Not displaying the proper amount of anger at the situation is your problem. You need to be screaming and a bit more hysterical.
- HawkintheD

I'LL WORK ON IT!!!

It's simple. Drive the net hard - with and without the puck. Go get pucks in corners. Back check hard. Dont care what line you're on. Do those things, and hes a 60pt player. Dont, and hes a 35pt player. Any line. He needs to drive a line.
- PatShart

That is exactly what Q meant when he was asked by the media what he wanted out of Saad and answered 'more'. That shouldn't be too hard for poor Brandon to understand.

That is exactly what Q meant when he was asked by the media what he wanted out of Saad and answered 'more'. That shouldn't be too hard for poor Brandon to understand.
- RickJ

Maybe Q needs to draw him a picture.

Maybe Q needs to draw him a picture.
- HawkintheD

Or better yet - an interpretive dance!

Or better yet - an interpretive dance!
- DarthKane

Simply titled, "WiQed."
"Wicked" if it didn't make sense.

I'LL WORK ON IT!!!
- I Am The Breadman

yeah come on..get with it

I thought this season was a tank season for Hughes. Now with Crow back, doesn't that just blow that idea out of the water? We go from #Loose4Hughes, or #PooPoo4Hughes, to #Crow2Cup?

I thought this season was a tank season for Hughes. Now with Crow back, doesn't that just blow that idea out of the water? We go from #Loose4Hughes, or #PooPoo4Hughes, to #Crow2Cup?
- powerenforcer

How about CrawFOURd, yay or nay?

yeah come on..get with it


- bogiedoc

Haha, thanks. I'll dig deep down.

That is exactly what Q meant when he was asked by the media what he wanted out of Saad and answered 'more'. That shouldn't be too hard for poor Brandon to understand.
- RickJ

He was a ghost last season after the first 3 games, a ghost in the preseason, and ineffective through the first 2 weeks playing with Kane. I liked 15 with 8+88 last night, and Toews’ line has been great. As such, Saad will need to contribute in a reduced role. Again, what is the mixed message Breadman? The message seems crystal clear to me...play better, we need more from you.

He was a ghost last season after the first 3 games, a ghost in the preseason, and ineffective through the first 2 weeks playing with Kane. I liked 15 with 8+88 last night, and Toews’ line has been great. As such, Saad will need to contribute in a reduced role. Again, what is the mixed message Breadman? The message seems crystal clear to me...play better, we need more from you.
- EnzoD

Some have continual bad plays and are rewarded with more play time, while Saad doesn't play bad, he just can't find the back of the net and receives punishment after punishment. Still clear?

Some have continual bad plays and are rewarded with more play time, while Saad doesn't play bad he just can't the back of the net and receives punishment after punishment. Still clear?
- I Am The Breadman

You look at it as reward and punishment.

I look at it as putting players in the best position for the team to win - and training young players in how to play and win.

Saad is not being moved to the third line because of a bad play or two but rather because he hasn’t played nearly good enough the past 80+ games to contribute what is necessary.

Just can’t find the back of the net? Eighty plus games of that is not bad puck luck - something is missing, and until it becomes found, they can’t keep him top-6.

$6MM? So what. Gave up Panarin? So what. Sunk costs.

You look at it as reward and punishment.

I look at it as putting players in the best position for the team to win - and training young players in how to play and win.

Saad is not being moved to the third line because of a bad play or two but rather because he hasn’t played nearly good enough the past 80+ games to contribute what is necessary.

$6MM? So what. Gave up Panarin? So what. Sunk costs.
- StLBravesFan

Most of everybody has been saying bad play, need more blah blah and that's what I've been saying isn't the problem. But its how his situation has been handled, by him and by Q. Hockey lines and d pairings are partly about rewards and punishments. Your view is like mine, same view of the fence but we stand on different sides.

I'm not calling it bad puck luck, I'm saying he isn't putting the puck in the back of the net. He goes to the blue paint and isn't finishing. Insert why, whatever reason, I don't have the answer. Choose any: lack of effort, bad puck luck, doesn't care ... make one up.

Some have continual bad plays and are rewarded with more play time, while Saad doesn't play bad, he just can't find the back of the net and receives punishment after punishment. Still clear?
- I Am The Breadman

The guys I assume you’re referring to are 4th liners making $1mil or 40yr old Kunitz who has 4 Stanley Cups. Marcus Kruger has more goals than Brandon Saad this year. 20 has the talent and paycheck to be a top line impact player, and he’s been FAR from that.

