the only relentless i see..is the relentlessly poor defense decisions and getting blown off the ice in the first period since game 1
- bogiedoc

They aren't winning any period:

First period - 27 GF 38 GA
Second period - 21 - 32
Third period - 25 - 29
OT = 4-4
SO - 0-1

Second City Hockey has been coming in hot with these good updates, glad someone's keeping track of it. Although I feel like we're already at 'Bill Murray Caddyshack' level of pride:

'Our team is a couple points out of last place, our PP and PK are worst in the league, we have some huge contracts that will hamstring us for years, it's dire. But, a couple of our prospects made their WJC preliminary rosters. So we got that going for us, which is nice.'

https://i.imgflip.com/6hhvd.gif
- ObeseOprah

Yeah haven’t seen preliminary rosters yet for Sweden, USA, or Russia.

Guesses for Hawks prospects:
Sweden: Boqvist, Soderlund
USA: Barratt, Wise, Ess, Krys
Russia: Kayumov, Altybarmakyan

From the last blog:

Today @ 11:33 AM ET

Seriously? Regardless of McD, GM's would be pushing each other out of the way to get a chance at being the GM of an Original 6 franchise with an owner that has treated everyone with class. The Hawks organization has set the bar high with how the people in the entire organization are treated. From the mom/dad trips to paying for everyones families to travel to road SC games.
- TheTrob


I wouldn’t be so sure about that. We’re talking about what’s attractive to a professional hockey executive. Much of what you said is more oriented toward what a player might find enticing, and I would argue that a rookie coach vs Q diminishes that in most prospective UFA’s eyes.

McD has a reputation of being far more involved in hockey decisions than his limited background would warrant - with an ego surpassing the typical A-type personalities you find amongst the executive ranks. The “Mc-Ego” nickname was earned, not randomly handed out. It’s been widely reported about how the front office operates in a management-by-committe fashion, with McD substantively involved in hockey decisions. Furthermore, there have been persistent anecdotes on how McD treats those who give him some push back when it comes to his expertise vs their own (e.g. Dale Tallon).

So what does this all mean? Well, if you’re an accomplished/experienced GM candidate (which I’d argue is what the Hawks need) you’re going to think long and hard about the environment you’d be working under with McD. Am I going to be given the freedom to perform my job based upon my own judgment and experience, or am I going to be continually asking for permission/approval? Will I be required to continually explain and justify proposals to someone who’s subject matter expertise is significantly below mine - while still being sure not to bruise their oversized ego? That describes an exhausting and unattractive work environment to most people. The hockey executive profession is big, but like most professional ranks, it’s small too. People earn a reputation, and it spreads from person-to-person, and seldom, if ever, “on the record.”

So sure, some relatively inexperienced “eager beaver” GM candidate is going to leap at the job because he’ll just be happy at the chance (like Colliton has with the coaching job). But with the problems Hawks face and the decisions that need to be made, and with the potential complex trades that will need to be executed, is that really what any of us want?

The Hawks need a new team president. One who has the depth of experience to properly perform the job, and one who’s reputation amongst the hockey professional ranks will allow the Hawks to attract and retain top talent in the front office. John McDonough is woefully lacking in those areas and no amount of “original six” mystique or 1st class road trips can compensate for that.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

This 1000 x 1000

Thank you Chief4Feathers!!
- 17SEC

You have 3 GM's in the league with more than 10 years as GM at their current club. Ken Holland, David Poile, and Doug Wilson. On top of that most of the rest of the league has turned over its GM in the last 4 years. The GM's close/at 10 years are Bowman, Doug Armstrong and Bob Murray.

It's a transient position, some of these guys have been at multiple clubs, many have worked for crazy owners and in situations way worse than what exists at the Hawks. If you think they are turning down a job because of McD you are wrong.

The question that really exists is whether when Stan gets launched, assuming that McD stays, is whether they even look for a established name as GM, or they either hire from within or grab an "unknown".

