And again - know it all armchair people like you think you know something - because an idea pops into your tiny brain - then it must be true.

"Geniuses" like you actually think Scotty Bowman has anything to do with running this team.

That is laughable!!!!

He is an 85 year old man - spending most of his days in Florida playing golf and talking hockey on the phone to anyone in the NHL that he wants to talk to.

His role years ago as "Senior Advisor" was to bounce ideas off of the coaching staff about the way the Russians played the game in the 70s and 80s - and how it could be implemented in today's NHL. He was wildly successful with it during his time in Detroit. Quenneville always valued his input on the subject.

And for the record - his son was in the Hawks front office 7+ years before Scotty was hired.
- dahawks8819

Mr Connected - I suppose Scotty had nothing to do with Savard and Tallon’s ousters. Sorry his involvement has already been admitted. His son gets hired when there were much better candidates. Or Smith’s appearances including his most recent one as an Assistant Coach. Oh and Q just seemed to love when Scotty assigned Smith to “help out” with the PP.

Your posts have reached the point of 100% nonsense. I’ve invited you to put up or be quiet. Have your so real hockey insiders post on here. I know they won’t, of course, as they don’t exist.

I didn't sea/hear what Mayers said but it's obvious that bringing in young players to a team with eight veterans who have won Cups with the HOF coach at the helm is going to be way easier than if those eight veterans are also learning a new system while playing for a rookie coach who hasn't taught his system to veteran NHL stars before. Lots of learning happening on this team, it looks ugly sometimes.
- matt_ahrens

It is not a question of learning a new competent System, Colliton’s System is completely flawed. It was the same with Ulf’s System, just a different flaw. Ulf’s reckless pinching System was never going to work as it caused more odd-man breaks in one game than other teams gave up in weeks. Q was loyal to Ulf to his own detriment.

Colliton’s “chase the puck” System is ludicrous. This System is the reason that the Hawks seem out of position all the time. This System is why the slot and the points are often left completely unprotected. In the NHL players can’t just chase the puck around. This is not pond hockey or “developmental” hockey as Keith calls it. There has to be responsibilities attached to each position. There has to be fallback or default positions. If there isn’t then there will lots of open ice with players getting caught wildly out of position often.

Defensive sins didn’t stop being defensive sins simply because Colliton is in the NHL. First goal tonight - inexplicably BOTH Seabrook AND Yuki behind the net, chasing the puck. Wide open slot - still a sin. Yuki bad pass turnover - puck behind Crawford.

Wide open points - still a sin. This blew up the Hawks in the Montreal game.

Another poster said SIMPLIFY! Play a blanketing D in the D-Zone. Always be in proper positions. Any puck chasing, where a player takes himself out of position, must only occur infrequently and only when there is a very real chance to win the puck. Better win the puck if you take the risk. Puck chasing, if it is to be a component, must always be a secondary component NOT the primary component.

It is not a question of learning a new competent System, Colliton’s System is completely flawed. It was the same with Ulf’s System, just a different flaw. Ulf’s reckless pinching System was never going to work as it caused more odd-man breaks in one game than other teams gave up in weeks. Q was loyal to Ulf to his own detriment.

Colliton’s “chase the puck” System is ludicrous. This System is the reason that the Hawks seem out of position all the time. This System is why the slot and the points are often left completely unprotected. In the NHL players can’t just chase the puck around. This is not pond hockey or “developmental” hockey as Keith calls it. There has to be responsibilities attached to each position. There has to be fallback or default positions. If there isn’t then there will lots of open ice with players getting caught wildly out of position often.

Defensive sins didn’t stop being defensive sins simply because Colliton is in the NHL. First goal tonight - inexplicably BOTH Seabrook AND Yuki behind the net, chasing the puck. Wide open slot - still a sin. Yuki bad pass turnover - puck behind Crawford.

Wide open points - still a sin. This blew up the Hawks in the Montreal game.

Another poster said SIMPLIFY! Play a blanketing D in the D-Zone. Always be in proper positions. Any puck chasing, where a player takes himself out of position, must only occur infrequently and only when there is a very real chance to win the puck. Better win the puck if you take the risk. Puck chasing, if it is to be a component, must always be a secondary component NOT the primary component.
- Z3Hawk

I don’t know where you got the idea that Colliton’s system is simply chasing the puck around. Did someone tell you that? If they did they’re wrong, it’s simply a man to man defense system, not rocket science.

