JC hasn't paid his dues and it shows.

Coaching in the NHL- Sorry for the length of this piece but this is how a Coach learns to be Coach of the Year- its called paying your Dues!!! This after an amazing journey as an NHL player.

Coaching career- Turk Gallant
Gallant began his coaching career in 1995–96 with his hometown Summerside Capitals of the Maritime Junior Hockey League, leading the team to the Royal Bank Cup in 1997.

Gallant then moved on to the professional coaching ranks, serving as an assistant coach for the Fort Wayne Komets of the IHL in 1998.
- Colbyboy[17][18] He spent the 1999-00 season serving as an assistant for the Louisville Panthers of the AHL.

Gallant then served as assistant for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL from 2001 to 2004 under head coaches Dave King and Doug MacLean. King had served as Gallant's head coach for Team Canada at the 1989 World Ice Hockey Championships. MacLean had been an assistant coach with the Red Wings in the early 1990s. MacLean, who was also serving as the Blue Jackets general manager, resigned as head coach on January 1, 2004, and named Gallant as his successor. Gallant's assistant position was filled by veteran college hockey coach Dean Blais. Gallant served as the Blue Jackets head coach for the remainder of the 2003–04 season, through the 2004–05 season lost to the NHL lockout, all of the 2005–06 season, and a portion of the 2006–07 season. On November 13, 2006, Gallant was fired as head coach and was replaced by assistant Gary Agnew for five games.[19] The Blue Jackets ultimately hired Ken Hitchcock as full-time coach on November 22, 2006.[20]

In 2007, Gallant was named by Team Canada general manager Steve Yzerman as one of the two assistant coaches for the 2007 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships. Gallant helped the Canadian team to a championship and gold medal finish.[21]

Gallant joined the New York Islanders as an assistant coach for the 2007–08 and 2008–09 seasons. Then head coach of the Islanders, Ted Nolan, had been a teammate of Gallant's on the Adirondack Red Wings in 1983.

On April 24, 2009, Gallant was named head coach of the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL. During his three seasons with Saint John, he compiled a 159-34-9 record and led the Sea Dogs to three first-place finishes, three league final appearances, two QMJHL championships (2011 & 2012) and one Memorial Cup (2011). Gallant was also named the QMJHL and Canadian Hockey League Coach of the Year twice (2010 & 2011).[17]

On June 15, 2012, Gallant returned to the NHL when he was appointed as assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens under Michel Therrien. Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin had been a teammate of Gallant's with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1990s.[3][22]

On June 21, 2014, he was named head coach of the NHL's Florida Panthers by then executive vice president and general manager, Dale Tallon.[23] In his first season, he led the Panthers to a record of 38 wins, 29 losses, 5 overtime losses, and 10 shoot-out losses for 91 points. The record was an improvement of 9 wins and 25 points over the prior season. In 2015–16, Gallant led the upstart Panthers to a 24–12–4 record at the All-Star break, earning him a spot in the all-star game as the head coach for the Atlantic Division All-Stars. The Panthers finished with a club-record 47 wins and 103 points, enough for the second division title in franchise history. For his efforts, Gallant was named as a finalist for the Jack Adams Award.[24] On November 27, 2016, Gallant was fired by new Panthers general manager Tom Rowe after posting an 11–10–1 record to start the season.[25]

On April 13, 2017, Gallant was announced as the first head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights.[26]

Gallant led the Golden Knights to one of the most successful debut seasons for an expansion team in North American major professional sports history. On January 3, 2018, it was announced that Gallant would coach the Pacific Division All-Stars in the 2018 NHL All-Star Game.[27] On February 1, 2018, the Golden Knights set the NHL record for most wins (34) by an expansion franchise in league history. The mark was set in only 50 games played.[28] They clinched the Pacific Division title on March 31, becoming the first true expansion team in the four major sports to do so (not counting all-expansion divisions).[29] On April 25, 2018, Gallant was nominated for the Jack Adams Award for the second time,[30] which he would be awarded on June 20.[31]

Personal life

OR you can coach Tier 2 Swedish Beer League and 1 year in the AHL and then coach the Blackhawks! Please Rocky correct this nonsense.