Just a note, there is a ton of Hawk bloodlines in the GM ranks. Tallon, Wilson, Murray, Bergevin, Cheveldayoff

very intrigueing but I don't think hitch would have replaced Q...hitch has huge respect Q
- bogiedoc

We"ll never know.

But on a short term basis that defence would have been improved for the long term.

I have been hoping that a yes big body physical forward like Knott would make strides this season toward a bottom line checking NHL job
Another player, Raydash, I inquired about on this board. Was told he is offensive minded and misses his defensive assignment often. I question his ceiling as NHL.

On the other hand, I am.curious if Lakksnen has NHL ability.

The success of prospects in Rockford this season is affected by no experienced veteran professional dman. And a handful of ECHL forwards who came aboard after the season had barely begun..

On Hagel....was told a descent skillplayet but not going to be a top line.

Also I am not enamorated after seeing Edjsel is indeed everything good and bad rings true. If not a top line guy then I am biased toward ig size players whom.uze their body willingly fairly often in physical performance.

Shalunov? That guy has become the mysterious yeti for Hawk fans. Won't he be like 30 if he comes over in 2021?

Yep, keep the prospects coming so we can continue stocking Arizona as the Coyotes' farm team.
I cannot get excited about prospects anymore with this management team which continuously frithers away assets.

We"ll never know.

But on a short term basis that defence would have been improved for the long term.
- RickJ

Hitch hasn't been relevant for 20 years. Have a feeling not many of this current group is going to be here long term anyway.

Yeah haven’t seen preliminary rosters yet for Sweden, USA, or Russia.

Guesses for Hawks prospects:
Sweden: Boqvist, Soderlund
USA: Barratt, Wise, Ess, Krys
Russia: Kayumov, Altybarmakyan
- AEL_Fox

Won't see Soderlund. He is too old .

Hitch hasn't been relevant for 20 years. Have a feeling not many of this current group is going to be here long term anyway.
- Elbows15

Hitch has a dressing room shelf life of about 60 days.

But it would have been fun watching him abuse Gustafsson and Rutta for awhile.

At the risk of being a heretic with the name I am going to mention:

As the decision was being made to axe Q, a wise GM and Hockey Ops Dept might have concluded that this was a weak team playing in the very tough Central Div. and the likelihood of a playoff spot wasn't great. That GM would have noted that defence was a massive weak spot and they needed a coach who could help school the young defenceman on the roster and also provide a candid, honest assessment of their capabilities.

There would have been no better guy than 'retired' Ken Hitchcock on a short term deal - pay him $2M for the season with no commitments beyond that because Colliton was heir to the throne for next season. Hitch might not have gotten the team into the playoffs but this disaster of a defence corps would have been noticeably improved over the course of this season and going forward. And Colliton would have had the time to prepare for the transition instead of being thrown into a complete dumpster fire.

31st overall here we come.
- RickJ

At this point in his career I doubt that Hitchcock would have come here. With the Oilers he was basically going home where he started as an employee in a sport shop and coaching minor hockey.
Anyway if he did accept a position with us (and who knows if he was not offered one because Bowman might have been doing his homework well before he pulled the plug on Q) all he would have done is make us marginally better to mess up our draft position.

Hitch hasn't been relevant for 20 years. Have a feeling not many of this current group is going to be here long term anyway.
- Elbows15

Exactly. Why would you want Hitch, or any of the other coaching re-treads. A few of these d-men will be around for a bit. You had a defensive coach supposedly in Q and you got rid of him. How about instead of Granato you go out and hire a defensive coach who can actually teach, like Yawney did when #2 & #7 were youngsters.

At this point in his career I doubt that Hitchcock would have come here. With the Oilers he was basically going home where he started as an employee in a sport shop and coaching minor hockey.
Anyway if he did accept a position with us (and who knows if he was not offered one because Bowman might have been doing his homework well before he pulled the plug on Q) all he would have done is make us marginally better to mess up our draft position.
- 67hawks

Hitch will coach until he is 100 and it won't matter where because the only other thing he has to do with himself is play with his little Civil War pieces on a wooden board.

