Love him or hate him. GB is a big reason we are here chatting about hockey and twinkies as opposed to some chat room on dial up AOL.

Just food for thought.
- TrueGrit

I miss those AOL chat rooms sometimes lol

More rationalizing the decisions made last night. Clearly, he has gotten message that people thought it was a horrible decision.

On 7D/11F: "It's always an option, probably not the first option, of course. But it's a thing that teams do in the league & have success. It's not preventing you from having success. To me, it's an issue that shouldn't be one."

On Kane: "I wouldn't want to get in the habit of playing him that way, but we went with 11 [forwards] to try and get him a little more ice, because he is playing well and we were chasing the game."

On not wanting Koekkoek to sit for too many consecutive games: "The longer it goes, it’s harder for that guy to go in and play... I can’t remember what game it was but it had been a few games. You don’t want that to stretch on too long."

Kubalik on what he was told:
"The Carolina game, I think was tough for everybody, for me, too. Made some bad plays. We talked about it with the coach. All I can do is be positive. Sometimes you just got to be more reactive, skate more, get the pressure going. Because when I'm doing that, I think I can get a lot more pucks back. That's what I need to work on."

Side note: Lehner on Isles:

"It's a great system and everyone's bought in..."

Or overall, they are mad about being asked to play a system and with partners that they are not familiar with and, fundamentally, do not want to change. IIRC, during the last months/year + of Q's reign, they stopped giving 100% consistently when it was clear it was no longer as easy to win and that the team was nowhere near SC contention.

The remaining core got lucky in having a coach who introduced an innovative system that tapped into their individual skills to the greatest effect for a number of years. Then, the team lost many key role players they could not replace, the remaining players got older and slower, and the NHL figured out how to counteract the system very effectively. (see: CAR game the other night).

Unfortunately for them and the fans, I'm not sure there is a single right answer given the players we have and the skills they bring. Much smarter hockey minds will have to figure that out...
- pdx2ord

As soon as they face an opponent who shadows them they struggle mightily. Last 2 games the opponent is in the hip pocket of each player, less time and space for a team that has no structure.

I am willing to give JC a chance, but i have to admit some nights it's not pretty. F for having Gusto and Koekkoek on the ice at the same time. Dressing 7 dmen for nostalgia. Having Toews on the #1 PP.

TB may be better but surely not unbeatable. 9-7-2 going into the game last night and their backup goalie playing.
- boilermaker100

Surely, TB was a beatable team last night. Agreed. But, they played in a way so as to shut us down. A solid team effort. We did too, but it clearly was not good enough. Still believe on paper, that going into last night's action, TB was the superior squad.

My wife and I are looking to downsize and move to a smaller town. We looked at a house last night in the town of Cavan on a street called Larmers Lane. You''l never believe who the street is named after.

Surely, TB was a beatable team last night. Agreed. But, they played in a way so as to shut us down. A solid team effort. We did too, but it clearly was not good enough. Still believe on paper, that going into last night's action, TB was the superior squad.
- gabriel

TB has changed their style of play. Instead of the wide open style that was a disaster last spring they are playing to win in the playoffs.

My wife and I are looking to downsize and move to a smaller town. We looked at a house last night in the town of Cavan on a street called Larmers Lane. You''l never believe who the street is named after.
- paulr

My wife and I are looking to downsize and move to a smaller town. We looked at a house last night in the town of Cavan on a street called Larmers Lane. You''l never believe who the street is named after.
- paulr

Steve Larmer? Good luck with the house hunting.

I am willing to give JC a chance, but i have to admit some nights it's not pretty. F for having Gusto and Koekkoek on the ice at the same time. Dressing 7 dmen for nostalgia. Having Toews on the #1 PP.
- BetweenTheDots

What I can't quite comprehend, is why has he focused on Kubalik? Twice, no less. Is anyone else seeing dramatic or legitimate drop offs in his play? My untrained eye hasn't been able to pick up on it.

TB has changed their style of play. Instead of the wide open style that was a disaster last spring they are playing to win in the playoffs.
- paulr

Noticed that. Hope it serves them well in the long term. Cooper appears to be a class act. Maybe we don't know him well enough. Ha!

TB has changed their style of play. Instead of the wide open style that was a disaster last spring they are playing to win in the playoffs.
- paulr

Yeah, seems to be doing what JC tried to do

My wife and I are looking to downsize and move to a smaller town. We looked at a house last night in the town of Cavan on a street called Larmers Lane. You''l never believe who the street is named after.
- paulr

Jeff?

