We can't win.

When we buy into them they fall short of being a good team.

When we're ready to sell off and build for the long term they start playing well.

Perhaps this is a byproduct of having a young team and coach who's been unable to live up to the pressure of expectation. Idk with the team any longer...hope for the best and expect the middling worst I guess

I will say that I still believe they are closer to being a Playoff team than a rebuilding team. It will never happen with 88, 19, and 2 on this team and they will all remain on this team until their contracts expire. It's up to the Coach, GM, and the players themselves to hold up to the standards that this organization used to have of expecting excellence from everyone from top to bottom to take the next step and become a better team and be Playoff team.
- Savetheembers33

Q wasn't winning with this team it's not the coach.

Does anyone see a scenario where the Hawks keep Corey and trade Robin? Then resign 50 on the cheap.
- TJYTJY

I absolutely do. I believe Lehner is being traded. In my view, if he was staying, an extension would have been completed already. We HAVE to keep Kane, Toews, Saad, as far as the veterans go. If Dcat signed for (OUCH) 5.1 mil, then Saad would get about 7 mil on an extension ?? Someone, or two, have to go. Let Lehner go in a trade, then get Georgiev or Shesterkin from the Rangers for next year. Corey can sign as the backup if he wants to stay. Or will Hawks draft Askarov in draft ? Everyone cannot get signed. Gus goes ? Probably. And maybe Maata? The numbers dont work if we want to keep everyone.

Smith jerks his head forward and down and that bucket comes off like a strippers top. The puck never hit it on the first whistle but it looked like a grenade went off inside the the damn helmet. He's on the bullpoop every time the hawks play whichever team he's on at the time.
- 6628

I remember when Shaw (or was it Saad) ran into him behind the net in the 2011 playoffs - our guy was trying to skate around him between him and the end board, he skated directly into our guy's path purposely looking for contact - our guy got suspended, IIRC.

Put JC behind the 2010 team and he wins SC, just like Q did. Players were hungry back then. Now, he doesn't have the same players (Some names are the same), they had their fill.
- powerenforcer

Don't be so sure.

Winning with a team that is supposed to win requires a certain skill set - lots of coaches lose with excellent teams because they can't get them to play together, or play hard every night, or buy into whatever system the coach is trying to play.

We know that Q (like Jackson on the hard court) has that ability; don't just assume that any ol' coach could do the same.

Just like - don't assume that Q's skills translate into being a developmental coach for a rebuilding team. Different skill sets.

Q wasn't winning with this team it's not the coach.
- rpeters01

Might be the coach. We don't know. He doesn't have a very long - or very successful - coaching record.

so can someone explain how the officiating could be this bad for 3 games in a row...we had Boston no goal/hand pass debacle....then a few more brutal penalty calls (and non calls) vs WPG....then you got last night...oh brother where to begin....first Toews phantom trip call that led to a PP goal, not sure how the ref standing 20' away staring at the play made that call, it was clearly not JTs stick that caused the trip (was even easy to tell real time on TV when the guy fell and JTs stick didnt even move)...2nd not sure what Justin St. Pierre has against the hawks as he called Smith for a slash for knocking the stick out of a guys hands....yet when the same thing happened to Boquvist right in front of his face he didnt make the call and the ref at center ice had to make it...follow it up with blowing the whistle every time Smith flings his helmet off is a joke...as Eddie O e....

....i feel like it shouldn't have been that hard to build around the "core" that Stan was gifted but he sure did a good job of turning a "dynasty" into a dump...thank god there are plenty of other good NHL teams out there to watch
- chihawksallday

And the Hawks still had a 3-2 lead in the 2nd and couldn't hold it. They had an entire 3rd period down by one and the last three power plays (make up calls) and couldn't cash in.

I absolutely do. I believe Lehner is being traded. In my view, if he was staying, an extension would have been completed already. We HAVE to keep Kane, Toews, Saad, as far as the veterans go. If Dcat signed for (OUCH) 5.1 mil, then Saad would get about 7 mil on an extension ?? Someone, or two, have to go. Let Lehner go in a trade, then get Georgiev or Shesterkin from the Rangers for next year. Corey can sign as the backup if he wants to stay. Or will Hawks draft Askarov in draft ? Everyone cannot get signed. Gus goes ? Probably. And maybe Maata? The numbers dont work if we want to keep everyone.
- MadHatter

As do I. I see Lehner being frustrated with the Hawks. If Lehner brings back a legit top 4 D or top 4 D prospect/pick, then yeah you do that. We have to build a stud top 4 D group. Add to that a HC who knows what the hell he is doing. JC needs to go as does Bowman. Gallant and Lavi are clearly better options to run the bench.

