I'll say again, if the marching orders are to put out the best team possible each year (for money purposes), it doesn't matter much who gets put in charge.

Also noticed some posters saying that Rocky's other interests mean he's not concerned about making money on the Hawks. Wishful thinking. He's a Wirtz. He's said several times that the team needs to be profitable.
- mohel

Anything else is being naive about wealthy people and how they got wealthy. They're not altruistic.

Anything else is being naive about wealthy people and how they got wealthy. They're not altruistic.
- rpeters01

But what is laughable is the financial fate of the Hawks could bring the Wirtz empire to its knees

But what is laughable is the financial fate of the Hawks could bring the Wirtz empire to its knees
- LAHawk

Did anyone say that?

What is laughable is the notion that Wirtz is unconcerned about the team finances. I hope he is willing to take the financial hit that comes with a 5 year gut rehab; but his own comments and actions suggest otherwise. He allowed a rebuild when tickets weren't being sold anyway. When things returned to normal, the team traded for and signed Jones, added an old goalie, and signed McCabe. Right when fans could return en masse. But.....it had nothing to do with Rocky... .

This board can argue which 5th line player should play 2nd line adnauseum.
- rpeters01

Agree. How many keystrokes entered the past year regarding Highmore, Gaudette, Quenneville, et al?

Definitely a watchable game, they played the Avs fairly even last night, they kept (IMHO)the best player in hockey in check(Makar). The Hawks are basically a NHL .500 team, just not enough talent. To be a playoff team next season they need one more good Dman with offensive skills, and at least two impact forwards, good luck KD.
- Angotti

And a really, really good goaltender. And a head coach. And draft picks to meet or exceed expectations.

completely agree with the no checking style. Drives me mad when they try to poke the puck instead of laying on a hit. I don't care how old Al Secord is, bring him back!

Agree. How many keystrokes entered the past year regarding Highmore, Gaudette, Quenneville, et al?
- boilermaker100

Really a useless topic if a rebuild into a contender is the plan. If they are aiming to get as good as they can next year, many of these guys will be the bottom six of that "playoff contender".

completely agree with the no checking style. Drives me mad when they try to poke the puck instead of laying on a hit. I don't care how old Al Secord is, bring him back!
- bjphawkfan

Or at least Chelios - I'm sure he can hit harder than any current dman on the roster.

Or at least Chelios - I'm sure he can hit harder than any current dman on the roster.
- powerenforcer

It’s not necessarily about how hard the hits are. There are too many instances where a Hawk player won’t use his body, even to impede the opposition. Hard hits are nice don’t get me wrong but slowing the opponent by getting in his way all the time is more important.

The hawks roll four 4th lines with two top 6 forwards (12&88) sounds better already.

19 is a shell of what he once was. 17 & 77 haven’t lived up to the draft position but are still young they need to be given more time because there is young enough.
77 still can become a top 6 player. If we had a top 6 and we had 8/77/38 as the third line they would be slotted properly.

Everyone wanting 13/77/17 traded because there so bad what would the return be?

And the trade 88 & 19 have full nmc and 29 has an handshake agreement to not be traded unless he wants to be. What’s the point of making trades just to make them until they commit to a gm and then coach what sense does it make to let a guy who won’t be there make it worst.

Or at least Chelios - I'm sure he can hit harder than any current dman on the roster.
- powerenforcer

We had big Z who did that but would then be totally out of position

Been saying this since I called the great Kubalik a 3rd line player which he's struggling to be. Agree on Hagel but he will wear down and be gone soon anyway.
- rpeters01

There is no one.... look at the Hawks potential "Top 6" guys. This teams "Top 6" is charmin soft. They get bullied down low and along the boards. Ratanen, one of the best players on Colorado, put Toews on his butt last night.

There is a lot more clutching and grabbing now then 6-8 years ago.

Kane - not physical
Dcat - not physical but will try on occasion
Toews - does not play a heavy physical game anymore
Strome - not physical
Kubalik - not physical
Borgstrom - not overly physical but will drive the net a decent amount
Dach - maybe in the future
Reichel - not physical
Hagel - can be physical but undersized

The hawks roll four 4th lines with two top 6 forwards (12&88) sounds better already.

19 is a shell of what he once was. 17 & 77 haven’t lived up to the draft position but are still young they need to be given more time because there is young enough.
77 still can become a top 6 player. If we had a top 6 and we had 8/77/38 as the third line they would be slotted properly.

Everyone wanting 13/77/17 traded because there so bad what would the return be?