OR you can coach Tier 2 Swedish Beer League and 1 year in the AHL and then coach the Blackhawks! Please Rocky correct this nonsense.
- Z3Hawk

He's the "Dale Sveum" of the Blackhawks.

He's the "Dale Sveum" of the Blackhawks.
- JPBurke27

Or the Fred Hoiberg of the Blackhawks! Wouldn't be surprised to see Tony Granato brought in. No reason why, other than hometown, brother on staff connection. Fits the Hawks "feel good" PR that they pump out.

Promoting Colliton was mind-boggling.

One thing to keep in mind (and I know you know this) is that the Hawks, even if they finish in last place, are not guaranteed #1 overall. I believe they only have 18.5% chance at #1 and about a 50% chance at a top 3 pick if they finish last. Even if they draft Hughes, I believe that they won't sniff the playoffs in 2019-2020. Lose for Hughes, get lucky enough to draft him, and another year of development for their first round pick defensive picks, and add in another top 5 pick then maybe you have the breeding of a dangerous team again. If all goes well.

Start with possible playoff teams who need a goaltender badly to have any chance of making the playoffs - Philly, Arizona, Carolina, Florida. Add in other teams who would benefit from an upgrade in goal - Calgary, Pittsburgh, St. Louis.

There will be a market for Cro, Quick and Jimmy Howard if not now certainly by the trade deadline.

If the Hawks are to trade #50, they need to extract maximum value in return because they have no full time replacement for him internally and there is no way to win in the NHL without big league goaltending.
- RickJ

I think that is a great point. If I were GM I would be focusing on getting the best combination of picks and prospects you could. Teams that truly have playoff aspirations and are close but being held back by poor/average goaltending are the target. I think teams that ARE close to playoff contention are reluctant to trade off their current rosters, but would part with picks/prospects.

I'm not sure ARI and FLA are just a goalie away and while Allen isn't helping StL, I think there problems are more than goaltending, something just off about how they are playing. Calgary and Pitt definitely. Heck CLG with their recent win streak is leading the West.

Brandon Manning would clear waivers.

I think that is a great point. If I were GM I would be focusing on getting the best combination of picks and prospects you could. Teams that truly have playoff aspirations and are close but being held back by poor/average goaltending are the target. I think teams that ARE close to playoff contention are reluctant to trade off their current rosters, but would part with picks/prospects.

I'm not sure ARI and FLA are just a goalie away and while Allen isn't helping StL, I think there problems are more than goaltending, something just off about how they are playing. Calgary and Pitt definitely. Heck CLG with their recent win streak is leading the West.
- TheTrob

*If Crawford agrees to waive his NMC...

Sad to see this team drop so hard. Even more sad to see their greatest coach in their history loose his job over this drop off

Promoting Colliton was mind-boggling.
- Hank3Henshaw

You think!!!!

Bowman played 2 years of Ball Hockey & his being GM of the Hawks is equally mind-boggling!!!!

A new blog....

Oh please oh please can we have 900+ of the same whiners complaining how everyone sucks - and everyone should be traded and/or fired???

Seriously - reading through all of your complaining - most of you are worse than a room of five year old children - that are all looooong overdue for naps!!!!!

Just keep this in mind - 29 other fan bases would KILL to be in this position right now - with three cups in tow over the past decade!!!!!!

And just remember what this franchise looked like the previous decade. Keep whining for the magical rebuild - you will be there soon enough. Just ask Bulls fans how that is going - now into its third decade!!!!!!

And another poster whining about people whining, telling them what HE thinks THEY should talk about. Don't like what people are saying on these blogs? Don't read it. Who died and made you God?

You think!!!!

Bowman played 2 years of Ball Hockey & his being GM of the Hawks is equally mind-boggling!!!!
- Colbyboy

Bowman being named was Nepotism. Disgusting.

