Since when have the Hawks and our organization turned into the Calgary Flames? Or the Columbus Blue Jackets!?

From the tone of JJ's thread and most of the posters, you'd think the Hawks are a collection of bums who aren't good enough to play in a beer league, let alone in the NHL. The armchair GM mentality with this fan base (at least here) is almost laughable!!! Sad and annoying if you ask me...Of the 2nd tier F/A jags who didn't sign here, I say who the F cares? They aren't the players that will take this team to a Cup win anyway, yet everyone whines and complains about who we didn't get!

If the Hawks are building their team in the Detroit model of draft and develop, which has been their stated goal, then none of what Stan and Co. has done or hasn't done, especially with the current state of the NHL and CBA, should NOT be a surprise to anyone. On paper, the Hawks have a nice stable of prospects, and I know I'll get crucified for saying that, but come on…No matter what the Hawks do, or don’t do, everyone sucks and they all need to go!!!???

Last I checked, Sharp was only 30! That's NOT old...so let’s all start worrying about his tail off in 5 years!?

As for Kompon, I'm not surprised at all with the hiring of a Q crony...but who's to say he's going to come in and run our PP? Can anyone definitively say what his role is going to be at this point? Maybe after the convention that will be answered? If anyone knows, or goes to the convention, that would be some nice info to share! Perhaps he'll help install a better defensive system similar to what the Kings deploy, which could be a positive for the Hawks and Crawford.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Bowman or management apologist, and I like all of you would have liked to see more than a Brookbank signing. That said, Brookbank is an upgrade to an ancient OD and an unreliable Lepisto. The fact that almost the entire roster from last year's team returns, minus the dead weight players (OD, Lepisto, Brunette), perhaps we'll finally see Q be able to find some consistency in his line combos, similar to the '08-09 and '09-10 seasons...Big if I know, but it is entirely plausible as well. The Hawks team back then was VERY young, and talented, but had very little playoff experience. This Hawks team is a year older, more mature, rested, and should be pissed off!!! Until the Hawks lay a steaming pile of crap (Eli - please insert your image for me) during the season...I'll continue to have a half glass full attitude with this team, assuming there will even be a season!!!

Lastly, what have the teams in our division done to improve? Last I checked...nothing! In fact, the Wings are substantially weaker and older this season and scare nobody anymore. What free agents did the mighty Ken Holland land? The Preds are going to be weaker as well in losing Suter and now perhaps Weber, and are the Blues really as good as they were last year? I'm not 100% sold on that either as their goalies played out of their minds during the regular season, but stunk in the playoffs! That’s why they play the games gents…and sadly, so many of you have already seemingly written off this Hawks team.
- nelli312

You're right about a ton of sh!t , BUT , even when the Hawks win the division who are the Hawks prepared to beat in the playoffs ?? The roster is light years away from being a Championship roster. The Hawks have huge holes in special teams , center and goaltending and that my friend is a problem.

Just watching it on tv. Thats all.
- bejewell

Ok bro , I refuse because I figured they would just show happy happy joy joy

***Is Dempster really going to start tonight ?? Are the Cubs mental ?? Keep him benched until trade time, If he pitches tonight in true Cubs fashion his arm will fall off***

Sorry for the Baseball mini spa out but the HAwks are making me kinda sick.

McD and Bowman both no shows at the opening ceremony.

First smart move they made this summer.

Ok bro , I refuse because I figured they would just show happy happy joy joy
- mrpaulish

That is exactly what happened. They just said "They weren't booing they were Qing

That might be the biggest load of bull poop ever

McD and Bowman both no shows at the opening ceremony.

First smart move they made this summer.
- AceRatbang

Weakkkkkk

That is exactly what happened. They just said "They weren't booing they were Qing

That might be the biggest load of bull poop ever
- bejewell

OMFG

Weakkkkkk
- IndianHead10

Wow. They weren't there?????? How does the Prez, the marketing guy not go to the opening ceremonies??????

Wow. They weren't there?????? How does the Prez, the marketing guy not go to the opening ceremonies??????
- robhawks

I'm just watching on tv. But they didn't introduce any of the main front office people like they did the previous 4 years. Also no Oduya and NO Saad. But they had Olsen and Ben Smith.

Is it just me or does David Kaplan ever blink?

Wow. They weren't there?????? How does the Prez, the marketing guy not go to the opening ceremonies??????
- robhawks

Because he knows it's bad marketing for management to get booed.

