Don't know, Darth. Al doesn't do hot takes or hyperbole. He's a reserved guy........ I asked him on the Twitter if he heard coaches are staying away from the Hawks. He's great at responding on the Twitter.
- Mr Ricochet

In a later tweet Al clarified it was just a feeling. He then referenced Babcock among the coaches who wouldn’t want to coach in Chicago.

Worst professional organization in sports !! Think about that for a minute.
- Hawkytalk

I have, for the last 5 yrs. ........It always, always starts with ownership. Always.

In a later tweet Al clarified it was just a feeling. He then referenced Babcock among the coaches who wouldn’t want to coach in Chicago.
- DarthKane

That's me he's responding to, Darth. Al loves talking hockey and will respond if you tweet at him.

That's me he's responding to, Darth. Al loves talking hockey and will respond if you tweet at him.
- Mr Ricochet

Babcock not coaching a team going into a rebuild don't want him either.

I am so conflicted on Strome. Three months ago I was all for just getting rid of Strome even if it meant getting back some practice pucks and a few rolls of tape. Despite his warts, skating ability, very weak battling for pucks Strome has played well lately. Is Strome playing well because he cares or because it’s his contract year? I think you hit the nail on the head, he’s there for the money. I think Strome may turn out to be a mercenary who relaxes after his next contract. Tough call for Davidson, do you re-sign him hoping he continues to play quite well or does he lose his incentive and rest on his laurels with the new contract in hand?
- paulr

You already have that answer given his sample size here...when he got dealt here he played with a FU edge and played well....After that he's been largely inconsistent and exactly why Arizona sold high on him as quickly as they did.

Hawks aren't going to miss Strome. He's going to be a mental midget who needs top 3, top 6 talent to produce and the only teams hes going to be slotted in that role is on a basement dweller.

Glad he played well today....hope he goes on a tear up until the deadline so other GMs and scouts take notice.

He’s not in a position to say this, he’s likely just venting. At most, he might be saying that top coaches won’t want to be part of a rebuild, which may or may not be true.
- DarthKane

I asked him directly, too

He responded: "There are not many and they can pick and choose and are past longer-term projects.'

So, it does sound like it's more the latter

ETA: Responded before I saw all of your follow-up messages (and the other tweets)

@AlCimaglia

What a clown show...The Front Office can talk rebuild and anything else but unless some higher caliber coaches land in Chgo and Rokfrd it won't mean much.
That's a challenge considering how top coaches won't come here.


Anyone on here with any idea why Al would make the last statement? I find it hard to believe that coaches won't come to Chicago? Did Q put the word out after the battles with the rest of the FO or something?
- pdx2ord

YOu just went through a toxic off ice situation and now your gm says "rebuild"....not many established coaches want to stick around for this....what the Hawks need is the right coach to play the kids, pick and choose the right times to sit them without shattering their confidence, and then when it's time you hire a coach who can vault you into a playoff winner.

Exactly why they kicked Savard upstairs and gave the keys to Q.

I agree, if the league isn't really going to do anything about it
- BetweenTheDots

The scrum was a riot....Murphy chirping earlier in the period and backing off a potential dance partner, like he does almost every game.....guy is a disaster. I get the need to have some veterans to play in front of a goalie, but Murphy doesn't do a lot of things well....if any. I hope they are flying under the radar and deal him.

This is really a team of individuals. Lack of player leadership, lack of cohesion, and anyone who thinks this team is still good....you just saw what happens when Fleury doesn't play. Lankinen is just pure $hit.

@simmonssteve

Source: Marc-Andre Fleury has told the Chicago Blackhawks he doesn’t want to be dealt at the NHL’s trade deadline - which essentially removes Fleury from the market.

No surprise - sounds like his family enjoys Chicago and that's his first consideration

YOu just went through a toxic off ice situation and now your gm says "rebuild"....not many established coaches want to stick around for this....what the Hawks need is the right coach to play the kids, pick and choose the right times to sit them without shattering their confidence, and then when it's time you hire a coach who can vault you into a playoff winner.