OR you can coach Tier 2 Swedish Beer League and 1 year in the AHL and then coach the Blackhawks! Please Rocky correct this nonsense.
- Z3Hawk

Lol well said. Their are so many problems with this team it's not even funny anymore.

Rocky is a major problem right now for allowing this train wreck to continue.


Keith ,Seabrook, Crawford and even toews time to move on from these guys, their age, contracts are a stranglehold over this team. Stan , MC D and the coaching staff all need to go . This needs to be a total house cleaning.

The only defenseman who should be considered the future is JOHKI.

Strome, d cat, Kane are the only forwards id keep. Rockford has nobodynof any significant value that is going to improve this team from a forward standpoint.

Burn the house down.

One thing to keep in mind (and I know you know this) is that the Hawks, even if they finish in last place, are not guaranteed #1 overall. I believe they only have 18.5% chance at #1 and about a 50% chance at a top 3 pick if they finish last. Even if they draft Hughes, I believe that they won't sniff the playoffs in 2019-2020. Lose for Hughes, get lucky enough to draft him, and another year of development for their first round pick defensive picks, and add in another top 5 pick then maybe you have the breeding of a dangerous team again. If all goes well.
- Hossa1881

This ^^^

I have a feeling the lottery gods will taketh if the Hawks end up last. I expect them to pick either 3rd or 4th. Hopefully we will pick a Toews and not a Barker.

And another poster whining about people whining, telling them what HE thinks THEY should talk about. Don't like what people are saying on these blogs? Don't read it. Who died and made you God?
- kwolf68

Yeah, mood policing is a bad look. Don't do it.

If the team is playing like poop, you're allowed to be mad that the team is playing like poop. You've all invested in this team emotionally and financially over the years. You can feel how you want to about them.

Yeah, mood policing is a bad look. Don't do it.

If the team is playing like poop, you're allowed to be mad that the team is playing like poop. You've all invested in this team emotionally and financially over the years. You can feel how you want to about them.
- BINGO!

I would be happy if they just stressed the fundamentals of the game, like wingers covering the point defensively. Not doing that, which is taught at the squirt level, led to 2 goals last night, including the game winner for MTL.

People want to blame a scapegoat, whether it's warranted or not. Jeremy Colliton is not the problem - the roster is the problem. Whether Colliton is a "good coach" or not is yet to be determined but blaming him for what is the inevitable decline of a quasi-dynasty team is nonsense. If nitpicking at JC lets you blow off some steam - fine, that's what message boards are for. Same thing with Stan, although he is more legitimately culpable because he's been on the job longer than a couple months. The main perpetrator in the Hawks decline is the salary cap and Father Time and the salary cap system worked as designed.

We Hawks fans have much to be thankful for over the past 10 years and now we should be thankful the "end" has been swift enough that the Hawks aren't subjected to hanging around in the middle of the standings where neither playoff success of high draft picks are possible.

Kakko in 2019 and then another year of sucking to get Lafreniere in 2020 and then contender in 2020/21.

A new blog....

Oh please oh please can we have 900+ of the same whiners complaining how everyone sucks - and everyone should be traded and/or fired???

Seriously - reading through all of your complaining - most of you are worse than a room of five year old children - that are all looooong overdue for naps!!!!!

Just keep this in mind - 29 other fan bases would KILL to be in this position right now - with three cups in tow over the past decade!!!!!!

And just remember what this franchise looked like the previous decade. Keep whining for the magical rebuild - you will be there soon enough. Just ask Bulls fans how that is going - now into its third decade!!!!!!
- dahawks8819

you aint kidding!!!!

" I can see a head coach being brought in to move Derek King back to associate coach. I don’t think management is content with him in that position."

How about they move Colliton back down, or make Colliton "associate head coach" of the Blackhawks and bring in a "real" head coach to groom him.

I think the lineup you posted at least gives you 4 competitive lines. The defense still some huge question marks. Forsling still really raw, and as good as Boqvist may become, I would guess he will struggle some at the NHL level, especially in his own zone.
- TheTrob

I agree and hope this happens. There has to be a more qualified NHL caliber coach somewhere. Hawks can spin Colliton's "demotion" as he's a great young coach but put into a bad situation, needs more seasoning, blah blah blah.

