TSN guys all saying Q is gunna get fired next week....I simply cannot understand how Q's track record doesn't hold more weight than Stan Bowman's. It should be Stan, or both, but not only Q IMO.
- EnzoD

Bowman has butchered this team with his terrible trades and terrible cap management. Yet, Q may be the fall guy. Further indication that this is Stan's toy.

Bowman has butchered this team with his terrible trades and terrible cap management. Yet, Q may be the fall guy. Further indication that this is Stan's toy.
- kwolf68

I'm still not sold that they will fire Q yet, but if they do, I wouldn't be too surprised, because the accountability will go up the chain. Not saying it is what I would do. It just doesn't look good on the coach when your entire core (who has won multiple cups) all have a below average season.

My guess is if they fire Q, then the rebuild is on 100%.

Bowman has butchered this team with his terrible trades and terrible cap management. Yet, Q may be the fall guy. Further indication that this is Stan's toy.
- kwolf68

I'd like to see a new GM take over on 4/8, make moves to restructure the team this summer, and give Q the first quarter of next season. Q has earned a mulligan of a season IMO.

Bowman has butchered this team with his terrible trades and terrible cap management. Yet, Q may be the fall guy. Further indication that this is Stan's toy.
- kwolf68

Just because we leaked some info on one of them that doesn’t mean the other is safe.

Looks like Jokiharju’s season is coming to an end, Portland is down 5-2 late to Spokane. How long until the Blackhawks sign him to a contract?

Looks like Jokiharju’s season is coming to an end, Portland is down 5-2 late to Spokane. How long until the Blackhawks sign him to a contract?
- DarthKane

My mistake, I thought Portland was down 3-2 in the series but they were up 3-2 going into tonight. The series is now 3-3 with a game tomorrow at home.

Looks like Jokiharju’s season is coming to an end, Portland is down 5-2 late to Spokane. How long until the Blackhawks sign him to a contract?
- DarthKane

Yesterday if it was possible.
Before some of us finish our morning coffee.

Looks like Jokiharju’s season is coming to an end, Portland is down 5-2 late to Spokane. How long until the Blackhawks sign him to a contract?
- DarthKane

By my count the Blackhawks have 49 contracts right now, or maybe 50 if they have committed to the Czech forward from Germany:

https://www.secondcityhoc...-contract-2018-nhl-rumors

So maybe they could only sign him when the pending UFAs come off the roster (?) Not sure if that is when their season is over or after the playoffs. He's young (still only 18) so he probably can't go to Rockford if he doesn't make the team next year. Possibly let him sign in Europe for a year and bring him over at the end of the season.

Looks like Jokiharju’s season is coming to an end, Portland is down 5-2 late to Spokane. How long until the Blackhawks sign him to a contract?
- DarthKane

My guess as to the leading candidates to get signed to contracts this spring or summer are Jokiharju, Carlsson, Soderlund, and Gilbert. Not saying all of them due to contract limits per team.

Jokiharju and Carlsson make sense so that they can gain pro experience in the AHL and especially on North American ice for Carlsson. Jokiharju really has nothing else to prove by staying another year with Portland and may actually stall his development by staying in the WHL.

Like Carlsson, Soderlund's development may reach another level if he can leave European ice and style of play and start gaining experience with North American playing surface and style.

Gilbert should play through his senior year, IMHO, and max out his development in college. Wish Hillman had done this but apparently the better bet was starting his pro life sooner rather than later.

By my count the Blackhawks have 49 contracts right now, or maybe 50 if they have committed to the Czech forward from Germany:

https://www.secondcityhoc...-contract-2018-nhl-rumors

So maybe they could only sign him when the pending UFAs come off the roster (?) Not sure if that is when their season is over or after the playoffs. He's young (still only 18) so he probably can't go to Rockford if he doesn't make the team next year. Possibly let him sign in Europe for a year and bring him over at the end of the season.
- totem

So whom on that list may they drop? Clendenning, Svedberg, Glass come to mind. Di Domenico too. Oh btw what do you think about offering Oesterle for Samuelson's kid. Oesterle will soon enough get stuck in a traffic jam of defensemen. Either him or Dahlstrom as we have enough dmen on the horizon but need more of the Samuelson boards and rough and tumble type.