Exactly why they kicked Savard upstairs and gave the keys to Q.
- SteveRain

Yeah, Al was pretty clear in subsequent tweets that it is the big name, big dollar, highly-decorated coaches who would not be interested. Probably, like Q, a bad fit for a developing team.

With that said, why not target a highly-decorated AHL or college coach, a la Cooper, to bring in...best of both worlds with proven success developing and skins on the wall.

Turned it off in the 3rd and missed the Dach hit....... Don't ever like dirty hits but still nice to see Dach play up to the edge. If the kid brings some nasty to his game I'd like that. If nothing else shows he cares enough to engage and knock people down.
- Mr Ricochet

I mean sure that’s great… 3rd overall pick for a developing..straight up thug because he can’t do much else… but to your point I remember the days of Stu Grimson and Mike Peluso on the same team… might not win… but damn sure scary and tough to play against which we don’t have

Yeah, Al was pretty clear in subsequent tweets that it is the big name, big dollar, highly-decorated coaches who would not be interested. Probably, like Q, a bad fit for a developing team.

With that said, why not target a highly-decorated AHL or college coach, a la Cooper, to bring in...best of both worlds with proven success developing and skins on the wall.
- pdx2ord

100% agreed....but I am really over getting upset over how they bad are during games. They have been this way since the season began and it's been that way still...not as often but in stretches under King......we can female dog and moan about systems, or what else, but at some point you just look at this team and you realize how few good players they have.

Fleury is older but still can steal games at times and at least keep them in games.

kane, DeBrincat are you only 2 skilled games who game in and game out show up. Rest are consistently inconsistent and 100% slotted above their skis in the lineup.

Jones...He needs to better if he's going to talk a big game in the media which is exactly Murphy drives me nuts. Shut up and play better...stop giving me cliches and how you can't make stupid plays and then go out and play like a fringe NHL player.

I just dont' see the veteran leadership on this team. That's why I am hoping for a complete rebuild and sell off of everyone and anyone who can fetch a deal. Rest...you pick and choose who you can buy out (connolly) and rest are place holders.

Just a lot not to like here right now....which is fine...but they need to ship guys out who can fetch a decent return and do it quickly.

I mean sure that’s great… 3rd overall pick for a developing..straight up thug because he can’t do much else… but to your point I remember the days of Stu Grimson and Mike Peluso on the same team… might not win… but damn sure scary and tough to play against which we don’t have
- bigfly46

That NHL doesn't exist anymore.....you need big guys who can play the game and move as they don't serve a purpose if they can't keep up with the smaller skilled guys. Guys like Brouwer, Ladd, Buff, Eager were good at that.

@simmonssteve

Source: Marc-Andre Fleury has told the Chicago Blackhawks he doesn’t want to be dealt at the NHL’s trade deadline - which essentially removes Fleury from the market.

No surprise - sounds like his family enjoys Chicago and that's his first consideration
- pdx2ord

May or may not be true. Steve Simmons has been known to make poop up. I generally don’t get my shorts in a wad about the media but this guy is an idiot. He reported that a hot dog vendor in Toronto sold hot dogs to Phil Kessel daily. A pile on smear campaign when Leaf fans had had enough of Kessel. He’s also famous for doing positive write ups about Toronto sports players and teams then he likes to break them down with constant dubious reporting.

I’m hesitant to believe anything Simmons reports.

Yeah, Al was pretty clear in subsequent tweets that it is the big name, big dollar, highly-decorated coaches who would not be interested. Probably, like Q, a bad fit for a developing team.

With that said, why not target a highly-decorated AHL or college coach, a la Cooper, to bring in...best of both worlds with proven success developing and skins on the wall.
- pdx2ord

Or a coach from a Swedish league.

May or may not be true. Steve Simmons has been known to make poop up. I generally don’t get my shorts in a wad about the media but this guy is an idiot. He reported that a hot dog vendor in Toronto sold hot dogs to Phil Kessel daily. A pile on smear campaign when Leaf fans had had enough of Kessel. He’s also famous for doing positive write ups about Toronto sports players and teams then he likes to break them down with constant dubious reporting.