Of course, I think this course of action will only happen if Stanbo is fired and McD takes a hands off approach to on ice operations.

Need a GM/president who can hire the next coaching staff and shape the roster beginning with the 2019 draft and free agency period.

This club needs a complete organization starting at the top. I hope Rocky is thinking about this and is not blinded by the $21 million or so in Seattle expansion fee he will receive.

I think its a combination of "all of the above". Transition to the North American Rink, new country, language, speed of game, 2 coaches in the span of a few months, etc.

Most young Defenseman will struggle in their first year. Look at Forsling and Rutta last season. They started strong, and then really faded. Forsling was sent down and Rutta had his minutes reduced a bunch.
- TheTrob

Jokiharju played the last 2 seasons with the Portland Winterhawks. I would think some of the items you listed he has already adjusted to. Speed and pace at the NHL level may be wearing on him.

Promoting Colliton was mind-boggling.
- Hank3Henshaw

Well his 3-14-2 shows perhaps he needed more seasoning, time as an assistant NHL coach at least. Not that Edzo is a great coach but I agree with him about JC should have called a time out in the last minute of our last PP to rest the big guns and questioning Martinsen on the ice for the last minute of the 3rd period last night.

Fire Stanley Bowmen and hire Eddie Olczyk as GM at the end of the season.

People want to blame a scapegoat, whether it's warranted or not. Jeremy Colliton is not the problem - the roster is the problem. Whether Colliton is a "good coach" or not is yet to be determined but blaming him for what is the inevitable decline of a quasi-dynasty team is nonsense. If nitpicking at JC lets you blow off some steam - fine, that's what message boards are for. Same thing with Stan, although he is more legitimately culpable because he's been on the job longer than a couple months. The main perpetrator in the Hawks decline is the salary cap and Father Time and the salary cap system worked as designed.

We Hawks fans have much to be thankful for over the past 10 years and now we should be thankful the "end" has been swift enough that the Hawks aren't subjected to hanging around in the middle of the standings where neither playoff success of high draft picks are possible.

Kakko in 2019 and then another year of sucking to get Lafreniere in 2020 and then contender in 2020/21.
- EbonyRaptor

JC is inexperienced but I agree with this as well. We have the last place rated bottom 6 and a porous D. It's a combination of things that have us at last place.

Stan has made some questionable moves that have seemingly hastened the inevitable demise.

I think that Hartman, DuClair and Vinnie would be an improvement over members of the bottom 6 we field now.

Firing Q midstream wasn't IMO a good move for morale or for publicity reasons.

The Rutta and Manning deals are not good at all.

2 THINGS:

1. Hawks need to win the lotto to land Jack Hughes. Just finishing last overall does not mean the Hawks automatically get Hughes unfortunately.

2. The Hawks are paying the price for always flirting with salary cap issues and an aging core. The Hawks twice dismantled teams and still won 2 championships, almost totally unheard of when you think about the talent that they lost. It shows you just how good this core was when these guys were in their primes. The core has lots of miles on them and just cannot win now when you have to lose players because of the cap and you are forced to bring in the Mannings and Kunitzs types.

NOTE: As frustrating as this is right now, I will still take 3 Stanley Cups over the last decade, and the true greatness that this generation provided me with in watching the Hawks.
- ChicagoHope

Top 5 pick. They dont need to win the lottery but being in the top 3 or even 5 would be very good thing.

Them losing now has less to do with the core and more to do with poor internal talent evaluation (Seabrook deal until the end of time and Gus and Rutta being way over valued) and poor FA pick ups like Kunitz and Manning.

Liked the Strome deal. Bout time they moved an asset early and ruthlessly.

2 of Boqvist, Beaudin, Mitchell and Henri cant be a bust and one needs to turn out to be very good.

With some shrewd moves they can be back in the mix in two years.