Hawks won a fun game. Fun

Crawdaddy with a few HUGE and timely saves.

Agreed, but we had an experienced, very respected coach, and they were still having the same problems (granted, not as often). Why didn't he do something to change the horrid d-zone coverage? Did he not think about that, or were the players not executing the system properly?
- Chunk

Ulf’s System was flawed in a different way. Ulf stresed offence so his System called for wild pinching. That is why the Hawks gave up boatloads of odd-man breaks against. Q stuck with Ulf and Ulf drowned him. Colliton’s System calls for aggresive puck chasing in the D-Zone, which may work for pond hockey but doesn’t work in the NHL. In the NHL get out of position and the puck ends up in your net in a heartbeat. It is NOT an option to be out of position. To take risks to go chase the puck is extremely dangerous and it has been biting the Hawks night after night after night.

I don't know ... I think he does have some novel, innovative coaching techniques, as he seems bent on imposing a system that has been proven never to work in beer league developmental teams, and then somehow gets actual pro players to try doing this.

Naturally, it still never works at the NHL level, because ... well ... let's just not go there...

That has to be a special skill. Otoh, a special skill does not necessarily mean a desired skill.
- steve-hist-sdc

Steve very nice spin on the words novel and innovative. Well done.

I don’t know where you got the idea that Colliton’s system is simply chasing the puck around. Did someone tell you that? If they did they’re wrong, it’s simply a man to man defense system, not rocket science.
- walleyeb1

I don’t need anyone to tell me anything as I can clearly see for myself what is happening. This is the worst “man to man” System in the history of sport then. What “man to man” System has BOTH D-Men fighting ONE opposing player in the corner or behind the net, BOTH chasing the puck? Or BOTH wingers wildly out of position so that the points are totally open, as occurred against Montreal, because BOTH are chasing the puck. If TWO Hawks are fighting ONE opposing player for the puck that by definition is NOT “man to man.” If opposing players are being left completely unguarded that also by definition is NOT “man to man.” The Wingers are not guarding anyone let alone “man to man” guarding anyone. Just giving something a name doesn’t give it credibility when the application is a complete mess. Players don’t cease to have responsibilities based on their positions on the ice just because a new System, with a different name, is implimented. A D System will only work if you minimize risk which puck chasing does not.

You can market the Wrigley Field expereince during the summer without the team being competitive. It’s jokingly referred to as the best beer garden on the north side of the city for good reason.
- Chief4Feathers

The UC doesn’t hold nearly the same allure, nor does hockey hold the same leisurely expereince as taking in a baseball game. It is very much about the product on the ice that makes the experience.

Ummmmm,

There are like several dozen beer gardens around the Wrigleyville area - and most of them don't have a minimum $20.00 ticket/cover charge to get in.

It was marketing genius in that area - you can't deny it.....

Not a playoff team for sure.

But for those who want to move Crown and would accept a low 2nd rounder and a B prospect - think again.
- RickJ

The question regarding moving Crawford has to be, are we getting so mething in return we need, something that will really make a difference.

You might as well keep him and be more careful more competitive than with Delia and Ward. Crawford can play a few more years in top form Probably. He is not as likely to have the off ice "issues" again. I would bet he will be a good soldier and a better father. He has something to prove and someone more now who are telling upon him.

But i digress. Crawford needs to be packaged then maybe (emphasis added "maybe) we could get lucky and extract a #1? Do we even have a #2 to give back, and how good is the tier of players you draft among in the hat first round range with the pick you get for Crawford?

I mean let's wait to see how strong is the mid to late first round. I tend to say, forget it if all we can get us a #2. Anything other than a top prosoects or outside round one is not going to interest me. That sort of return simply is not going to help us barely if at all.

On the other hand, Crawford might help some team win the Cup.

Crawford plays well for a few games near the trade deadline, maybe some GM reaches out to us. It is just really hard to gauge what the market would be .....you have to guess Crawford is not perhaps well liked by Rocky but so what. You cannot trade him just to unload a contract for a poor return.

I like it that the big 3 of Sid the Skid, Malkin me sick, and White Kessel didn't find the scoresheet at all. Murphy was after Malkin a couple of times, after the big hit. Is there any way to pry Guentzel away from the pens? I really like that kid. He's good, and gets better in the playoffs.