This should brighten up everyone's day:

Ben Pope‏Verified account @BenPopeCST · 3h3 hours ago

Pending UFA Erik Gustafsson has had "no talks at all" with the Blackhawks about a contract extension. He's by far the most likely Hawks player to be traded in the next 2 weeks.
- Chunk

Thank god...best news possible...

Thank god...best news possible...
- Beaks99

And Stan doesn't need to wait on any trade deadline deals...Minny traded a very good player and are still in the race...

I fear he will be the last one at the dinner table and only get the scraps left...would rather see him be proactive and deal soon...we need something big and not a small deal for crappy draft picks...

Strome might pull $4M on a 2 year extension if he does something positive over the last 25 games. I would be inclined to estimate it at even less than that if it was anybody other than Stanbo doing the negotiating. Not knocking the kid, it's just that he still has to demonstrate he can be a productive Top 9 forward either as a winger or center.
And Dach is moving ahead of him on the depth chart and for salary allocation reasons.
Whatever his new contract is, he will be available to Seattle in the expansion draft.
- RickJ

Strome shouldn't be re-signed for more than 4-4.5m tops, 2yrs. he has shown nothing when not paired with Dcat (or someone like him, Kane?). He's also RFA. it would be dumb for SB to offer higher or sign him long-term. Dach might be able to take over 2C.

As for coaching change, I get the feeling Chayka is going to change coaches if AZ continue their slide. He might go for Gallant. If SB do decide to fire JC, better do it fast before good and available coaches are hired by other teams

Sorry this line in the blog was not properly clarified.

See above.

I only added it as if I were speaking from Stan Bowman's mouth... merely as a motivational tactic.
- Tyler Cameron

Got it. Thanks for the clarity. I've been trying to learn Italian for the last 2 months so my Canadian is rusty.

The Hawks are a middle of the pack team. They have some good talent, but not a roster full of it- which is evident. They win games they should, they win games they shouldn't. They lose games they should, they lose games they shouldn't. I do think that this year has been a success as they have some young players who are playing meaningful minutes. For as injured as they are, and as bad as their blue line is, I give them credit for how hard they are competing. It's frustrating to watch them get man handled at times, but they flat out don't have a roster from top to bottom that compares with some of these teams. I would personally like to see a new GM brought in because I think it is time; however, I am not sure a new GM would go "full fire sale mode" on this roster. There is a still a lot of really good talent on the Hawks. It is now a matter of finding the right pieces through free agency and the draft to build around that.

Why didn't Strome play last night? Was he injured?

I remember when Shaw (or was it Saad) ran into him behind the net in the 2011 playoffs - our guy was trying to skate around him between him and the end board, he skated directly into our guy's path purposely looking for contact - our guy got suspended, IIRC.
- StLBravesFan

It was Shaw. He did get suspended for 3 games

Why didn't Strome play last night? Was he injured?
- frafra

Coach's decision. Healthy scratch.

Is it possible to eat part of his salary when in round numbers his cap hit is $5 but cash payment is $2. How does that work?
- rpeters01

Oy vey rpeters01...probably should stay off the boards if you have zero clue what you are talking about bud...

Sorry maybe didn't explain properly. That comment about Stan was more of a motivation tactic vs. whether I think he should actually add to this team.

For the record, I would not add any significant pieces.

If they were close, something like a Dylan Sikura for a "guy" would be the only type of adding I'd do.
- Tyler Cameron

Sorry if this is rambling, 1st time in Vegas and had a few drinks so far.

If Bowman adds any “rental” player, he should be fired. Any “addition” to the Hawks should be prospects or young 20’s NHLers. If...the Hawks keep Keith, they should look for 1st pair LHD to pair with Murphy. Keith and Boquist playing good. For example, maybe Thomas Chabot (if Ottawa would trade) to slide Keith to 2nd pair. This is just a general idea....they need a #1 LHD, a few years off to see if Beaudin will be this. Maybe someone else has an opinion, but 2020 draft seems deep....so whatever 1st and 2nd picks we get, the better. I don’t feel Dach is ready for the 2C role...too much pressure for a young kid. Should be slotted as 3C until he gets comfortable and ages a bit. If They look to trade Strome, hope it’s similar to the Brayden Schenn trade agreement years back, 2 1st rounders and a player/prospect.