Glass recalled under emergency as Delia and Forsberg are out.

Bowman has butchered this team with his terrible trades and terrible cap management. Yet, Q may be the fall guy. Further indication that this is Stan's toy.
- kwolf68

What is most ludicrous to me is the notion that IF the rift between Q + Stanley Bowman is the reason that "change is in the air", how do you pick the Rookie GM who is only GM bc he's Scotty Bowman's kid over the 2nd Winning-est Coach in NHL History?? I guess there is the possibility that Q wants a fresh start/doesn't want to go through the rebuild, but after being in Chicago for a decade, his family is settled here so that may be a factor. You have to keep Q if he wants to stay, but maybe he wants out....

What is most ludicrous to me is the notion that IF the rift between Q + Stanley Bowman is the reason that "change is in the air", how do you pick the Rookie GM who is only GM bc he's Scotty Bowman's kid over the 2nd Winning-est Coach in NHL History?? I guess there is the possibility that Q wants a fresh start/doesn't want to go through the rebuild, but after being in Chicago for a decade, his family is settled here so that may be a factor. You have to keep Q if he wants to stay, but maybe he wants out....
- EnzoD

So, Enzo
Who is responsible for the powerplay fiasco the past many years. Can we say with any degree of certainty?
I have some dislike for how he coaches over the years and i think in some ways the team won Cups despite the Bowman/Queeneville approach.

Oh, that ridiculous drop pass at roughly our blue line where someone circles back to grab that drop and charge up ice.

I am not going to specify farther my points because too many on this board will never change their mind. But might you agree Q is getting a bit stale and a teaching young coach would be a better fit? I would leave Colliton at Rockford for one more year, however, since he is a good coach for all the kids we will be shipping there.

If only one of them goes, I guess it has to be Q. Stan never picked him to be his coach, only the assistants changed over the years. It is unfair to judge a GM while he has never had his own choice of a coach. And if a new GM inherits Q again, that is another rift in the making.

With that being said, I think Stan needs to go. I am still undecided on Q, there is too much we don't know about his relationship with the core and you are hardly going to pickup a better coach from somewhere else. But maybe the time has come.

While it's easier to get rid of the coach than an entire team, it's not like there isn't any culpbility on Q's part: the inexplicable poor starts, constant line juggling to find "consistency", same old bad PP, sending players to the press box to send what message exactly, and not adjusting the style of play after Crawford went down...at all.

While it's easier to get rid of the coach than an entire team, it's not like there isn't any culpbility on Q's part: the inexplicable poor starts, constant line juggling to find "consistency", same old bad PP, sending players to the press box to send what message exactly, and not adjusting the style of play after Crawford went down...at all.
- HawkintheD

I am not convinced that Q is such a genius HOF coach. Sitting TT and Vermette in the first 2 games of 2015 playoffs against Nashville would for sure have costed them that cup, if not for incredible luck: 1) Weber going down with injury; b) Darling extreme heroics, being hot at the right time. He keeps trotting likes of Mashinter, Bollig and Tattoo over obviously better and more skilled players, and appears to be stuck in dead hockey era mindset. Can find similar examples from previous years, when the team was so stacked it was hard to lose with it.
Bowman contracts have been terrible starting with Bickell and all the way to Runblad.
I'd say keep them both, team is such a mess they need several years of being on the bottom till we start enjoying good hockey and not just goalie wins.

