I'm sure he's fine with it. I'm not positive it's Mex, but the writing styles and posts are similar. Although, Mex's posts were more intelligent than those by Elbows....
- mohel

I am Mexico Hawk.

I am Mexico Hawk.
- Beaver-Warrior

Right, right, right. Everyone wants to be Mexico Hawk.

Q: Are You Sure You Want the Blackhawks to Make the Playoffs?

A: Yes, always. As a fan, I always want to Blackhawks to be a playoff team. The alternative is a bottom dwelling team, the sky is falling, etc. The message board are made that much more unbearable when the team is crap, you are stuck watching loss after loss. The past run of 7 wins was fun, competitive hockey. So of course, I want to see the Hawks make the playoffs, even if a first round sweep is the outcome. That, I think, is the nature of being a fan.

Now, if you want to talk about the direction of the "rebuild," then that brings up another discussion. As of right now, the Hawks won't be drafting in the top 3, or even top 5. Regardless of how bad we all may think they are, they are not a bottom 5 team. They are more likely a bottom 8-12 team. Right in the middle of last place and last in. Agreed, that drafting in the top 10 is better than drafting in the mid teens. But if we are hoping to move up only a few spots, whats the point? I don't think anyone there is going to change the face of the franchise in the next 2-3 years. I think showing some competitiveness the last half of the season could be enticing to some FA's out there, could open the door to potentially make some meaningful trades. There is not a set way in rebuilding a team, it can come from different avenues.

Getting to the playoffs could be a huge stepping stone for this team. Vets with experience looking to taste success again, young guys who you want to build around getting a shot. Carry that over to the next season could be more impactful for a team than a #8-10 pick.

Long post, but I'm a fan, not management. I have no control over what is done on the ice. The thought of players tanking is the dumbest concept I've ever heard. A flash of 7 wins and then a bad loss... enjoy the roller coaster. Root for the team to win and succeed, and don't be locked into thinking success is achieved only one way.
- HawksHype

Reality check.

The six points they got in the last ten games of last season cost them four draft slots - in that case, at worst, the number 4 pick slot. Who was that? Tkachuk....

Even picking at #6 would have gotten them Zadina.

A few points here and there DO make a difference. Their display of false pride at the end of last season cost them dearly - a young, NHL ready ELC who would be on the team now.

Right, right, right. Everyone wants to be Mexico Hawk.
- mohel

I see that went right over your head.

I'm sure he's fine with it. I'm not positive it's Mex, but the writing styles and posts are similar. Although, Mex's posts were more intelligent than those by Elbows....
- mohel

More like wsc whatever numbers, Mex wrote novels

Go for the playoffs, "tanking" may get you a pick near 10 where Bowman will screw it up anyways.

I see that went right over your head.
- Beaver-Warrior

As usual.

Not to blast Colliton - as you say, only 30 games in the Show, only one previous season coaching pros in North America - maybe he'll make it, maybe he won't....

But if the defensemen on the squad are as limited as you say - and the forwards don't provide much defensive help - why is he using a defensive system (man to man) that I would think requires some pretty good skills and hockey sense from all five skaters on the ice?
- StLBravesFan

This is a legit question. For so many that criticized Q for playing a system and not adjusting to players like Daley or to a lesser degree Kempny who proved their worth once they left, here we are with a combination of slow-ish or poor defensive defensemen that seem to be in a more unforgiving man-to-man system. And then to play the two absolute worst together as a tandem (and one of them out of their natural side)...sort of mind boggling. it is a recipe for exploitation.

This team isn’t going anywhere with Jeremey Colliton as coach. This is the NHL, not a Tier 2 Swedish league.

He doesn’t have the personnel to play man to man, yet that’s the system he installs. Every night we see slow defenseman chasing forwards behind the net, up the sidewall and out to the blue line. The other defenseman gets exposed down low, and most of the Hawk forward aren’t smart enough to drop down to take the D man’s low spot.

And how the hell do you run Forsling and Gustafsson out as a pair against one of the stronger fore checking teams in the league? If there was ever a night to play Koekkoek, it was last night.

Colliton will not be the HC when the Hawks again are Cup contenders. He’ll be back in some 2nd level Euro league, where he belongs.
- scottak

Should we fire him now and hire Coach Q???

Reality check.

The six points they got in the last ten games of last season cost them four draft slots - in that case, at worst, the number 4 pick slot. Who was that? Tkachuk....

A few points here and there DO make a difference. Their display of false pride at the end of last season cost them dearly - a young, NHL ready ELC who would be on the team now.
- Return of the Roar

Yup... I hate when my team has pride.

And yes, it "cost" them Tkachuk. But also got us our stud future defenseman, right? It's not like the team lost out on a chance the get a playmaker, they just got a different one. And Tkachuk isn't necessarily a franchise changing player. And Zadina.... cmon.

