JL, the optics on this mess look like "blowing it up" without having the proper front office/coaching staff to properly rebuild. Very confusing to give a 33yo coach a bottom-of-league roster and inspire confidence that he will improve, retain and be a destination for RFA's/UFA's.

Also, this board (rightfully so) is going to be a dumping ground for trade scenarios for the forseeable future.

Literally everyone on the Hawks' roster has become a proposed trade. At some point they have to dress a certain number of "poor" NHL-caliber players (Manning, Kunitz, etc.) or they will just have a bunch of Hogs skating around the UC

The Hawks have lost all these games in the first 5-10 minutes of the first period.

Not sure how they keep allowing multiple goals within this time frame, but playing from behind every game makes it nearly impossible to win.
- Hank3Henshaw

Have you noticed how Pat and Eddie are also calling this out and putting individuals on blast? Eddie had to choose "risk/reward" very carefully for Gustafson. He's such a liability on D it's ridiculous.

Does anyone think Pat and Eddie will get a "talking-to" about being too candid? Their criticism of the personnel moves, line combos, everything post-Q is actually pretty honest and unlike something you'd get on a White Sox (looking at you Hawk!) broadcast.

Throughout this skid, I havent looked at a game after it ended and felt like, "Wow, the Hawks should have won that game." Last night, I feel like they should have, I was impressed with the effort, and most importantly the compete level.

Yeah...I'm starting to wake up...

Realistically I think Bowman gets one more chance this summer to retool again, and if next year is going anywhere close to how this season is going, they send Bowman packing.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

I hear you, I didn't want to see the guys leave either. I do think we need to move on. I agree, I think Bowman finishes the year, and gets next year, maye not the whole year though. I don't like it, but I see it going that way.

The Hawks have lost all these games in the first 5-10 minutes of the first period.

Not sure how they keep allowing multiple goals within this time frame, but playing from behind every game makes it nearly impossible to win.
- Hank3Henshaw

Last night they had a 41 second lead. We lost this game in the third like most good nhl teams, haha.

Throughout this skid, I havent looked at a game after it ended and felt like, "Wow, the Hawks should have won that game." Last night, I feel like they should have, I was impressed with the effort, and most importantly the compete level.
- nickmo2699

I thought they should have won Ducks too.

Give players stupid contracts to make them feel wanted.
Try to win.
Fail.
Make it worse so the veteran players you gave the stupid no movement clause contracts want to leave.
Trade them for pennies on the dollar.
Lose for Hughes.

#stanbowmanmasterplan

Have you noticed how Pat and Eddie are also calling this out and putting individuals on blast? Eddie had to choose "risk/reward" very carefully for Gustafson. He's such a liability on D it's ridiculous.

Does anyone think Pat and Eddie will get a "talking-to" about being too candid? Their criticism of the personnel moves, line combos, everything post-Q is actually pretty honest and unlike something you'd get on a White Sox (looking at you Hawk!) broadcast.
- phantasmo

I have and it's refreshing to hear.

I hope they don't get talked to, because that is a sign of a weak organization to me. I remember Steve Stone talking about when he worked for the Cubs, he was called in by the Cubs brass and told that fans were complaining that he was too hard on the players and they wanted him to stop and call the game a different way. He told them it's his job to hold these guys accountable for poor play, etc. He was then released.

Gust (and a lot of the Defensemen) I want to just yell, "Stay! At! Home!" They all want to be forwards and not play defense. I don't get it.

Last night they had a 41 second lead. We lost this game in the third like most good nhl teams, haha.
- I Am The Breadman

Haha.

Not a good season to be a Hawk fan.

Total shiiit show.

Moved on from the HOF coach, time to do the same with the core.

Toews, CC, Seabs should all go - and perhaps Keith as well.

Simply no room for two 10 million dollar contracts on a 30th place team!

PK, Dcat and the new young picks are the only ones worth keeping.

Everyone else expendable.

Have you noticed how Pat and Eddie are also calling this out and putting individuals on blast? Eddie had to choose "risk/reward" very carefully for Gustafson. He's such a liability on D it's ridiculous.

Does anyone think Pat and Eddie will get a "talking-to" about being too candid? Their criticism of the personnel moves, line combos, everything post-Q is actually pretty honest and unlike something you'd get on a White Sox (looking at you Hawk!) broadcast.
- phantasmo

I feel they have a little bit to go before they are honest. There are and have been plenty of core players who have screwed up and cost us goals/games or not contributing on the scoresheet, and they aren't addressed publicly like other players.