Oh stop crying, for God's sake...so you have to rebuild again, big deal. Go shine your rings from the last rebuild and try to do it all over again. You guys make me sick!


- LeftCoaster

The Wings already went through this process and it is painful... but you have to just deal with it. The talented core of any championship team is going to get older. Just like Datsyuk, Lidstrom, Zetterberg, etc... Yeah it sucks. No doubt about it. I hope for Chicago's sake Bowman doesn't do the same stupid crap that Holland did in Detroit and keep resigning mediocre veterans just to squeak into the playoffs. His dumb "retool on the fly" was an abject failure and delayed the proper rebuild in Detroit by about 5-6 years.

I REALLY miss the old rivalry the Wings and Hawks had when they were in the same division. It was tough to lose that with the realignment... but I do think the Wings are in the proper division in terms of logistics/travel now.

True that -however even not at the 50% of the season point -there have been some really impressive losing streaks - and a lot of these happen when the team coughs up nice leads - my personal favorite is spotting the other team 3 goals.

Reading your post, I am not at all sure that we disagree on anything .... it is pretty sad, really ...

-Thought of another promo ... let the fans (in reverse all-star ballot fashion) vote for the night's scratches. And then the rule is that they then have to hype that up on the website ... just like they used to with OTL's (back when the team was able to make it to OT) ... 'Point Taken' (Yay!!! sounds more marketable than when those happened when they might have coughed up a lead ... I sorta remember those days ... back when they had leads.

Did the Caps in 74/75 ever have leads? It might be something I might have to be jealous of ... I might have to look it up - I might be missing out :D
- steve-hist-sdc

I don't know really.

Growing up in Chicago proper back then my hockey viewing was limited to Hawks road games on WGN and Chicago Cougar games on UHF stations. No cable, satellite or internet streaming. Any type of out of town games broadcast was pretty much non-existent.

That's why I really don't have much of an issue with some of the current broadcasters and color guys nowadays. I simply didn't have that exposure to what else was out there growing up.

You are just so clueless - it really is funny.

Colliton asked for Barry Smith. He specifically called him out for helping him in Rockford last year. He wanted Smith to help him acclimate to the NHL game - and Barry Smith has a long resume and had been highly regarded - until certain posters here continued to bash him for one little dust up - 7 fricking years ago!!!!

But don't ever change - and that includes reading NOTHING anywhere else before you respond to people here......
- dahawks8819

You are nothing more than a bully who will oppose an opinion just to start a fight. You come across as arrogant, condescending and a 100% douchebag.
So what if people here have different opinions or see the game and players differently..its why we come here to talk about it, not to get lectured to or talked down to.
Please pick up your blackhawk pompoms and see your way out because everyone here is sick of your little act.

You provide no value to this blog. Fair weather fans who watch every game of the worst team in the league? Who post at work and on off days bc they live for Blackhawks hockey?? That’s a fair weather fan? You are a spiteful and angry clown and your “sources” are an even bigger joke.

Do us all a favor and get lost.
- EnzoD

I've never said that but ....

Do you realize few like your ADHD outlook on the Hawks? You comment in real time and look silly by jumping all over a player one game, praising him the next then doing it all over again with a different player the next game. Then of course the tiring listing of each player's size on a day by day basis.

If you want to be left alone to post your nonesense I suggest you leave other posters alone to post what they wish to post. Remember you are the one who cries when other posters criticize you.

Wow, the personal attacks on this board are unbelievable. No wonder there are so few who regularly post here any more.

Yes - worst sports fans in America. Bill Wirtz believed that - and stressed it to both sons.

The other original six teams have all gone through bad years - but never had the attendance dropped so dramatically like it did when Bobby Hull left for the WHA. And again after the 92 cup run that fell short.

Bill Wirtz never got over that - and never forgave the fan base here.

And it's funny - fans here are talking about boycotting and laughing at empty seats - and hoping for the building to empty out again - proving Bill's point.

What most of you don't remember about McDonough is he was the marketing president for the Cubs - during a time when they sucked beyond sucking - but they kept drawing 3 million fans a year. If you don't think Rocky Wirtz respects him for that - and keeps him here to continue to attempt selling this team in down years - they you really don't get it - and never will.
- dahawks8819

And their business model on the Northside was also to blow (it got ruined when the won a World Series --- as they ceased being perennial lovable losers).... but get 3 mil fans in and give them a bobble head of the flavour of the month... sell them on some curse or some other inanity.