I’m on the boat that Hawks should have traded Gus last year at his peak value. I might look at a 1 for 1 swap of Ghost from Philly, they get Dman for 1 year who is good on PP and then glorious Cap Space. Chicago gets a mobile Dman who is also good on PP, and locked into modest contract in his prime. Both have Defensive issues, but I think Ghost needs a change of scenery and Philly the Cap Space.

https://twitter.com/Jerem.../1227672991766441985?s=20

JR permanently jettisoned from NHL on NBC

https://twitter.com/Jeremy_Roenick/status/1227672991766441985?s=20

JR permanently jettisoned from NHL on NBC
- pdx2ord

Drinking copious amounts of booze and then talking, usually isn't a good mix.

Q wasn't winning with this team it's not the coach.
- rpeters01

They're different rosters. The Blackhawks that Q was fired from was much worse than the one that we have today. Brandon Manning was part of the regular D rotation, as was Jan Rutta. The bright spot from last year was Jokiharju, who Colliton never played and so he got demoted/traded.

I'm due for a coaching blog so you may get your wish soon.
- Tyler Cameron

And the article doesn't have to result in JC should be fired or JC is jesus christ. The extremes get over generalized on this forum. I think most people would agree that JC is a developing NHL coach. He has made some bold decisions that should be acknowledged but he's also made several questionable decisions or lack thereof.

Maybe you should discuss the proper way to evaluate a coach.

Winnipeg signs Maurice to a contract extension. I figured he was on thin ice at the start of the season. But he's kept the Jets in contention for a playoff spot despite losing several of his best D in the off season.

How much of Strome's issues since coming back from his ankle injury is due to his linemates - playing wing with an under-performing AdB and a 4th line center in Kampf?

Even Kane is having his problems with a scoring Saad, but a not-yet-ready-for-top-line-center-duties Dach.
- StLBravesFan

Strome may have had a high ankle sprain issue which he came back from a little too soon. Whatever it is, his performance isn't great in a contract year. So anybody thinking his cap hit next year and beyond would be $6M or more can put that fear to rest.

They're different rosters. The Blackhawks that Q was fired from was much worse than the one that we have today. Brandon Manning was part of the regular D rotation, as was Jan Rutta. The bright spot from last year was Jokiharju, who Colliton never played and so he got demoted/traded.
- Jance

The roster that ended 2018 that Q had was. Arguably better than the roster you have today, and they missed the playoffs. That’s the one that Stan had to trade Kempney to Washington for a third because Q wouldn’t play him.

Sorry if this is rambling, 1st time in Vegas and had a few drinks so far.

If Bowman adds any “rental” player, he should be fired. Any “addition” to the Hawks should be prospects or young 20’s NHLers. If...the Hawks keep Keith, they should look for 1st pair LHD to pair with Murphy. Keith and Boquist playing good. For example, maybe Thomas Chabot (if Ottawa would trade) to slide Keith to 2nd pair. This is just a general idea....they need a #1 LHD, a few years off to see if Beaudin will be this. Maybe someone else has an opinion, but 2020 draft seems deep....so whatever 1st and 2nd picks we get, the better. I don’t feel Dach is ready for the 2C role...too much pressure for a young kid. Should be slotted as 3C until he gets comfortable and ages a bit. If They look to trade Strome, hope it’s similar to the Brayden Schenn trade agreement years back, 2 1st rounders and a player/prospect.

I’m on the boat that Hawks should have traded Gus last year at his peak value. I might look at a 1 for 1 swap of Ghost from Philly, they get Dman for 1 year who is good on PP and then glorious Cap Space. Chicago gets a mobile Dman who is also good on PP, and locked into modest contract in his prime. Both have Defensive issues, but I think Ghost needs a change of scenery and Philly the Cap Space.
- DrewDawg

The flaw in your trade thinking is that Gus is an NHL level defenceman. He isn't and every coach, Scout and GM around the league knows it. And playing him on the PP just increases the risk of giving up shorthanded goals.