Yeah, seems to be doing what JC tried to do
- pdx2ord

Wipe off the bloody dagger, woman! Oh, how that made me smile.

Wipe off the bloody dagger, woman! Oh, how that made me smile.
- gabriel

What I can't quite comprehend, is why has he focused on Kubalik? Twice, no less. Is anyone else seeing dramatic or legitimate drop offs in his play? My untrained eye hasn't been able to pick up on it.
- gabriel

No comprende'

TB has changed their style of play. Instead of the wide open style that was a disaster last spring they are playing to win in the playoffs.
- paulr

There is an article in the Athletic the talks about this very subject. Teams playing skill systems (like the Blackhawks and formerly the Lightning) are switching to the Carolina or Trotz system. The same one JC was trying to install here.

No comprende'
- 17SEC

Why has he benched Kubalik twice within a relatively short period of time? I must be missing something that others clearly see. I can't recall him not going full throttle. Father knows best, I assume.

There is an article in the Athletic the talks about this very subject. Teams playing skill systems (like the Blackhawks and formerly the Lightning) are switching to the Carolina or Trotz system. The same one JC was trying to install here.
- gifman

That that is the direction the NHL is going makes it so interesting that fans and the media and (rumor has it) the players beat the crap out of Colliton for what he was trying to do. Maybe it was all in the execution? Or...

That that is the direction the NHL is going makes it so interesting that fans and the media and (rumor has it) the players beat the crap out of Colliton for what he was trying to do. Maybe it was all in the execution? Or...
- pdx2ord

Perhaps Trotz and Brind’amour have the players to implement that system.

Perhaps Colliton doesn’t.

Perhaps Colliton needs to implement a system that the players he actually has can play.

Why has he benched Kubalik twice within a relatively short period of time? I must be missing something that others clearly see. I can't recall him not going full throttle. Father knows best, I assume.
- gabriel

I'm with you in missing what Jeremy sees...….

Perhaps Trotz and Brind’amour have the players to implement that system.

Perhaps Colliton doesn’t.

Perhaps Colliton needs to implement a system that the players he actually has can play.
- StLBravesFan

Yeah, that's my assumption and agree on what he needs to do. But, as I was asking earlier, IS there a middle-of-the-road approach that will work with this team AND help you in playoff hockey?

Yeah, that's my assumption and agree on what he needs to do. But, as I was asking earlier, IS there a middle-of-the-road approach that will work with this team AND help you in playoff hockey?
- pdx2ord

My opinion only:

This team needs to concentrate on GETTING TO the playoffs - which means a system that works with these players. I don’t think the talent is there to make a run through April and May under any system, but they CAN get into the tournament, so concentrate on a plan that “wins” in the regular season.

Work the prospects into this team over the next two or three years and then deal with implementing a playoff-capable system - a Trotz/Brind’amour system or some other 200 foot scheme.

Perhaps Trotz and Brind’amour have the players to implement that system.

Perhaps Colliton doesn’t.

Perhaps Colliton needs to implement a system that the players he actually has can play.
- StLBravesFan

Ultimately it comes down to 2 realities.

1st these are professional hockey players, paid large sums of money. They should be able to play whatever system is needed to win championships.

2nd implementing a system that gains you immediate success while sacrificing long term success, is ludicrous. The system the teams winning championships are using voids out the system the Blackhawks are currently using.

So the gauntlet has been thrown, do you want high skilled potentially high scoring games, or do you want championships?

The choice over the passed few weeks has been high skilled by both players and some misguided fans. When the Blackhawks face Carolina and Tampa and lose you get upset and blame the coach.

When you should be blaming the players and in some respects yourselves for falling into the same bad habits which will not win you championships.

Ultimately it comes down to 2 realities.

1st these are professional hockey players, paid large sums of money. They should be able to play whatever system is needed to win championships.

2nd implementing a system that gains you immediate success while sacrificing long term success, is ludicrous. The system the teams winning championships are using voids out the system the Blackhawks are currently using.

So the gauntlet has been thrown, do you want high skilled potentially high scoring games, or do you want championships?

The choice over the passed few weeks has been high skilled by both players and some misguided fans. When the Blackhawks face Carolina and Tampa and lose you get upset and blame the coach.

When you should be blaming the players and in some respects yourselves for falling into the same bad habits which will not win you championships.
- gifman

There is a 3rd option:

Solve the opposing system.