The guys I assume you’re referring to are 4th liners making $1mil or 40yr old Kunitz who has 4 Stanley Cups. Marcus Kruger has more goals than Brandon Saad this year. 20 has the talent and paycheck to be a top line impact player, and he’s been FAR from that.
- EnzoD

Money, age, and cups have no weight on the team that hits the ice and plays, maybe locker room, but not the on ice performance. Different players on different lines or pairings are making similar mistakes, but aren't treated equally. I'm not saying Saad is making mistakes, I'm saying he's not getting goals and is punished for that. Who gave him the contract, the blue jackets gm, why does that keep getting brought up? I don't care if Saad wanted it. All I've been trying to say is that this is a very weird situation where a player isn't scoring, he's getting demoted (punishment) and he's not taking it well and it shows (reaction.) We are only 7 games into a new season and all I read is Saad was nonexistent last season, where we weren't near the playoffs and there were more factors than Saad not scoring, a lot more players at fault, and most are correcting and improving their play. We are moving along fine by what I can see, if the d gets better, great, if the bottom 6 gets better, great, if Crow is Crow, great, if Saad scores, great. The top 2 lines are taking shape and looking good, can we judge Saad at a later time?

Money, age, and cups have no weight on the team that hits the ice and plays, maybe locker room, but not the on ice performance. Different players on different lines or pairings are making similar mistakes, but aren't treated equally. I'm not saying Saad is making mistakes, I'm saying he's not getting goals and is punished for that. Who gave him the contract, the blue jackets gm, why does that keep getting brought up? I don't care if Saad wanted it. All I've been trying to say is that this is a very weird situation where a player isn't scoring, he's getting demoted (punishment) and he's not taking it well and it shows (reaction.) We are only 7 games into a new season and all I read is Saad was nonexistent last season, where we weren't near the playoffs and there were more factors than Saad not scoring, a lot more players at fault, and most are correcting and improving their play. We are moving along fine by what I can see, if the d is better, great, if the bottom 6 is better, great, if Crow is Crow, great, if Saad scores, great. The top 2 lines are taking shape and looking good, can we judge Saad at a later time?
- I Am The Breadman

It would be ideal, given the emergence of Kahun and Debrincat on Toews line, for Saad to produce depth offense on line 3. He’s got a lot more to give than what we’ve seen. Q knows that, and that’s why he’s been sending a message.

It would be ideal, given the emergence of Kahun and Debrincat on Toews line, for Saad to produce depth offense on line 3. He’s got a lot more to give than what we’ve seen. Q knows that, and that’s why he’s been sending a message.
- EnzoD

Everyone wants Saad to produce, Saad wants Saad to produce. I can't know for a fact what Q is saying or what Saad really thinks of these demotions/messages because I'm not in the locker room or in either of their heads. This isn't anything I've seen before and there doesn't seem to be a way to produce results, so I try to leave it alone.

Everyone wants Saad to produce, Saad wants Saad to produce. I can't know for a fact what Q is saying or what Saad really thinks of these demotions/messages because I'm not in the locker room or in either of their heads. This isn't anything I've seen before and there doesn't seem to be a way to produce results, so I try to leave it alone.
- I Am The Breadman

What? It’s called score goals or assist on goals. That is the way to produce results. Very simple, really.

On another note, man do I love the way Jokiharju plays. How about his nasty steak with the cross check to toss the big guy Foligno last night? He’s the real deal. And he gets his shot on goal, take notes #2

What? It’s called score goals or assist on goals. That is the way to produce results. Very simple, really.
- EnzoD

Then everyone should have points (assists or goals) in 7 games if its so simple. There is more than finding the scoresheet, if you look at it simplistically, goals to goals, most wins. Not always finding the scoresheet isn't bad. Blocking shots, killing penalties, stealing pucks, faceoffs etc. if he keeps up the good defensive side, he's still serviceable and changes swings in momentum. Through 2 games Saad has 2 assists. A very slow start, but it's something to build off of. I'm like most fans, hoping for improvement and doing what he's capable of doing.

Cam Ward is starting in net for the Blackhawks⁠ ⁠.
Joel said Crawford wanted to play, which he deemed a good sign.

Cam Ward is starting in net for the Blackhawks⁠ ⁠.
Joel said Crawford wanted to play, which he deemed a good sign.
- walleyeb1

Thank you for the report, hopefully, Crow's great play is contagious.

Then everyone should have points (assists or goals) in 7 games if its so simple. There is more than finding the scoresheet, if you look at it simplistically, goals to goals, most wins. Not always finding the scoresheet isn't bad. Blocking shots, killing penalties, stealing pucks, faceoffs etc. if he keeps up the good defensive side, he's still serviceable and changes swings in momentum. Through 2 games Saad has 2 assists. A very slow start, but it's something to build off of. I'm like most fans, hoping for improvement and doing what he's capable of doing.
- I Am The Breadman

Like I said, not everyone makes $6mil. I’ll defer to the 2nd winningest coach in NHL history who is clearly not happy with the play of #20 for the last 11 months.

Like I said, not everyone makes $6mil. I’ll defer to the 2nd winningest coach in NHL history who is clearly not happy with the play of #20 for the last 11 months.
- EnzoD

Apparently their are 2 people that dont understand the message Q is sending

Apparently their are 2 people that dont understand the message Q is sending
- PatShart

I already admitted to not knowing what Q is trying to say/do because I'm not Q.