting LW every game. Kane-Toews-Cat or Kane-Anisimov-Cat every single game.

I don’t even know what Schmaltz is at this point. The thought of signing him for a lot of money on his next contract turns my stomach. His multi flybies on the Caps’ first goal were ridiculous and disgusting. He skated around checking nobody. It was actually harder not to check than to check but he managed it. While Cat has been buried Schmaltz if treated as if he has been highly productive with a great attitude and great leadership skills.

I so much want to put him on the 3rd line. He has already frittered away his C opportunity. He is now doing his best to fritter away a top 6 LW opportunity. When he is in the top 6 he is a right shooting LW who never shoots. He should NEVER be Kane’s LW so he plays across from Saad, who will shoot.

Anisimov is best suited on the third line but until someone better, faster comes along it looks like he plays top 6.

Cat LW with Kane RW, Schmaltz LW with Saad RW - Toews and Anisimov as the Cs.
- Z3Hawk

Is Schmaltz really any different than Brandon Pirri was when the Hawks needed a #2 center a few years ago?

At some point they need to make the big decision on #8 - either no future and get rid of him or send him to Rockford for some very tough instructional work because he is basically useless in the NHL right now.

Last night are games the Hawks simply can't afford to lose.

Personally, I thought the Hawks were the better team with the goalies being the difference. I can't totally fault Crow, but he was clearly outplayed by Holtby. With this team it's usually the other way around (our goalie is almost always better).

I have to say, despite the loss, last night was about as encouraged as I've been all year. The Hawks, at times were in complete control of the defending Cup champions on the road. Can they build on this? Or is this the beginning of a losing streak?

Well you know how much Stanley likes his college boys and small skilled Euros. The Hawks are a dreadful team to even watch anymore. That is what is going to cost McD ticket sales - not losses but fan boredom with this brand of hockey.
- RickJ

Nail on the Head. Our family has been talking for quite a long time now that the Hawks are hard to watch. The Hawks were once relentless. Came in waves. Had speed, had a strong forecheck.

Disappointed so far in Colliton. Thought he would come in and make choices that hadn’t been made before - such as putting Cat as Kane’s right shooting LW. Such as adjusting the PP by putting players like Saad and Anisimov in the front of the net to screen and bang in rebounds. This high slot nonsense with Schmaltz is a total waste of time and clogs the ice making cross ice passes almost impossible. This is a shooting role with a player who doesn’t shoot. Why is Cat not a key player on the PP? One of the Assistants is supposed to be a PP genius - not only am I not seeing genius I am not seeing average.

On the PK we still play passively pressuring nobody. The Hawks don’t so much kill penalties as hope they’ll kill themselves. Again no positive change seen.

Is Schmaltz really any different than Brandon Pirri was when the Hawks needed a #2 center a few years ago?

At some point they need to make the big decision on #8 - either no future and get rid of him or send him to Rockford for some very tough instructional work because he is basically useless in the NHL right now.
- RickJ

RickJ - Something must be done with Schmaltz no doubt. Right now he is bringing about as little to the table as it is possible to bring. It is also important to remember that he is supposed to be one of the Leaders on the team, at this point, when in fact he is a liability. He is also the opposite of a player that “leads by example.”

They have been like little snow flakes on ice for years now,okay they won a few cups which is great, but they will never fight back or play like grown men it's not in them.
- GlennL

THIS!

I've said for years that 2013 and 2015 wins didn't matter because those teams didn't hit or fight anyone. At least the 2010 team did some of that. Unearned championships and an embarrassement to Blackhawk fans. I'd have gladly had a team of tough players and no cup wins then the "snowflake" cup wins we had to endure.

THIS!

I've said for years that 2013 and 2015 wins didn't matter because those teams didn't hit or fight anyone. At least the 2010 team did some of that. Unearned championships and an embarrassement to Blackhawk fans. I'd have gladly had a team of tough players and no cup wins then the "snowflake" cup wins we had to endure.
- paulr

This has to be sarcasm.

Nail on the Head. Our family has been talking for quite a long time now that the Hawks are hard to watch. The Hawks were once relentless. Came in waves. Had speed, had a strong forecheck.

Disappointed so far in Colliton. Thought he would come in and make choices that hadn’t been made before - such as putting Cat as Kane’s right shooting LW. Such as adjusting the PP by putting players like Saad and Anisimov in the front of the net to screen and bang in rebounds. This high slot nonsense with Schmaltz is a total waste of time and clogs the ice making cross ice passes almost impossible. This is a shooting role with a player who doesn’t shoot. Why is Cat not a key player on the PP? One of the Assistants is supposed to be a PP genius - not only am I not seeing genius I am not seeing average.