The distinction, I think, that a lot of guys are at pains to make is that the on field/ on ice product is distinctly different from the marketing side of things -in terms of what is important to a sports franchise. It's a valid opinion.

McD has a massive challenge, as he built his branding on attracting fair weather fans ... and those have a used by date. The question ends up being, does he have any strategies for that ...

And more context, see guys that were around before understand that the only thing that they can do, tangibly, is the empty seat route. That is because it produced a result (finally).

The drops in attendance happened a bit after 1992.. like once they started regularly missing the playoffs, traded Roenick, Larmer, Chelios, and Belfour away ... and gave you guys like Kyle Calder as the top line ... it was great... I guess that is the reason the Wolves were able to find a fan base in the area at that time.

Frankly I have never actually read anyone defending Bill Wirtz -- this is kind of an interesting development. I came close once, where I wrote that I think it was clear that the man loved ice hockey... and that was when there was some urban-myth maybe story going around about a check out dude at a TRU and noticing WWW's name on a credit card when he allegedly went in to buy something there for someone. I don't doubt that he did live and breathe hockey ... there is no crime against that... but, seriously, some of his choices were (to be polite about it), flawed. And proven to be so.

Yes - worst sports fans in America. Bill Wirtz believed that - and stressed it to both sons.

The other original six teams have all gone through bad years - but never had the attendance dropped so dramatically like it did when Bobby Hull left for the WHA. And again after the 92 cup run that fell short.

Bill Wirtz never got over that - and never forgave the fan base here.

And it's funny - fans here are talking about boycotting and laughing at empty seats - and hoping for the building to empty out again - proving Bill's point.

What most of you don't remember about McDonough is he was the marketing president for the Cubs - during a time when they sucked beyond sucking - but they kept drawing 3 million fans a year. If you don't think Rocky Wirtz respects him for that - and keeps him here to continue to attempt selling this team in down years - they you really don't get it - and never will.
- dahawks8819

Believe me dude, I get it.
Huge props to McD for making Wrigley a destination. But prior to him being there that neighborhood was sketchy. He sure has a knack of timing things right because the neighborhood came back in a huge way. And it's a lot of fun hanging in the sun and pounding the suds in the summer. But as I've posted here a bunch of times, the UC ain't Wrigley. The Stadium might have had that appeal. I feel sorry for all who never got to experience that place. The UC is a shopping mall. Which goes to your point, it's all about the money. And it's a lot of (frank)ing money, more than most people can afford. Tickets, parking, concessions, it's nuts.

And he timed it right with the hawks as well. But he took the hardcore fan for granted and priced him/her out by catering to the big money. I get it, that's his job and he's good at it. But he pissed on a lot of people in the process and now the corporate types can't write it off anymore and the wagon is over on Lake Shore Drive. If you look into the crowd and see a bunch of red things those are empty seats. That's the only real way people can express themselves.

I can tell from what you post that you sound like someone that knows someone. But you're not the only one. We all know it's a business, but one thing about this business is that if you put the game first everything else falls into place. People don't come to see the hawks because of Mcd. One thing that will never change is that if hockey is done right, especially tough decisions made in a timely fashion, a monkey could sell tickets to see the hawks. You note more revenue streams and McD gets full credit for a job well done. Thet's why he's teflon down there. But as long as he is hovering around in total control the best hockey people will avoid this team and look elsewhere for a job.

My position is that whatever McD is bringing to the president role - it’s not enough. Not many people are impressed with the increased value of the Hawks as being some brilliant accomplishment. Getting home games on TV and then a team wins a lot is not marketing genius. There are great examples of team presidents that are subject matter experts on the sport of the team they run (e.g. Theo Epstein). Having a president that is knowledgable about player evaluation/development and roster development would be desirable. Marketing is of no use if the product is bad.
- Chief4Feathers

Bingo. You said in one sentence what it took me a few posts to say. Hawks fans are not Cubs fans, and the UC isn't Wrigley.

You are wrong there.

That's when marketing is MOST needed.

McDonough sold losing Cubs baseball to the idiot masses - and for years - that park drew 3+ million a year to watch a bad team.
- dahawks8819

Agree. Now let's see how he does.

