Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST

Colliton on his reasoning: "We wanted to get Koekkoek in, it's his old team. Think it was the right thing to do. Kaner's playing really well, opportunity to give him a little bit more. Ultimately, I don't think we had enough guys going up front."

Kubalik was a healthy scratch and Colliton said it was about his “compete level away from the puck.”



- pdx2ord

ok...seems to be alot of guys with that problem...so ya scratch him and go with 7d and double shift kane into the ice...WTF

ok...seems to be alot of guys with that problem...so ya scratch him and go with 7d and double shift kane into the ice...WTF
- bogiedoc

Was JC perhaps referring to Kampf's effort tonite? Who else could have provoked JC's ire?

I'm convinced that Jeremy Colliton is out to prove to everyone that he's smarter them the average bear.

Upper management tells him to lose the dump and chase so what does he do? Runs out 7 d-men for a game. And then proceeds to rotate them so that no one is paired with the same guy on his next shift.

I saw deHaan on the right side with Keith. Okay. Then, the next time deHaan is out he's on the left side with Seabrook. They were literally going with "next up" instead of defensive pairings. Is there some kind of advanced stat algorithm I'm not aware of that shows that this works? I swear we're better organized when we play Friday night rat hockey.

On the offensive side, he scratches Kubalik who has been one of your better players the 1st quarter of the season but, plays Shaw who missed a practice because his hip was bothering him. Shaw who is only effective when he's out there making contact with opposing bodies.

Colliton is not a coach, he's a mad scientist.

If I'm Robin Lehner (or Corey Crawford), I'm playing my ass off this year and try to get paid as much as I can as a free agent next season somewhere else.

I didn’t get to see the game. Is Tampa playing like Carolina? I ask because that’s what Stamkos was saying in the article in The Athletic?
- gifman

Results were the same.

I'm convinced that Jeremy Colliton is out to prove to everyone that he's smarter them the average bear.

Upper management tells him to lose the dump and chase so what does he do? Runs out 7 d-men for a game. And then proceeds to rotate them so that no one is paired with the same guy on his next shift.

I saw deHaan on the right side with Keith. Okay. Then, the next time deHaan is out he's on the left side with Seabrook. They were literally going with "next up" instead of defensive pairings. Is there some kind of advanced stat algorithm I'm not aware of that shows that this works? I swear we're better organized when we play Friday night rat hockey.

On the offensive side, he scratches Kubalik who has been one of your better players the 1st quarter of the season but, plays Shaw who missed a practice because his hip was bothering him. Shaw who is only effective when he's out there making contact with opposing bodies.

Colliton is not a coach, he's a mad scientist.

If I'm Robin Lehner (or Corey Crawford), I'm playing my ass off this year and try to get paid as much as I can as a free agent next season somewhere else.
- Rota's Rooter

It could boil down to that. And where would this team be without either of them?

The title from an article in the Athletic this morning...

Lazerus: Welcome to life on the bubble, where every loss can feel like the apocalypse

Swap out "on the bubble" and replace it with "at the BOD" and he has a winner.

It could boil down to that. And where would this team be without either of them?
- 6628

5 to 6 million dollars on the plus side in salary cap?

5 to 6 million dollars on the plus side in salary cap?
- Rota's Rooter

Sure, and a high draft choice as well

But I thought this is what the players wanted? The guys in the locker room female doged and moaned about the JC system and now they are playing the way they want they can’t execute?
- gifman

You keep beating the drum for the Hawks to play a pressure system like the Canes (or other any other fast team) and completely disregard (like JC) the fact that there isn't nearly enough team speed here to play that style, particularly on the D corps. You can't have a bunch of plow horses trying to chase down thoroughbreds...