And the trade 88 & 19 have full nmc and 29 has an handshake agreement to not be traded unless he wants to be. What’s the point of making trades just to make them until they commit to a gm and then coach what sense does it make to let a guy who won’t be there make it worst.
- Abadseed

As to Dach, I wonder how much coaching and watching video will improve his skills such as driving toward the net instead of the perimeter with the puck, skating into opponents instead of around them to retrieve pucks, lifting passes up so they are above the opponent's sticks, again driving toward the net without the puck and blocking the goalie's vision instead of standing on the side of the net?

Caleb Jones had a nice preseason. But his regular season has been “ugh”.

Murphy is ok defensively, but a handicap when trying to transition from defense to offense.

The offense will really improve if Kalynuk, Mitchell, Galvas, Beaudin are developed properly. They have enough offensive skills and skating skills. They show some defensive skills. Hopefully a few of them figure things out offensively and defensively to become solid two way defensemen.
- Ztra

The Hawks defense in general struggles to transition from Defense to Offense. Way, way too many wrapped passes along the boards, pucks flipped out of the zone or passes to no-one just to get it out. Watch the opposition and how often the D come down the boards because they know the percentage of passes the Hawks just wrap around the boards.

As to Dach, I wonder how much coaching and watching video will improve his skills such as driving toward the net instead of the perimeter with the puck, skating into opponents instead of around them to retrieve pucks, lifting passes up so they are above the opponent's sticks, again driving toward the net without the puck and blocking the goalie's vision instead of standing on the side of the net?
- Popsghostly

Someone with more hockey knowledge can lend some insight... I did see Dach try to make some passes last night. Few were bad passes but several I saw hard crisp passes and Kubalik being unable to receive the pass.

Not sure if that is more so on Dach for passing it too hard or on Kubalik? After several misses Dach started taking the puck himself.

The Hawks defense in general struggles to transition from Defense to Offense. Way, way too many wrapped passes along the boards, pucks flipped out of the zone or passes to no-one just to get it out. Watch the opposition and how often the D come down the boards because they know the percentage of passes the Hawks just wrap around the boards.
- TheTrob

100%

I would add D come down the boards b/c they also don't fear the Hawks forwards getting behind them or beating them back up the ice.

Who on the Hawks are you worried about carrying the puck and beating you with speed? No one.

The Hawks defense in general struggles to transition from Defense to Offense. Way, way too many wrapped passes along the boards, pucks flipped out of the zone or passes to no-one just to get it out. Watch the opposition and how often the D come down the boards because they know the percentage of passes the Hawks just wrap around the boards.
- TheTrob

Agree here Trob.

Think it's lack of skill on the blueline and forwards spacing is off, too far out. Jones and Gus are the only ones who can smoothly carry the puck out of the zone. That said, simply just getting the puck out of the zone has been an improvement over the Colliton era.

Someone with more hockey knowledge can lend some insight... I did see Dach try to make some passes last night. Few were bad passes but several I saw hard crisp passes and Kubalik being unable to receive the pass.

Not sure if that is more so on Dach for passing it too hard or on Kubalik? After several misses Dach started taking the puck himself.
- bhawks2241

Agree here too as a refresher. Good question that I want to know too. Remember one just flying off of Kubalik's stick from Dach.

Anyone catch the Blackhawks Talk Podcast today. I think they forgot to edit out the start of it. hahahahahahaha.

There is no one.... look at the Hawks potential "Top 6" guys. This teams "Top 6" is charmin soft. They get bullied down low and along the boards. Ratanen, one of the best players on Colorado, put Toews on his butt last night.

There is a lot more clutching and grabbing now then 6-8 years ago.

Kane - not physical
Dcat - not physical but will try on occasion
Toews - does not play a heavy physical game anymore
Strome - not physical
Kubalik - not physical
Borgstrom - not overly physical but will drive the net a decent amount
Dach - maybe in the future
Reichel - not physical
Hagel - can be physical but undersized
- bhawks2241

Vegas toys with us. They lose to us when they forget they're playing around. When they get serious they kick our ass.

Vegas toys with us. They lose to us when they forget they're playing around. When they get serious they kick our ass.

- rpeters01

For that matter so does Nashville

Da Bears hired a GM

Da Bears hired a GM
- glennjpawlak22

did they have soccer guys consulting them too?

Da Bears hired a GM
- glennjpawlak22

Already? Without the Soccer Gurus?

It’s not necessarily about how hard the hits are. There are too many instances where a Hawk player won’t use his body, even to impede the opposition. Hard hits are nice don’t get me wrong but slowing the opponent by getting in his way all the time is more important.
- paulr

Yep. It also has another name, taking away time and space.......... With some support taking away time and space creates turnovers which often times creates scoring chances.