First home game after a 7 game road trip for CAL. Good time to play them if you have to but also the last game of 4 game road trip for the Hawks. IMO this is a tougher matchup for the Hawks than EDM. This Sutter squad will strangle you with structure and pound your mistakes. Hawks have cleaned a lot of things up in 2 weeks but this is the kinda team that's a tough matchup.

By the way the Steel's owner reached into his pocket, brought Vladar over from Slovakia in season and the Steel won their first cup in 2017. After shutting out BOS on the road last night he now has a better SPG than Markstrom who has 5 shutouts on the yr.
- Mr Ricochet

It would be interesting to see what would happen if Sutter was named Hawks coach.

They would have lost 2-1 last night if Flower had a 95% save percentage.
- tvetter

Or Edmonton didn't have Cody Parkey shooting pucks.

It would be interesting to see what would happen if Sutter was named Hawks coach.
- mohel

CAL took a different path than the Hawks in hiring their new coach. They brought Sutter on last season in season so he was behind the bench evaluating the roster. Decided who fit and who didn't and they made changes in the offseason. ..... So far that's coming up spades for them.

Seems Sutter is a less offensive Torts and as Hawks fans we know he knows a thing or two about coaching as he was the coach of the those Kings cup teams.

In fairness to Strome, as he ever played under an NHL coach while he has been in the NHL?
- powerenforcer

In Arizona, Rick Tocchet made a fairly quick evaluation of Strome's game and quickly sent him to Tucson. That was about the same time as Q was deciding he didn't care much for Nick Schmaltz.

Tocchet is an NHL coach

In Arizona, Rick Tocchet made a fairly quick evaluation of Strome's game and quickly sent him to Tucson. That was about the same time as Q was deciding he didn't care much for Nick Schmaltz.

Tocchet is an NHL coach
- RickJ

Forgot he was head coach for 2 yrs in TB. Did Cooper replace him? https://www.hockeydb.com/...ats/pdisplay.php?pid=5417

Never knew he leads the NHL on Gordie Howe hattricks. https://www.eliteprospect...player/21418/rick-tocchet

In Arizona, Rick Tocchet made a fairly quick evaluation of Strome's game and quickly sent him to Tucson. That was about the same time as Q was deciding he didn't care much for Nick Schmaltz.

Tocchet is an NHL coach
- RickJ

Tocchet was an NHL coach, just like JC.

Riley Stillman goes on IR for the Blackhawks with a left knee injury.

Wyatt Kalynuk recalled; he’ll meet the team in Calgary.
- Chunk

Darn it, I was really liking Stillman’s game, and Gus can’t catch a cold.

Tocchet was an NHL coach, just like JC.
- powerenforcer

Not even close to being comparable.

Yes, he was the highest rated Hawk defenseman measured by Corsi for relative.
- scottak

Thanks for confirming, he definitely passed my eye test.

Not even close to being comparable.
- RickJ

IDK Tocchet 6 years as coach, 1 playoff appearance with AZ in the bubble, 4-5 record.

JC 4 years as a coach 1 playoff appearance with Chi. in the bubble 4-5 record.

Seems pretty comparable to me

I don't know what everyone is complaining about. Its not like players aren't meeting expectations.

It's the Kane and Debrincat show scoring wise. Not surprising. Secondary scoring was predicated on Toews coming back to something close to his pre year off form which he hasn't so that kind of kills their secondary scoring.

Their blueline was going to be bad past Murphy, Jones and McCabe - which they have been and those three have had their turn at poor performances but the trend is more or less in the right direction.

Yeah they allowed a lot of shots yesterday but in terms of high danger chances, they were much better at denying good opportunities in the slot and limiting the ones in transition that were killing them before.

Dach is on pace for between 35 and 40 points and trending up eye test wise which is encouraging and 50 wouldn't be out of reach if he gets hot.

They're a one line team with a poorly contrived blue line that relies on Kane, DeBrincat and good goaltending to get points. The last half dozen games are a pretty clear illustration of where this team should be. A playoff team with some luck or the best of the worst.

Tough to be disappointed with the current play considering their roster and the talent up and down the line up.