Through all the doom-and-gloom, I have to say that I really like Strome.

That goal he scored last night

Potash posted this and I found it quite interesting. He's been a big opponent of the Q firing/JC hiring, but seems the record of mid season replacements has been a 60/40 proposition, even for those, like Sullivan, that everyone points to as prime examples of why you would want to make a change.



I've admittedly become more skeptical after initially being a big fan of JC as the replacement. I liked what I'd heard about his development chops and how the players spoke of him. I liked his positive energy. I liked that he was going to erase the "country club" arrogance and how he seemed to recognize this team would need more practices together to make it work with all the new guys. Thought he would be perfect for a young, developing team. What the effect has been on the vets and watching him coaching them on the bench makes me wonder if it was a bridge too far, at least for now.

Gus is trying to reinvent the position because somebody must have told him that he would be a good rover.

The real problem is he is an insanely stupid bone head on the ice and it affects every other player out there with him.

Every night this team gives up 4 goals or more. No way possible to win in the NHL doing that and Colliton knows it. Maybe he's been told to muzzle it with Gus comments so they can trade him.
- RickJ

RickJ - “insanely stupid bone head.” Sadly your words about Gus are very true. It is painful to watch his play drag everyone around him down. JC has been making poor decisions with his backing of Gus at the top of the List.

JL, the optics on this mess look like "blowing it up" without having the proper front office/coaching staff to properly rebuild. Very confusing to give a 33yo coach a bottom-of-league roster and inspire confidence that he will improve, retain and be a destination for RFA's/UFA's.

Also, this board (rightfully so) is going to be a dumping ground for trade scenarios for the forseeable future.

Literally everyone on the Hawks' roster has become a proposed trade. At some point they have to dress a certain number of "poor" NHL-caliber players (Manning, Kunitz, etc.) or they will just have a bunch of Hogs skating around the UC
- phantasmo

I think on the blue line they have a fair amount of talent to fill in. Out of Henri, Boqvist, Beaudin and Mitchell they have a lot of talent. And there may be something to a player like Krys or Carlsson or Mitchell. They should get 1 very good player 1 good player and 1 that just doesn't suck out of that group.

If you look at Bill Placzeks site it looks like there is some serious offensive talent and guys with NHL bodies now available early.

Gotta come to terms with the window being closed now and trying to reload for two or three years down the line, which with the defensive talent in the pipe and getting a close to NHL ready player now in the draft with high end offensive talent and it is doable.

They've done a good enough job finding talented players late in the first and second rounds that there isn't any reason to think that Isn't possible. Gotta cut some fat now though and commit to that process. I think Kane and Toews get on board with that.

Through all the doom-and-gloom, I have to say that I really like Strome.

That goal he scored last night
- Hank3Henshaw

I think he is doing good with his bestest friend, Cat. They still got chemistry. I like watching them play, keep them together, JC. It's better for him here than in Ari.

I don't care for Perlini. He didn't take advantage of his top 6 opportunities. Maybe he's just not a top 6 guy. He isn't creating chances for himself. In his defense though, I will say, he's going around the line-up and got benched. Not cool.

Not a good season to be a Hawk fan.

Total shiiit show.

Moved on from the HOF coach, time to do the same with the core.

Toews, CC, Seabs should all go - and perhaps Keith as well.

Simply no room for two 10 million dollar contracts on a 30th place team!

PK, Dcat and the new young picks are the only ones worth keeping.

Everyone else expendable.
- Hawkster

The ghost of Q will come to life soon when he takes over in Philly as their coach as long as Fletcher agrees to get him something better than a Jr.B goaltender. And then you will see some Hawk-Flyer trade action.

"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."

You better ask for a Christmas miracle on this one, that has to be top 3 worst contracts in the NHL.

That thing is on the books for another 5 years, unless a lockout bails Chicago out with a 1 time buyout that does not hit the cap

Which is entirely possible
- fsanford

I would not include Crawford in that group because his contract expires after the next season. If we hang on to him until the 2020 TDL he will actually have trade value. There is always some team looking to upgrade in goal due to injury, poor play, etc at every TDL.