I’m hesitant to believe anything Simmons reports.
- paulr

I always love when Toronto guys play the "source" card. Granted our media here suck and haven't broken a trade in eons.....but.....unless Alan Walsh is calling Simmons or Fleury.....where is he getting this? See what comes out of it.

This was always a chance if the season went by the wayside......

Tell you what, Bowman would have been fired regardless this year. What a total clown car he has left Davidson with. And I thought this team on paper could sniff the playoffs.........shame on me.

Yeah, Al was pretty clear in subsequent tweets that it is the big name, big dollar, highly-decorated coaches who would not be interested. Probably, like Q, a bad fit for a developing team.

With that said, why not target a highly-decorated AHL or college coach, a la Cooper, to bring in...best of both worlds with proven success developing and skins on the wall.
- pdx2ord

Ricco would have more indepth insight than me but I would look at John Wroblewski of the Ontario Reign, he was also coach of the US development program.

Hagel had a bad game today. In fact he was switched with Kurashev to the 4th line.

May or may not be true. Steve Simmons has been known to make poop up. I generally don’t get my shorts in a wad about the media but this guy is an idiot. He reported that a hot dog vendor in Toronto sold hot dogs to Phil Kessel daily. A pile on smear campaign when Leaf fans had had enough of Kessel. He’s also famous for doing positive write ups about Toronto sports players and teams then he likes to break them down with constant dubious reporting.

I’m hesitant to believe anything Simmons reports.
- paulr

Oh OK - good to know...will wait for confirmation from a more reputable source, if it comes

Or a coach from a Swedish league.
- boilermaker100

Har har

I always love when Toronto guys play the "source" card. Granted our media here suck and haven't broken a trade in eons.....but.....unless Alan Walsh is calling Simmons or Fleury.....where is he getting this? See what comes out of it.

This was always a chance if the season went by the wayside......

Tell you what, Bowman would have been fired regardless this year. What a total clown car he has left Davidson with. And I thought this team on paper could sniff the playoffs.........shame on me.
- SteveRain

Simmons is so bad, has burned so many bridges and is well known throughout the league, I can’t see any player, agent, coach or front office person giving him any information. Like I said MAF may or may not want to be traded, but there is no chance I’ll believe anything Simmons reports.

And I thought the Hawks with Jones, McCabe, Toews etc. had a chance to make the playoffs. Same on me too.

May or may not be true. Steve Simmons has been known to make poop up. I generally don’t get my shorts in a wad about the media but this guy is an idiot. He reported that a hot dog vendor in Toronto sold hot dogs to Phil Kessel daily. A pile on smear campaign when Leaf fans had had enough of Kessel. He’s also famous for doing positive write ups about Toronto sports players and teams then he likes to break them down with constant dubious reporting. Maf could always change his mine plus maybe his wife convinces maf to chance another cup.

I’m hesitant to believe anything Simmons reports.
- paulr

Simmons is so bad, has burned so many bridges and is well known throughout the league, I can’t see any player, agent, coach or front office person giving him any information. Like I said MAF may or may not want to be traded, but there is no chance I’ll believe anything Simmons reports.

And I thought the Hawks with Jones, McCabe, Toews etc. had a chance to make the playoffs. Same on me too.

- paulr

So did the scouts that just got canned

Simmons is so bad, has burned so many bridges and is well known throughout the league, I can’t see any player, agent, coach or front office person giving him any information. Like I said MAF may or may not want to be traded, but there is no chance I’ll believe anything Simmons reports.

And I thought the Hawks with Jones, McCabe, Toews etc. had a chance to make the playoffs. Same on me too.

- paulr

FWIW Pope is saying the MAF situation is still up in the air despite the referenced tweet.

FWIW Pope is saying the MAF situation is still up in the air despite the referenced tweet.
- Chunk

Yeah, and he added this tidbit, too

@BenPopeCST

My understanding is Fleury would like to stay in Chicago, potentially even re-signing with them this summer if he doesn’t retire. But a trade for the rest of this season is still possible.