On the PK we still play passively pressuring nobody. The Hawks don’t so much kill penalties as hope they’ll kill themselves. Again no positive change seen.
- Z3Hawk

When the Hawks played that way they had a 4th line that was comparable to most team's second line. A third line that was better than most teams second lines and two number one lines. Depth was the key to those teams you lament. The Hawks can't play that game any more because they don't have the talent to play that way.

As for Coliton, give him time. If he came in and restructured the team right away with no regard to hierarchy, loyalty etc he'd have a full on revolt. He will have to gradually make moves to get the "right" players in the right spots and there still may be a revolt. Coliton's job at the moment is as much political as it is coaching, he doesn't want to alienate the veterans the moment he walked into the room. Also it's entirely possible he just doesn't have the talent to make the changes we'd like to see.

To the Americans here- Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families. If you're traveling, stay safe.

To the Canadians here- you had Thanksgiving a month or 2 ago, right? Well anyways, stay safe and slainte.

Hoping for a Bears win today, Mitchie needs to play, and I look forward to coming back tomorrow to talk hawks and tb.
- I Am The Breadman

Canadian here. Number of years ago we started trying to score some fun on the American Thanksgiving too. Our thinking - who wouldn’t want two Thanksgivings? We try to book off work completely unless impossible or at least early. Watch some parades and NFL Football. Make Thanksgiving food too. It’s a blast.

Last night are games the Hawks simply can't afford to lose.

Personally, I thought the Hawks were the better team with the goalies being the difference. I can't totally fault Crow, but he was clearly outplayed by Holtby. With this team it's usually the other way around (our goalie is almost always better).

I have to say, despite the loss, last night was about as encouraged as I've been all year. The Hawks, at times were in complete control of the defending Cup champions on the road. Can they build on this? Or is this the beginning of a losing streak?
- kwolf68

IMO, Looking more like the losing streak. They aren't going anywhere in the near future with the mental defensive errors from the players trying to learn the coaches systems and with the coach basically playing 3 lines. The Hawks are starting to look primed for a nose dive.

Canadian here. Number of years ago we started trying to score some fun on the American Thanksgiving too. Our thinking - who wouldn’t want two Thanksgivings? We try to book off work completely unless impossible or at least early. Watch some parades and NFL Football. Make Thanksgiving food too. It’s a blast.
- Z3Hawk

Traitor!

Canadian here. Number of years ago we started trying to score some fun on the American Thanksgiving too. Our thinking - who wouldn’t want two Thanksgivings? We try to book off work completely unless impossible or at least early. Watch some parades and NFL Football. Make Thanksgiving food too. It’s a blast.
- Z3Hawk

Build a wall....

Yeah - better to fight back than to win Cups playing like snow flakes - let’s lament the lack of retaliation rather than celebrate the winners.

Certainly don’t need to be “grown men” to win in the best hockey league in the world.

Look (and I hate using that to begin an opinion, but) - they played the game dictated by their skills - and won three Cups with a speed (for the time) and puck possession game. They beat teams trying to play their game, and they beat teams playing a heavier body-first strategy

Probably - given today’s talent level on the team - and the league’s move to a more speed oriented game - they can’t play that game and win. But it worked with what they had way back in the day....
- StLBravesFan

That's how they won 3 cups playing for each other standing up for one another that heart charcter and unity the last 3 years plus really have not seen that.

When the Hawks played that way they had a 4th line that was comparable to most team's second line. A third line that was better than most teams second lines and two number one lines. Depth was the key to those teams you lament. The Hawks can't play that game any more because they don't have the talent to play that way.

As for Coliton, give him time. If he came in and restructured the team right away with no regard to hierarchy, loyalty etc he'd have a full on revolt. He will have to gradually make moves to get the "right" players in the right spots and there still may be a revolt. Coliton's job at the moment is as much political as it is coaching, he doesn't want to alienate the veterans the moment he walked into the room. Also it's entirely possible he just doesn't have the talent to make the changes we'd like to see.
- paulr

I’m not in agreement. It is about accountability. Nothing prevents Colliton from telling players like Hayden, Martinsen, Gus, Rutta and Schmaltz that you either play more aggressively, faster and smarter or you’ll be an Ice Hog.

Also it does not alienate anyone to feature Cat, or to change the PP or the PK to make them better.

I believed that it was time for Q to move on but that was only part 1 of the story. Part 2 was seeing real change. In the absence of part 2 there was no reason for part 1. There are more items that are the same or worse after the change, with the PP, PK and line combinations at the top of the list.