It is also funny how gutless the organization is. Rather than suspending Lehner for telling the team they sucked (not untrue) after the Colorado game they said he was sick.
- fattybeef

The Hawks played poorly during both games against Colorado. My general preference would be for players to keep their comments of this nature within the dressing room. Lehner is an outspoken guy, overall I don’t have any issues with what he did.

It is also funny how gutless the organization is. Rather than suspending Lehner for telling the team they sucked (not untrue) after the Colorado game they said he was sick.
- fattybeef

Ever heard this phrase? Speak Truth to Power

Suspend the guy? Really? For calling out the team. That should have been Toews or Seabrook or Keith. Enzo's post above with the mirror says it all. Starts with the guys making the huge coin.

Nylander has some definite skill and makes plays when he puts forth some effort but he's a very bad floater and that isn't getting better and that has been the knock since he was drafted. Not a lot of improvement either. Looks like an oops there.

Kubalik has some wheels, has played well and has a bomb of a shot. I'd rather see him get the time tbh.
- fattybeef

We are pretty much on the same page.
Saad Toews Kubalik
ADB Strome Kane
Dach Kampf Nylander
Caggiula Carpenter Shaw (Smith)
Actually the bottom 6/7 can be rearranged in many different alignments that I would be ok with.

Either way they've been pretty entertaining. If you can't get brilliance a meltdown is a thing.

The talent level in the NHL is so diluted that the Hawks could play with just about any team. They certainly can't skate with the better teams since CooCoo, Seabrook, Gus and Matta can't move. But they could not suck. They have enough talent on the roster. Its not like the Islanders are vastly more talented team.

If they sat 5 guys in the box, blocked a bunch more shots and just looked to spring the offside forward on a break away they would probably do OK with the level of goaltending they have. Good enough for a 7 or 8 spot and good enough to have a chance most nights.

I'll consent that they shouldn't be a great team but they really shouldn't be this abhorrent either. They should be slightly above average.

With the Crawford news its clear that Bowman doesn't interview coaches or look at their history very carefully before hiring them.

Head coach Sheldon would be fun. Player coach Brent Seabrook would be outstanding. You think they'd get a cap discount for that?



- fattybeef

Crawford's kid has a position with the team so he's hanging with his son. Plus he does have experience. I'm not a fan, but it could be seen in the hockey world as a mentor for JC. And the abuse thing? (physical and verbal, not racial) That wasn't that uncommon back in the day. There has to be a bunch of coaches nervous right about now.

Ever heard this phrase? Speak Truth to Power

Suspend the guy? Really? For calling out the team. That should have been Toews or Seabrook or Keith. Enzo's post above with the mirror says it all. Starts with the guys making the huge coin.
- savvyone-1

Lehner had the best seat in the house for that poopshow. It could have made him sick to his stomach, just sayin.

Crawford's kid has a position with the team so he's hanging with his son. Plus he does have experience. I'm not a fan, but it could be seen in the hockey world as a mentor for JC. And the abuse thing? (physical and verbal, not racial) That wasn't that uncommon back in the day. There has to be a bunch of coaches nervous right about now.
- 6628

I think anyone playing sports at any level has experienced some sort of abuse in their time playing, be it yelling, belittling, being called out as an example. F'n Sean Avery, who took advantage of players on the ice in his playing days, is calling out a coach for being kicked on the bench? Seriously?
I'm not a Marc Crawford fan, but this is crazy.

Lehner had the best seat in the house for that poopshow. It could have made him sick to his stomach, just sayin.
- 6628

This thing needs to be torn down to the studs- given the vaunted, highly (over)paid, Cup winning leadership group on this team, why is it that it's been up to two goalies from outside the organization (Ward last year and Lehner the other night) to call out this poopshow on ice? The problems on this team go well beyond the lack of difference making talent ...the GAF factor seems alarmingly low

It is also funny how gutless the organization is. Rather than suspending Lehner for telling the team they sucked (not untrue) after the Colorado game they said he was sick.
- fattybeef

Is there ANY evidence that Lehner wasn't sick last nite?

Any evidence that they told him to stay home?

This thing needs to be torn down to the studs- given the vaunted, highly (over)paid, Cup winning leadership group on this team, why is it that it's been up to two goalies from outside the organization (Ward last year and Lehner the other night) to call out this poopshow on ice? The problems on this team go well beyond the lack of difference making talent ...the GAF factor seems alarmingly low
- Davewn

Not excusing it, but has to be hard after 3 Cups to GAF on the daily if you KNOW that your team is going nowhere near that level this year or anytime soon. I'd expect most of it is completely subconscious.