I am not convinced that Q is such a genius HOF coach. Sitting TT and Vermette in the first 2 games of 2015 playoffs against Nashville would for sure have costed them that cup, if not for incredible luck: 1) Weber going down with injury; b) Darling extreme heroics, being hot at the right time. He keeps trotting likes of Mashinter, Bollig and Tattoo over obviously better and more skilled players, and appears to be stuck in dead hockey era mindset. Can find similar examples from previous years, when the team was so stacked it was hard to lose with it.
Bowman contracts have been terrible starting with Bickell and all the way to Runblad.
I'd say keep them both, team is such a mess they need several years of being on the bottom till we start enjoying good hockey and not just goalie wins.
- vshun

Bollig and tootoo were worthy of playing time. Mashinter was a waste because he didn't do his job. But the first two served a role on the team. We didn't have a tough guy this year and how has that worked out? Highmore is a waste so is jurco

I am not convinced that Q is such a genius HOF coach. Sitting TT and Vermette in the first 2 games of 2015 playoffs against Nashville would for sure have costed them that cup, if not for incredible luck: 1) Weber going down with injury; b) Darling extreme heroics, being hot at the right time. He keeps trotting likes of Mashinter, Bollig and Tattoo over obviously better and more skilled players, and appears to be stuck in dead hockey era mindset. Can find similar examples from previous years, when the team was so stacked it was hard to lose with it.
Bowman contracts have been terrible starting with Bickell and all the way to Runblad.
I'd say keep them both, team is such a mess they need several years of being on the bottom till we start enjoying good hockey and not just goalie wins.
- vshun

Three Stanley Cups - only 11 coaches have done that - he’s the only one of the 11 to win any in the hard-cap era.

Second in regular season wins, third in playoff wins.

I don’t remember the numbers, but with the Hawks, his playoff records in games 4-7 (especially 5-7) is outstanding - he makes the adjustments necessary to win series.

Now, you can say “he had great teams to coach” - there’s a definite skill to coaching superstars - teams don’t win Cups with bad coaches.

Then, you can say “I don’t think he’s a good coach for this team any more” - and I might agree with you - not the coach for a developing rebuilding squad....

But let’s not denigrate his history because we don’t like the present.

I am not convinced that Q is such a genius HOF coach. Sitting TT and Vermette in the first 2 games of 2015 playoffs against Nashville would for sure have costed them that cup, if not for incredible luck: 1) Weber going down with injury; b) Darling extreme heroics, being hot at the right time. He keeps trotting likes of Mashinter, Bollig and Tattoo over obviously better and more skilled players, and appears to be stuck in dead hockey era mindset. Can find similar examples from previous years, when the team was so stacked it was hard to lose with it.
Bowman contracts have been terrible starting with Bickell and all the way to Runblad.
I'd say keep them both, team is such a mess they need several years of being on the bottom till we start enjoying good hockey and not just goalie wins.
- vshun

I will say the first two cups had two stacked teams. The 3rd one q deserves some credit.

While it's easier to get rid of the coach than an entire team, it's not like there isn't any culpbility on Q's part: the inexplicable poor starts, constant line juggling to find "consistency", same old bad PP, sending players to the press box to send what message exactly, and not adjusting the style of play after Crawford went down...at all.
- HawkintheD

Tell us, some won"t believe it even though they watched discussed the games.

Can they at least get past the point it is not that he was terrible, but a better coach is now appropiate. And some of those things are admittingly difficult to manage. Good coaches are good coaches good times and bad times. The inferior product and no rainbow seen soon has to be discouraging to Q as well.

Bollig and tootoo were worthy of playing time. Mashinter was a waste because he didn't do his job. But the first two served a role on the team. We didn't have a tough guy this year and how has that worked out? Highmore is a waste so is jurco
- vandymeer23

While Highmore was here i listened on the car radio more than saw him play..i know scouts were trying to decide if he had talent after 20 + tallies in Rockford. His reputation out of junior was as a surprise guy who worked hard, would go in high traffic areas.

So what exactly bothers you about Highmore?
This is not a critique..just asking

Three Stanley Cups - only 11 coaches have done that - he’s the only one of the 11 to win any in the hard-cap era.

Second in regular season wins, third in playoff wins.

I don’t remember the numbers, but with the Hawks, his playoff records in games 4-7 (especially 5-7) is outstanding - he makes the adjustments necessary to win series.