IDK Tocchet 6 years as coach, 1 playoff appearance with AZ in the bubble, 4-5 record.

JC 4 years as a coach 1 playoff appearance with Chi. in the bubble 4-5 record.

Seems pretty comparable to me
- LAHawk

I guess Tocchet's 2 years/2 Stanley Cups as an assistant coach in Pittsburgh doesn't count, but we can agree to disagree.

I know which of the two I would wager on being behind an NHL bench eventually in some capacity would be.

I guess Tocchet's 2 years/2 Stanley Cups as an assistant coach in Pittsburgh doesn't count, but we can agree to disagree.

I know which of the two I would wager on being behind an NHL bench eventually in some capacity would be.
- RickJ

We will know what the league thinks of JC this offseason. If he isn't even offered an assistant job then that is all we need to know.

We will know what the league thinks of JC this offseason. If he isn't even offered an assistant job then that is all we need to know.
- bhawks2241

I would guess he ends up coaching in Europe.

I would guess he ends up coaching in Europe.
- LAHawk

He'll be coaching a Euro beer league team soon.

I guess Tocchet's 2 years/2 Stanley Cups as an assistant coach in Pittsburgh doesn't count, but we can agree to disagree.

I know which of the two I would wager on being behind an NHL bench eventually in some capacity would be.
- RickJ

I think JC's biggest failing was what was supposed to be his strength, his communication skills. Seems it was his way or no way, and he couldn't communicate what his system was either. i will also blame him for keeping Brookbank as the defensive coach (I think he was just a yes man), and Mitell also. I think Crawford just decided he couldn't fight city hall with Bowman having gone all in on JC, and just stayed out of the way.

Nice article about Cookson by Pope in the Sun-Times today. What I like is his take on accountability. Hopefully Kurashev got the message last night when he sat after another offensive zone penalty.

He'll be coaching a Euro beer league team soon.
- mohel

or maybe Red Bull München ?

He'll be coaching a Euro beer league team soon.
- mohel

Tier 2

or maybe Red Bull München ?
- LAHawk

Could be!

On the Hawks, though, the focus now will be on whether the new coaches can get the players to play with a defensive mindset. This was JC's challenge, and he failed. The early results for King are mixed; Flower has masked many ills lately, but there are signs of improvement, too.

I'll be rooting for King, both because he coaches the team I root for, and because I like the guy.

Tier 2
- scottak

Mites!

I wish him well, he seems a good human.

Could be!

On the Hawks, though, the focus now will be on whether the new coaches can get the players to play with a defensive mindset. This was JC's challenge, and he failed. The early results for King are mixed; Flower has masked many ills lately, but there are signs of improvement, too.

I'll be rooting for King, both because he coaches the team I root for, and because I like the guy.
- mohel

Cheering for the team and coach you root for? I thought we were supposed to cheer against them? That seems to be the prevailing theme with some posters?

With all the debate about Kubiak, Strome, etc., no one has brought up that Kane & DeBrincat, in addition to Dach, were absolutely horrible last night. By far the worst of the 4 lines. 5 v 5. The 3 got steamrolled.

Need to keep everyone pulling on the oars in the same direction, especially the 1st line.

With all the debate about Kubiak, Strome, etc., no one has brought up that Kane & DeBrincat, in addition to Dach, were absolutely horrible last night. By far the worst of the 4 lines. 5 v 5. The 3 got steamrolled.

Need to keep everyone pulling on the oars in the same direction, especially the 1st line.
- scottak

Hard to have good possession numbers when your center wins only 3 out of every 10 draws

With all the debate about Kubiak, Strome, etc., no one has brought up that Kane & DeBrincat, in addition to Dach, were absolutely horrible last night. By far the worst of the 4 lines. 5 v 5. The 3 got steamrolled.

Need to keep everyone pulling on the oars in the same direction, especially the 1st line.
- scottak

To be fair, Kane and Cat have been pretty darn good during the King Era.

Cheering for the team and coach you root for? I thought we were supposed to cheer against them? That seems to be the prevailing theme with some posters?
- paulr

It is a novel concept.