I was at the game last night right above the Hawks bench(thank you Stubhub).

From my vantage point, this is a team that had a difficult time containing the puck carrier and transition, and even worse time transitioning from their end to offense.

Finally, the faces on the bench said it all. I saw a team that is visibly lacking fire and looked truly defeated.

Is there ANY evidence that Lehner wasn't sick last nite?

Any evidence that they told him to stay home?
- StLBravesFan

Isnt Shaw sick too? Maybe a flu going thru the team?

I know, theres no "conspiracy" in that...

Not excusing it, but has to be hard after 3 Cups to GAF on the daily if you KNOW that your team is going nowhere near that level this year or anytime soon. I'd expect most of it is completely subconscious.
- pdx2ord

Not disagreeing with you in principle.
However, if this is the case it won't be too much longer before there are plenty of empty seats at the UC. This city in particular appreciates and applauds hard work. And even the lowest paid amongst those Blackhawks will likely earn more in their short time in the NHL than most of us in our lifetime.

Personally, find it repulsive if this is the case. And with that attitude, not only are they going nowhere fast, it's going to be pretty difficult to turn this lumbering cruise ship around in the Chicago river.

When I watched Toews being interviewed last night, his body language and words said "I'm going through the motions, I don't care all that much what you or anyone else think about my performance and there isn't anything I'm going to do about it."

Him talking about the "we" have to . . . "we" have to . . .
Enzo got it right with the mirror pic.
Look in the mirror Jon, it starts and ends with you.
You wear the C.
You're making $9.8M this year.
While I might not expect a CUP this year or anytime soon, I do expect you to compete hard during the season for that kind of coin. And you should be setting the example with the rest of the roster. Win or Lose. Play hard.
If you can't elevate your game against the CUP champs, then when?

Not excusing it, but has to be hard after 3 Cups to GAF on the daily if you KNOW that your team is going nowhere near that level this year or anytime soon. I'd expect most of it is completely subconscious.
- pdx2ord

Now we are making subconscious excuses for the core? That and they have played so much hockey and Toews has a bad back.....

Now we are making subconscious excuses for the core? That and they have played so much hockey and Toews has a bad back.....
- bhawks2241

Literally, the first three words in the post you are responding to are “not excusing it”.

Literally, the first three words in the post you are responding to are “not excusing it”.
- Chunk

TBF,
PDX never said Toews had a bad back. That was fattybeef.

Ohh no we suck again...again

Ohh no we suck again...again
- Savetheembers33

Thats OK...we are about to win 4 straight....and then you can see the "Parade" posts for a couple of days....then we will lose 3 straight, and off the ledge we go...wash, rinse, repeat....it is a fun roller coaster...

At some point something has to change. Or does it?

Send Wedin down and recall Sikura.
- DarthKane

How bad is Perlini he couldn't crack this team?

We are pretty much on the same page.
Saad Toews Kubalik
ADB Strome Kane
Dach Kampf Nylander
Caggiula Carpenter Shaw (Smith)
Actually the bottom 6/7 can be rearranged in many different alignments that I would be ok with.
- -Doh-

Problem is the first three and two of the second three get pantsed against everybody.

Literally, the first three words in the post you are responding to are “not excusing it”.
- Chunk

It’s still an excuse. The bottom line is the core, outside of Kane, aren’t nearly the players they once were.

It’s not a subconscious issue.

How bad is Perlini he couldn't crack this team?
- rpeters01

Really bad. He's played 16 games with Det. One assist and -10 (for whatever that is worth) at about 10-11 mins/gm.

Thats OK...we are about to win 4 straight....and then you can see the "Parade" posts for a couple of days....then we will lose 3 straight, and off the ledge we go...wash, rinse, repeat....it is a fun roller coaster...
- hawk35

I always keep my dramamine on stand-by when coming to check things out. Never know how it's gonna go

The high's are not as high as people make them seem and low's are not as low as people seem to make them think either. Hawks are stuck in the middle closer to the bottom than the top. Very similar to what the Bulls have done at times for the best two decades.

Have no fear though! Our new savior in Jean-Gabriel Pageau is on his way!!

Hard to see Seabs appear to tear up when talking about the three horrible games they just played. His body may be giving out, but his heart isn't.
- pdx2ord

Didn’t see post game interviews, maybe that’s a good thing.

It’s still an excuse. The bottom line is the core, outside of Kane, aren’t nearly the players they once were.

It’s not a subconscious issue.
- bhawks2241

Wasn't speaking to their level of skill which has obviously declined...just perceived level of effort and why it might be lower than we would expect.