Now, you can say “he had great teams to coach” - there’s a definite skill to coaching superstars - teams don’t win Cups with bad coaches.

Then, you can say “I don’t think he’s a good coach for this team any more” - and I might agree with you - not the coach for a developing rebuilding squad....

But let’s not denigrate his history because we don’t like the present.
- StLBravesFan

Wise sage St Louis BraveFan puts this topic in perspective

TSN guys all saying Q is gunna get fired next week....I simply cannot understand how Q's track record doesn't hold more weight than Stan Bowman's. It should be Stan, or both, but not only Q IMO.
- EnzoD

I have been hearing all along that Q will be gone.

It's unfortunate but what a hell of a run to date for the HOF coach.

I'm not sure it's the right move, but my opinion has been that a new era will begin the second this season ends. Whether that is big changes to management or the roster.

If Q is gone, I think it would best to also dismiss Stan Bowman, however, you have to remember that McDonough is really calling the shots at the end of the day. So between McD, Scotty, Stan and whomever else is in the room... they share in their wins and losses (with the team, drafting, trades, etc.) ... that's just how this team is set up and has been set up for the last decade with this regime.

We can blame or praise Stan, but at the end of the day, he's mostly an order taker.

I have been hearing all along that Q will be gone.

It's unfortunate but what a hell of a run to date for the HOF coach.

I'm not sure it's the right move, but my opinion has been that a new era will begin the second this season ends. Whether that is big changes to management or the roster.

If Q is gone, I think it would best to also dismiss Stan Bowman, however, you have to remember that McDonough is really calling the shots at the end of the day. So between McD, Scotty, Stan and whomever else is in the room... they share in their wins and losses (with the team, drafting, trades, etc.) ... that's just how this team is set up and has been set up for the last decade with this regime.

We can blame or praise Stan, but at the end of the day, he's mostly an order taker.
- Justin Lowe

That's the scary part. Marketing guy calling the hockey shots. The hawks have been so good it didn't matter. Now it does.

If only one of them goes, I guess it has to be Q. Stan never picked him to be his coach, only the assistants changed over the years. It is unfair to judge a GM while he has never had his own choice of a coach. And if a new GM inherits Q again, that is another rift in the making.

With that being said, I think Stan needs to go. I am still undecided on Q, there is too much we don't know about his relationship with the core and you are hardly going to pickup a better coach from somewhere else. But maybe the time has come.
- stonefire

No but dad did...

I think you let them both play out the summer.

Cap probably goes to 80 which = 13-15 million in space. Moving Hossa's deal means its close to 20. Thats with 18 players rostered. Flip AA as a salary dump and things really get crazy.

Plus they have a good shot at a top three pick. OR at least top 10 in a deep draft.

They will have the money to sign Tavares and go after Karlsson. Fact. To get Karlsson you probably lose Schmaltz or Debrincat or Sikura but mehhhhhhhh. Adding those two players alone extends the window maybe three years.

Point being, this can be a crazy and impactful summer. IF they win the lottery they can skip Karlsson all together and just go nuts in free agency. Sign JVR, sign Tavares, maybe Filppula signs a 2 year cap cap friendly deal for another shot at a Cup.

And that group wins like the 2010 team wins buy just outscoring everyone in an embarrassing and entertaining fashion

I have been hearing all along that Q will be gone.

It's unfortunate but what a hell of a run to date for the HOF coach.

I'm not sure it's the right move, but my opinion has been that a new era will begin the second this season ends. Whether that is big changes to management or the roster.

If Q is gone, I think it would best to also dismiss Stan Bowman, however, you have to remember that McDonough is really calling the shots at the end of the day. So between McD, Scotty, Stan and whomever else is in the room... they share in their wins and losses (with the team, drafting, trades, etc.) ... that's just how this team is set up and has been set up for the last decade with this regime.

We can blame or praise Stan, but at the end of the day, he's mostly an order taker.
- Justin Lowe

If Q does go, who do you think replaces him?