Was getting optimistic about the Hawks a few games ago but it's not looking good. Quick look at the standings and doing some math it would seem to me the Hawks would need a record of at least 36 and 24 . This I'm would be the minimum they would need to make the playoffs. Don't think it's possible with this team. You just can't have a slow start to the season.
I know I know the Blues last year but that was a fluke.
Sure hope I'm wrong but I can't see the Hawks turning this around. Overall playing better but think they are too far back in 3 points a game league. Or they need to win three in a row so I can be optimistic again[img][/img]

Was getting optimistic about the Hawks a few games ago but it's not looking good. Quick look at the standings and doing some math it would seem to me the Hawks would need a record of at least 36 and 24 . This I'm would be the minimum they would need to make the playoffs. Don't think it's possible with this team. You just can't have a slow start to the season.
I know I know the Blues last year but that was a fluke.
Sure hope I'm wrong but I can't see the Hawks turning this around. Overall playing better but think they are too far back in 3 points a game league. Or they need to win three in a row so I can be optimistic again
- HamiltonHawk[img][/img]

We all knew (or should have) that they weren’t going to continue to score 5-7 goals per game and win.

They just lost two games - rather convincingly - to two excellent, Cup-competitive teams (even without some star players).

We should know that they are a bubble team - competitive against the 20 teams not at the top, not nearly as good as the 10 or so with legitimate Cup aspirations.

Tough six games coming up - the ledge will get crowded if things go bad the next two weeks - make your reservations now.

This team is a head coach and a defenseman away from being a legit team. No idea why they are going with 11 F and 7 D when you know that minutes are going to be reduced as the game progresses for that 7th D. Absolutely insane to me. If benching Kubalik was a wake up call, sure; but to sit him so that your 7th D can play against his former team is absolutely insane. They are in the business of winning games, not feelings.

How long can they sit back and allow their power play to stink as badly as it does? Their first unit is the most predictable unit in the league. SHOOT THE PUCK!!!!!

The more he talks about it, the more I am wondering what he is trying to do. Toews was visibly angry about the decision.

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST

I followed up, asking Colliton if this would discourage him from going 11F/7D in the future:

"Not really. I think 7D is always an option...Depends on the circumstances. It's not something you're going to go to consistently, but sometimes it's an option to put the right guys in."
- pdx2ord

I’m sorry, this guy continues to show that he has no clue. Scratch a healthy forward for a 7th D? If you want to play KK, sit Maatta for a game.

#CollitonStillSucks

This team is a head coach and a defenseman away from being a legit team. No idea why they are going with 11 F and 7 D when you know that minutes are going to be reduced as the game progresses for that 7th D. Absolutely insane to me. If benching Kubalik was a wake up call, sure; but to sit him so that your 7th D can play against his former team is absolutely insane. They are in the business of winning games, not feelings.

How long can they sit back and allow their power play to stink as badly as it does? Their first unit is the most predictable unit in the league. SHOOT THE PUCK!!!!!
- frafra

------------------------------------------------------
Agree. We probably don't win last night with 12 forwards/6 defencemen but we'll obviously never know. The logic (or lack of) by our head coach is beyond perplexing to me. I guess I'm just not smart enough to understand Jeremy. The optics of last night's lineup and the ensuing post-game explanation by our coach are terrible.

This team is a head coach and a defenseman away from being a legit team. No idea why they are going with 11 F and 7 D when you know that minutes are going to be reduced as the game progresses for that 7th D. Absolutely insane to me. If benching Kubalik was a wake up call, sure; but to sit him so that your 7th D can play against his former team is absolutely insane. They are in the business of winning games, not feelings.

How long can they sit back and allow their power play to stink as badly as it does? Their first unit is the most predictable unit in the league. SHOOT THE PUCK!!!!!
- frafra

JC's Koekkoek response didn't ring altogether true. Something else he was focusing on. What he discovered left him very angry. No way of knowing what it was, but I would venture to guess there will be some Rockford call ups. He was pizzed in the postgame presser.

Prove that he was happy. He's only happy that the jersey is still one of the best sellers.
- powerenforcer

You made the absurd statement that Bettman is unhappy the Hawks won 3 cups, it's your job to prove he is unhappy. You can't because you don't have a clue if he hates the Hawks or loves the Hawks. My guess he's indifferent about all the teams, including the Hawks.