Personally I am thankful this is happening now. There is no chance now to be caught in the middle. We the fans know that this was not a playoff team; I want to believe that management knew that as well. The Hawks being out of it by December now forces their hand. I would rather have a forgettable year or two, than be caught in mediocrity for the next ten. Get a top 3 draft pick, try to move Anisimov, Crawford, Keith, and Seabrook (freeing up a lot of cap space between those four), and begin to rebuild this thing completely. I personally agree that keeping 19 & 88 around would be beneficial. I also would keep 20. Use some of that money to go out and get a player to play with Kane this off season. Be patient with your young blue line, and let them mature. The Hawks aren't winning anything with the roster they currently have anyways. Follow the New England Patriots method...when it's time to cut ties, do it. The nostalgia of the past three cups is wearing thin. I am tired of the gimmicks attempted by the franchise. I also don't think we should blame Rocky Wirtz. This is the first real time in his tenure as owner that the Hawks have been this low. Let's see what they can do to start that climb up the mountain again.

Not a good season to be a Hawk fan.

Total shiiit show.

Moved on from the HOF coach, time to do the same with the core.

Toews, CC, Seabs should all go - and perhaps Keith as well.

Simply no room for two 10 million dollar contracts on a 30th place team!

PK, Dcat and the new young picks are the only ones worth keeping.

Everyone else expendable.
- Hawkster

By the time this team is ready to compete again, his contract, along with Kane's, will not be the problem.

At at glance, this looks good. Although, I will admit, I haven't seen much of Scandella since he joined BUF last year and haven't seen CJ Smith play.

Is Scandella not playing well? Is he not top 4 quality?
- Justin Lowe

Scandella is hurt right now and from what I've seen on the Sabres subreddit is rather slow. I don't think Botteril is necessarily shopping him, I'd rather take a 1st and nothing else.

The Hawks have lost all these games in the first 5-10 minutes of the first period.

Not sure how they keep allowing multiple goals within this time frame, but playing from behind every game makes it nearly impossible to win.
- Hank3Henshaw

I've unfortunately had to miss several of the recent games and have seen only some of the "low"lights. Is it, in your opinion, on the D, the whole team, or the goalies not being ready for those first shots more often?

Last night was better.

On a high note it looks like they have a player in Strome and if he gets his fitness up a bit and fills out that frame he will be a very good hockey player. Maybe somewhere around a Johansen or Spezza type. He always seems to be in the right spot and being just a little stronger on his skates and able to start and stop with out huffing and puffing after a few direction changes and i think you start to see some dominant shifts more consistently there.

I think they pick up some points against Montreal but if they're going to make a roster move make it now. The rest of December is horrific qualcomp wise and a lot of games over two weeks.

Now. Skating Kane 27 minutes is ridiculous in a season that is already lost. Also, Gus skating 26 and Lil Henri skating 12 blows my mind. The TOI management and line combinations make my brain hurt. Unless they're showcasing guys as throw ins this doesn't make a lot of sense.

However, AA looks spry AF and finishing some dope goals. Definitely some value there.
- fattybeef

Am supportive of the Strome trade and optimistic he can be a good, long-term addition. The thing that strikes me most about Strome is watching his interviews and realizing how young he is and how much opportunity there is for development.

Through all the doom-and-gloom, I have to say that I really like Strome.

That goal he scored last night
- Hank3Henshaw

His skating does not impress me. That part of his game stands out in a bad way when he is up against fast lines on other teams.
I would move him for someone like this Schmaltz guy on the Arizona team.

Have you noticed how Pat and Eddie are also calling this out and putting individuals on blast? Eddie had to choose "risk/reward" very carefully for Gustafson. He's such a liability on D it's ridiculous.

Does anyone think Pat and Eddie will get a "talking-to" about being too candid? Their criticism of the personnel moves, line combos, everything post-Q is actually pretty honest and unlike something you'd get on a White Sox (looking at you Hawk!) broadcast.
- phantasmo

Hawk, while great before he sucked, became a legend in his own mind and was unbearable to listen to the last few years.

Pat and Eddie are at that point of being intolerable blow hards and I've taken to listening to the othwr broadcasts. Their analysis is thoughtless, Pat isnt watching the game or in the bag most of the time and Eddie shows why he will never have a coaching job again with every broadcast.

If Pat went back to actually calling the play by play so eddie could talk less (kind of like doc does) it would be tolerable but they don't have any interest in doing that.