Is it just me or does David Kaplan never blink?
- IndianHead10

I dunno but he is a runt , ever see him on the 200 level at the UC , he's a dwarf.

I know Scotty Bowman was there since Eddie O singled him out. I have to think all of management is there just not introduced

“@TimSassone: Kane, asked directly if he has a drinking problem: "I don't think so." #Blackhawks”

“@TimSassone: Kane said he was embarrassed by what went on in Madison. #Blackhawks”

“@ESPNChiHawks: Kane: "Its not who I want to be. I want to be a role model to kids and to everyone for that matter."”

“@ESPNChiHawks: Hossa: “It could be different on the ice when I get my first hit but so far, without contact, I’m doing everything at a high level."”

“@ESPNChiHawks: Blackhawks blog:  Hossa thinks he'll be ready for camp [url]http://t.co/mylwuBE5”

“@TimSassone: Kane, asked directly if he has a drinking problem: "I don't think so." #Blackhawks”

“@TimSassone: Kane said he was embarrassed by what went on in Madison. #Blackhawks”

“@ESPNChiHawks: Kane: "Its not who I want to be. I want to be a role model to kids and to everyone for that matter."”
- Ogilthorpe2

Ogi, come on bro , whats he suppose to stay he is here forever now, If they were going to move ohm they would have moved him for Nash and they didnt/cant. He's the Hawks come hell or high water.

Ogi, come on bro , whats he suppose to stay he is here forever now, If they were going to move ohm they would have moved him for Nash and they didnt/cant. He's the Hawks come hell or high water.
- mrpaulish

I'm just happy someone had the stones to ask the fricking question.

You're right about a ton of sh!t , BUT , even when the Hawks win the division who are the Hawks prepared to beat in the playoffs ?? The roster is light years away from being a Championship roster. The Hawks have huge holes in special teams , center and goaltending and that my friend is a problem.
- mrpaulish

I look at it this way. The year after the Cup, we took a much weaker team into Vancouver, battled back and almost stole the series from the eventual Cup runner up. Last year, we were arguably better than the previous year, and for the most part, dominated Phoenix in the playoffs, who eventually lost in the conference finals. Who's to say how that series played out if Hossa wasn't assaulted, and Smith wasn't such a dive queen and Shaw played the entire series.

Fast forward to this season. The same team returns from last year, with Brookbank who is an upgrade to our 5/6 pairing which should help distribute the minutes, assuming Q is true to his word after the season and he plans to be better at managing player minutes.

Ogi...

I echo a lot of your frustration, especially in Q's direction, as I think a LOT of the Hawks on ice problems are a direct result of the coaching, or lack there of from Q and dbag Kitchen.

The Cup winning team the Hawks had was a special team with size, grit, speed, agreed! A perfect storm if you will, and it left us spoiled and wanting for more! That said, can anyone here, or even JJ/Al give a scouting report on guys like Kruger, Leddy, Olsen, Shaw, Hayes? We all know what they needed to work on to be more effective (size/strength/improved skating respectively) So perhaps Leddy and Kruger come in 10 meaningful pounds bigger...perhaps Olsen is in shape and worked on his skating all summer, same for Hayes. Perhaps they didn't, and if that's the case, then my point is moot.

Yet I'll reserve to jump off the cliff of despair until I see what these supporting players look like on the ice. The Hawks are a puck possession team...not a rough and tumble team. I agree with TrueGrit in that the Hawks compete level needs to be there, and be more consistent. That's on coaching!!! When our compete level is there, you see a very dominant team, that still gets outhit night in night out because we have the puck most of the time...So I agree with you Ogi, that Q needs to do a much better job preparing the team, and holding everyone accountable with the same standards!

I'm just happy someone had the stones to ask the fricking question.
- Ogilthorpe2

Oh ok , I see. I get that , yea , I really canny believe Kuc, ROgers or Jahns would ever ask a real question., Did you see Jahns article today in the sun times ?? 1. What a homer 2. What a clown , see his hair do ?? wtf ?

I look at it this way. The year after the Cup, we took a much weaker team into Vancouver, battled back and almost stole the series from the eventual Cup runner up. Last year, we were arguably better than the previous year, and for the most part, dominated Phoenix in the playoffs, who eventually lost in the conference finals. Who's to say how that series played out if Hossa wasn't assaulted, and Smith wasn't such a dive queen and Shaw played the entire series.