Won't see Soderlund. He is too old .
- Elbows15

That's what I thought about 1 or 2 of those prospects, that they're aged out of the WJC this year.

Exactly. Why would you want Hitch, or any of the other coaching re-treads. A few of these d-men will be around for a bit. You had a defensive coach supposedly in Q and you got rid of him. How about instead of Granato you go out and hire a defensive coach who can actually teach, like Yawney did when #2 & #7 were youngsters.
- TheTrob

Yawney is relevant and Hitch isn't?

The Oilcans have him as their defence coach and brought Hitch in to fix their GA problems.

And about the same thing happened to Yawney in Anaheim.

Yawney is relevant and Hitch isn't?

The Oilcans have him as their defence coach and brought Hitch in to fix their GA problems.

And about the same thing happened to Yawney in Anaheim.
- RickJ

Methinks you misread Trob's post a tad re: Yawney.

Hitch will coach until he is 100 and it won't matter where because the only other thing he has to do with himself is play with his little Civil War pieces on a wooden board.
- RickJ

There are a number of coaches out there who will continue to get chances, deserved or not. Hitchcock, Vigneault, Carlysle, Tippet, Tortorella, Yeo, McLellan, etc.

Some of them caught lightning in a bottle and won a SC, others have never won a damn thing, but keep getting chances.

I'm OK with trying out a guy from outside the "circle". Optics and timing were bad on the Q firing, but I have no problem with JC.......yet

[Opens forum]

[Looks for Keith bashers]

[Sees none]

[Continues rocking in rocking chair while chewing tobacco and polishing revolver]

'Mmmhm'


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pkshjbn8GKc#t=33s

Exactly. Why would you want Hitch, or any of the other coaching re-treads. A few of these d-men will be around for a bit. You had a defensive coach supposedly in Q and you got rid of him. How about instead of Granato you go out and hire a defensive coach who can actually teach, like Yawney did when #2 & #7 were youngsters.
- TheTrob

Good idea

Shalunov? That guy has become the mysterious yeti for Hawk fans. Won't he be like 30 if he comes over in 2021?
- Elbows15

I think he wants out and Bowman wants him asap. The past Olympics or whatever the big competition was, Anisimov was talking after a game and told Shalunov in Russian, "Come play for the hawks." He could get out of that contract, I don't know what will happen, but I'm leery about his dipping production, but would still like to see him on NA ice. It's not like we got anywhere to be or going anywhere this year, and quite possibly next year.

Methinks you misread Trob's post a tad re: Yawney.
- mohel

You mean the Yawney who help develop Anahiem's D into one of the top PK teams over the previous years and had a hand in developing guys like Manson, Fowler, Lindholm, etc....................yeah, that guy.

I think he wants out and Bowman wants him asap. The past Olympics or whatever the big competition was, Anisimov was talking after a game and told Shalunov in Russian, "Come play for the hawks." He could get out of that contract, I don't know what will happen, but I'm leery about his dipping production, but would still like to see him on NA ice. It's not like we got anywhere to be or going anywhere this year, and quite possibly next year.
- I Am The Breadman

Pit and Ana trade, Sprong for Pettersson.

I share the love, but I am sure the priests in the Temple of Syrinx have already determined "he doesn't fit the plan."

You know, big, physical.....
- Return of the Roar

Actually, Parayko is big but not physical.

Exactly. Why would you want Hitch, or any of the other coaching re-treads. A few of these d-men will be around for a bit. You had a defensive coach supposedly in Q and you got rid of him. How about instead of Granato you go out and hire a defensive coach who can actually teach, like Yawney did when #2 & #7 were youngsters.
- TheTrob

I like that idea as well. In general, wherever the Hawks are sorely deficient, then hire coaches with solid track records to teach and develop whether that's defense, PP, PK, faceoffs, etc.

I know the Hawks have Perreault as a faceoff coach but his track record of developing stellar faceoff takers isn't that great. One would think it's time to look at other faceoff coaches. Just because Perrault was supreme at it as a player doesn't mean he's an excellent coach at it.

Point of information but wasn't Colliton a defenseman in his playing days?