You are forgetting that people like going to baseball games because it is summertime and the weather is beautiful! Lots of casual sports fans go to baseball games just because they want to go to a ball game.
- frafra

You are absolutely right. I know because I'm one of them, I just choose the south side instead of the north.

Bingo. You said in one sentence what it took me a few posts to say. Hawks fans are not Cubs fans, and the UC isn't Wrigley.
- 6628

.... And Rocky isn't his Dad. He knows that to get the fans in the building he has to have a viable product. He had that for 10 years. It will take a while to get back there and with what Rocky has already given us fans I expect he'll steer the ship in the right direction to get there again. Next time I expect the Hawk organization will be a little colder and more businesslike and try to prevent the whole team from getting old at the same time by moving some players at the peak of their careers instead of loyally letting them finish as Blackhawks when they have nothing left.

.... And Rocky isn't his Dad. He knows that to get the fans in the building he has to have a viable product. He had that for 10 years. It will take a while to get back there and with what Rocky has already given us fans I expect he'll steer the ship in the right direction to get there again. Next time I expect the Hawk organization will be a little colder and more businesslike and try to prevent the whole team from getting old at the same time by moving some players at the peak of their careers instead of loyally letting them finish as Blackhawks when they have nothing left.
- paulr

There are 7 multiple Cup winners remaining here.

I think only one clearly has nothing (or very little) left - Seabrook. Keith certainly is not in the Norris picture anymore, but is probably consistently the best defenseman skating in the Indianhead every nite.

Toews - almost what he was in his glory days; Kane - clearly the same, if not better. Crawford - a mixed bag this season, but still a quality stopper.

Kruger - probably what he’s always been; same with Saad the past several weeks.

I’m not sure it’s a problem of keeping players too long as much as not getting enough for the players let go because of the cap or itchy-scratchy disease or feared contract negotiations; and losing a couple of promising prospects to TDL moves in championship runs.

Ther3 is very little depth here, either on the front lines or the blue.

There are 7 multiple Cup winners remaining here.

I think only one clearly has nothing (or very little) left - Seabrook. Keith certainly is not in the Norris picture anymore, but is probably consistently the best defenseman skating in the Indianhead every nite.

Toews - almost what he was in his glory days; Kane - clearly the same, if not better. Crawford - a mixed bag this season, but still a quality stopper.

Kruger - probably what he’s always been; same with Saad the past several weeks.

I’m not sure it’s a problem of keeping players too long as much as not getting enough for the players let go because of the cap or itchy-scratchy disease or feared contract negotiations; and losing a couple of promising prospects to TDL moves in championship runs.

Ther3 is very little depth here, either on the front lines or the blue.
- StLBravesFan

My point is they are all on the downside of their careers. I agree 100% on the lack of depth but Keith, Toews and even Kane soon are not elite players anymore and are more or less complimentary, depth, players now. And in the cap world a team can't afford to pay a large percentage of their cap on aging players who's best days are behind them. Trouble is all but Kand, and possibly Keith will be difficut to trade and will being little of value back. Imagine what one or all of them would have fetched had Bowman had the foresight and moved them after the 2015 cup win? On the other hand what if they continured to have productive seasons and the prospects the Hawks received turned into flops? Tough job Bowman has, alot tougher than we give him credit for.

I don't know really.

Growing up in Chicago proper back then my hockey viewing was limited to Hawks road games on WGN and Chicago Cougar games on UHF stations. No cable, satellite or internet streaming. Any type of out of town games broadcast was pretty much non-existent.

That's why I really don't have much of an issue with some of the current broadcasters and color guys nowadays. I simply didn't have that exposure to what else was out there growing up.
- Rota's Rooter

Exactly! I remember being so excited when The Hockey News would arrive in the mail and I’d pour our over it for hours. My hands would be black from the ink bleeding off the page. Good times.

Exactly! I remember being so excited when The Hockey News would arrive in the mail and I’d pour our over it for hours. My hands would be black from the ink bleeding off the page. Good times.
- Chief4Feathers

I remember those days. I'd check the mail every day hoping for a special Hockey News edition other than the weekly copy. Living in Toronto there was limited coverage of my beloved Hawks, usually just a box score from the game two nights before but some times a two or three paragraph article with a round up of the game.