Maybe we should ALL take the advice of getting a reality check.

Yup... I hate when my team has pride.

And yes, it "cost" them Tkachuk. But also got us our stud future defenseman, right? It's not like the team lost out on a chance the get a playmaker, they just got a different one. And Tkachuk isn't necessarily a franchise changing player.
- HawksHype

VERY much TBD.

It is also a time to market issue if the vaunted Boqvist is what some think he is. How long do they wait for prospect development when the 19/88 shelf life expiration date is closer every day.

I am confused how the Hawks are supposed to tank. They are alternating a rookie and Ward in net, Gustafson, Seabrook, are taking regular shifts. Forsling plays half the time, you got Caggiula playing first line, the bottom 6 is a dumpster fire except for Saad, I guess you put Kane and Toews on waivers and see what they could bring in a trade?

I see that went right over your head.
- Beaver-Warrior

Like the scene in the movie Spartacus? The Roman commander asks the slave prisoners who is Spartacus. They stand one at a time and say "I am Spartacus".

This is a legit question. For so many that criticized Q for playing a system and not adjusting to players like Daley or to a lesser degree Kempny who proved their worth once they left, here we are with a combination of slow-ish or poor defensive defensemen that seem to be in a more unforgiving man-to-man system. And then to play the two absolute worst together as a tandem (and one of them out of their natural side)...sort of mind boggling. it is a recipe for exploitation.
- jrsamu

Maybe Colliton is saying this is my system, lets see who can play it before we start making trades?

More like wsc whatever numbers, Mex wrote novels
- BetweenTheDots

Something like wscteton17

LOL Edmonton is looking to trade (and hasn't found a taker yet) for Brandon Manning because they need the cap space to bring up Sekera after a conditioning stint in the minors
- LAHawk

Hawks will take Manning and a 2nd round pick for the Hawks 7th round pick. LOL

Maybe Colliton is saying this is my system, lets see who can play it before we start making trades?
- LAHawk

Could be. But if you can't move Seabrook or Keith, why set them up to fail?

I am confused how the Hawks are supposed to tank. They are alternating a rookie and Ward in net, Gustafson, Seabrook, are taking regular shifts. Forsling plays half the time, you got Caggiula playing first line, the bottom 6 is a dumpster fire except for Saad, I guess you put Kane and Toews on waivers and see what they could bring in a trade?
- LAHawk

But we will at least see Kunitz the next game instead of Perlini. (Sarcasm)

VERY much TBD.

It is also a time to market issue if the vaunted Boqvist is what some think he is. How long do they wait for prospect development when the 19/88 shelf life expiration date is closer every day.
- Return of the Roar

So with 19/88 expiring soon, you would want them to be a part of the "tank" in order to get a high draft pick that may take a few years to develop into something? Tkachuk/Zadina are not great examples of franchise altering players. I would hate to have my two franchise players compete and create a false sense pride.

SELL!! SELL!! SELL!!! Set up for next year. That is all.

Not to blast Colliton - as you say, only 30 games in the Show, only one previous season coaching pros in North America - maybe he'll make it, maybe he won't....

But if the defensemen on the squad are as limited as you say - and the forwards don't provide much defensive help - why is he using a defensive system (man to man) that I would think requires some pretty good skills and hockey sense from all five skaters on the ice?
- StLBravesFan

Probably because it simplifies things for these players. I watched the way things were with Q, brutal, a ton of standing around and watching.

Isn't it about coaching to the team you have? Knowing there strengths and weaknesses.

Could be. But if you can't move Seabrook or Keith, why set them up to fail?
- Return of the Roar

Maybe Colliton has a system, but figured man-to-man was easier since he didn't have a pre-season and has had limited practices?

So with 19/88 expiring soon, you would want them to be a part of the "tank" in order to get a high draft pick that may take a few years to develop into something? Tkachuk/Zadina are not great examples of franchise altering players. I would hate to have my two franchise players compete and create a false sense pride.
- HawksHype

Individual players aside, the data prove conclusively that the higher you draft, the more likely those players are NHL ready, or at least the less time it takes to get them there.

Understand that if they were in the bottom four teams last year they had a lottery shot at anyone 1-4. Any of those guys last year, and likely most years, will have a shorter learning curve.

In fact, Boqvist's trajectory actually proves that out. He SHOULD have at least another year in juniors or a year in Rockford before they try to elevate him. That means its year three before he sees NHL ice.

Whereas ALL FOUR of the top four picks last year are playing full time in the NHL and producing.

I saw some concerning things last night against a very good hockey team, however, those things have been present all year so I am not embracing the tank!!

SELL!! SELL!! SELL!!! Set up for next year. That is all.
- thepld

Who are you selling and what assets are you getting that make this team better next year, than it already is? And who is giving up anything for our guys? It's not reasonable or possible.