Fast forward to this season. The same team returns from last year, with Brookbank who is an upgrade to our 5/6 pairing which should help distribute the minutes, assuming Q is true to his word after the season and he plans to be better at managing player minutes.

Ogi...

I echo a lot of your frustration, especially in Q's direction, as I think a LOT of the Hawks on ice problems are a direct result of the coaching, or lack there of from Q and dbag Kitchen.

The Cup winning team the Hawks had was a special team with size, grit, speed, agreed! A perfect storm if you will, and it left us spoiled and wanting for more! That said, can anyone here, or even JJ/Al give a scouting report on guys like Kruger, Leddy, Olsen, Shaw, Hayes? We all know what they needed to work on to be more effective (size/strength/improved skating respectively) So perhaps Leddy and Kruger come in 10 meaningful pounds bigger...perhaps Olsen is in shape and worked on his skating all summer, same for Hayes. Perhaps they didn't, and if that's the case, then my point is moot.

Yet I'll reserve to jump off the cliff of despair until I see what these supporting players look like on the ice. The Hawks are a puck possession team...not a rough and tumble team. I agree with TrueGrit in that the Hawks compete level needs to be there, and be more consistent. When it is, you see a dominant team, that gets outhit night in night out...That's on coaching!!! So there I agree with you Ogi, that Q needs to do a much better job preparing the team, and holding everyone accountable with the same standards!
- nelli312

The bottom line is that all Hawks fans are frustrated with any appearance of not trying to win it all. I am happy the Hawks won a cup in my life time , never ever ever thought it was going to happen , but I hate being lied too.

I always have to give this infomercial** Life long Cubs fan here, McD is Cubbing the Hawks, McD is making the Hawks bottom line grow and doesn't give a fuk about the on ice results. McD is all about commercials and profit. mcD sells the world to meatball fans. McD has his fingerprints all over this Hawks mess and at 1M per year I don't think he is going anywhere , and thats Rockys fault.

Rocky is a hero to me , for my entire life you could not watch a Hawks Home game on TV , Rocky changed that , the obvious result was that the game grew here in Chicago. But if this team as is with the mess in management doesn't at least make it to the WCF it is an ultimate failure. Total failure. 50% of the teams make the playoffs this team with Toews, Kane, Sharp , Seabrook , Hossa, and Brookank better make the WCF !

Oh my goodness, Jim Cornelison without the organ and a loud crowd is extra brutal
- AceRatbang

I've always considered the guy overrated...

...long live Wayne Messmer.

I've always considered the guy overrated...

...long live Wayne Messmer.
- ArlingtonRob

ABSO FUC KING LOOOOTLEYYYYY

Ogi...

I echo a lot of your frustration, especially in Q's direction, as I think a LOT of the Hawks on ice problems are a direct result of the coaching, or lack there of from Q and dbag Kitchen...

...The Cup winning team the Hawks had was a special team with size, grit, speed, agreed! A perfect storm if you will, and it left us spoiled and wanting for more! That said, can anyone here, or even JJ/Al give a scouting report on guys like Kruger, Leddy, Olsen, Shaw, Hayes? We all know what they needed to work on to be more effective (size/strength/improved skating respectively) So perhaps Leddy and Kruger come in 10 meaningful pounds bigger...perhaps Olsen is in shape and worked on his skating all summer, same for Hayes. Perhaps they didn't, and if that's the case, then my point is moot....

...Q needs to do a much better job preparing the team, and holding everyone accountable with the same standards!
- nelli312

Agree 100 % on the points about coaching, but I don't think Q is capable of being better...not with young players.

As far as the bolded portion...if it's one or 2 guys we're talking about then fine, I get it, organic growth...promote from within. When we're talking about the 5 you mentioned, and I'll add Crawford to that list, all needing to have significantly improved for this team to be better....that's a recipe for failure. A good GM would make the moves necessary so that the team doesn't have to rely on 6 young question marks.

...and Brookank
- mrpaulish

I've always considered the guy overrated...

...long live Wayne Messmer.
- ArlingtonRob

Definitely (on both counts).

Back when they had the rotating cast of guys from the opera doing the anthem, there was a guy named Patrick Blackstone (I think it was Blackstone... possibly Blackwell?) who was really great. I enjoyed him and it was always a step down whenever it was Cornelison's turn.

Ah well, this team has bigger issues than the anthem singer