You made the absurd statement that Bettman is unhappy the Hawks won 3 cups, it's your job to prove he is unhappy. You can't because you don't have a clue if he hates the Hawks or loves the Hawks. My guess he's indifferent about all the teams, including the Hawks.
- paulr

No, he for sure hates the Hawks. Just like Q hated kids.

Was surprised to see how much Tampa has regressed. They don't look like the team I saw last season, the speed isn't there, the offensive dominance isn't there. But I notice they are playing a more conservative responsible game. Maybe Cooper learned from that disaster last spring when his team was unable to play sound defensive hockey and unwilling to play in the hard areas or get their noses over the puck and be willing to do the wok needed to win?

Rumour out of Toronto suggests if Tampa fades down the stretch, Babcock may be the guy to replace Cooper.

No, he for sure hates the Hawks. Just like Q hated kids.
- HawkintheD

Sorry, did I interrupt the tin foil hat party?

The more he talks about it, the more I am wondering what he is trying to do. Toews was visibly angry about the decision.

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST

I followed up, asking Colliton if this would discourage him from going 11F/7D in the future:

"Not really. I think 7D is always an option...Depends on the circumstances. It's not something you're going to go to consistently, but sometimes it's an option to put the right guys in."
- pdx2ord

Don't mind Colliton putting 4K in a game every so often, but I don't like the 7D 11F lineup. This causes the double shifting of Kane and as STLBrave posted he is worn down by the 3rd period.

Hawks are carrying only 22 on their roster and have cap space for a Rockford forward. With Caggiula out they only have 12 forwards and if Colliton decides to sit Kubalik or another F due to lack of intensity in games or practice (which I don't have a problem with), they are down to 11 forwards. This would have been a good opportunity to have a Wedin or Sikura play to get familiar with their team mates and show what they have. Granted they only would have been on the ice for 8-10 minutes and probably wouldn't have made much of a difference in the outcome. I think the reduced roster is shortsighted thinking on management's part, especially with Caggiula in concussion protocol and his day to day status very questionable.

You made the absurd statement that Bettman is unhappy the Hawks won 3 cups, it's your job to prove he is unhappy. You can't because you don't have a clue if he hates the Hawks or loves the Hawks. My guess he's indifferent about all the teams, including the Hawks.
- paulr

You want to know why - Salary Recap Penalty. It was based solely on Hossa's contract. Explain why that came up after Hossa's contract was signed, and not when Pronger or Lou signed theirs? Follow the logic.

You want to know why - Salary Recap Penalty. It was based solely on Hossa's contract. Explain why that came up after Hossa's contract was signed, and not when Pronger or Lou signed theirs? Follow the logic.
- powerenforcer

I don’t know the chronology of all this but if Hossa’s deal was the last of those three or others, couldn’t there (they’re) be a straw that broke the camel’s back explanation vs the league having it out for an O6 team who’s profitability would seem good for the NHL as a whole?

You want to know why - Salary Recap Penalty. It was based solely on Hossa's contract. Explain why that came up after Hossa's contract was signed, and not when Pronger or Lou signed theirs? Follow the logic.
- powerenforcer

Last time you had another theory as to why Bettman hates the Hawks and at one point you said it was due to Tom Lysiak tripping the linesman. Seems the logic gets lost in the conspiracy theories.

Just one more vent:

Rocky, McDonut and Stanley were in such a rush to fire Joel last year - chomping at the bit. Q still got paid and we still failed to make the playoffs. Now we have Jeremy.

Ok

Just one more vent:

Rocky, McDonut and Stanley were in such a rush to fire Joel last year - chomping at the bit. Q still got paid and we still failed to make the playoffs. Now we have Jeremy.

Ok
- 17SEC

D put it best, now that the Hawk's winning streak is over the manic BOD is back to normal.