Tyler Cameron: Where art thou, Jonathan Toews?
The good news is that the Blackhawks are getting healthier.

The bad news is the Hawks are still without Duncan Keith and Andrew Shaw.

The real news is that even with a roster that was 100% healthy, the Hawks were an inconsistent squad.

Not to pick on just one guy because there are many that I could hone in on, but it's been 27 games for the Captain and there's not much to show for it.

Tyler Cameron: Where art thou, Jonathan Toews?

The good news is that the Blackhawks are getting healthier.

The bad news is the Hawks are still without Duncan Keith and Andrew Shaw.

The real news is that even with a roster that was 100% healthy, the Hawks were an inconsistent squad.

Not to pick on just one guy because there are many that I could hone in on, but it's been 27 games for the Captain and there's not much to show for it.
- Tyler Cameron

Once he learns how to stay up on his skates, he'll be fine.

A third scenario for the team besides the total flame out and the team catching fire is that they play a bit better than .500 hockey and remain in the hunt for a playoff spot

If that's the case, would Stan make a splash at the TDL to help ensure a playoff spot and possibly his job? Or would we see a repeat of last year when he stood pat at the TDL and just let the dice roll?

Tyler- What do you think of JT's defensive zone coverage? That has seemed to slip as well, which has nothing to do with puck luck.

Toews and Saad Kubilik seems like a no brainer ,oh right .

Toews is the least of this teams problems.

It all starts on the back-end. With a healthy Keith, this team has 1 top pairing defenseman, two #4 defensemen, and 4 bottom pairing or worse defensemen.

If they had a bunch of 2nd pairing defensemen it would be manageable, with the bulk of your defense being 6 or 7's, it is not a recipe for success.

Tyler said: Toews is having some bad puck luck according to this number. For the season, he is shooting at a 5.7% success rate. Last year was 14.9%. He is at 13.9% for his career so one has to think this number will creep up and more goals will come for the captain.

I think I'm a bit tired with hearing about "bad puck luck".

To me, that's code for "can't hit the corners I'm aiming for any more so I'll just put it into the goalie's crest". Or "Yeah, I used to be able to get the 5-hole, but they've caught on and keep their legs together". Or "I'm taking too many shots from bad scoring areas with no one at, or going to, the net".

The Hawks have to be the worst shooting team in the league - and have been for a couple of years now. You see opponents open in the slotting hitting glove-high or blocker-high spots that are difficult for the goalie to get - which the Hawks, even in prime scoring areas, shoot it right into the middle of the goalie.

The league average shot % this year is 9.5%; the Hawks are at 8.7%. The difference represents about 7 goals over the season - and perhaps a couple more standings points.

I don’t understand Colliton’s beef with Kubalik. All for Saad/Toews/Kubalik.
Sidebar - if (and they won’t) they traded Toews, what would be the return?

Intangibles. You forgot to mention intangibles.

This team is too soft and too slow to replicate the Blues 2nd half success from last year -not going to happen with this roster. I am preparing myself to witness mediocrity for the balance of this season.
I feel for Shaw who showed some emotion for a few games with his broken body and ended up on IR for his efforts. At his age and his health history he should not be playing this role nor should ADB be fighting. But with this sorry roster that Bowman has put together, this is what it has come down to.

Toew's best days are behind him. He's a shell of himself as he's poured his heart and soul into the team for a decade. The absurd notion he needs to look in the mirror or doesn't care is beyond ludicrous. Some players can play at a higher level than others, Bergeron for instance, other's can't. Crosby had 4 or 5 down years with concussion issues and has rebounded for a longer career. Toews played 10 hard years, through concussions and was one of the important players in the best years in the franchise’s history. Yes he has to justify his salary but physically he’s no longer able to.

Keith, Crawford and Toews all don’t have much left in the tank. Kane does but he also played a much different game and never took the physical beating the others did. Seabrook’s gage is on empty and the reserve is perilously close to running out. The best thing that could have happened was for Bowman to have started moving the core in 2016 to allow the team to rebuild more quickly, to get the cap back to neutral for the rebuild and so the fans understood the rebuild was on and were under no false illusions the team, as constructed, had another chance.

Buckle up boys, getting back into contention with 6 players all on the downsides of their careers and who take up a good part of the cap, with a moderate amount of blue chip prospects is going to take awhile.

Tyler this team is not going to make the playoffs just way to inconsistent and the coaching is not there like the blues had last year. So what happens imo bowman should get fired either soon or at the end of the season, sooner would be better. So 5 years of 1 and done missing the playoffs, the grace period of 3 championships is over a fresh set of eyes and vision of what this could be is needed. Now I thought bowman a fairly good offseason but again not looking good. Hawks need more speed skill and phyisical forchecking players. As far as Toews goes who knows anymore, my favorite player, is just whining all the time and is a shell of what he was last year, maybe a healthy scratch might be a good thing doubt it happens or put him on wing and see what happens. The team needs a big overhaul in the offseason and bowman and company cannot be making the decisions anymore.

Toew's best days are behind him. He's a shell of himself as he's poured his heart and soul into the team for a decade. The absurd notion he needs to look in the mirror or doesn't care is beyond ludicrous. Some players can play at a higher level than others, Bergeron for instance, other's can't. Crosby had 4 or 5 down years with concussion issues and has rebounded for a longer career. Toews played 10 hard years, through concussions and was one of the important players in the best years in the franchise’s history. Yes he has to justify his salary but physically he’s no longer able to.

Keith, Crawford and Toews all don’t have much left in the tank. Kane does but he also played a much different game and never took the physical beating the others did. Seabrook’s gage is on empty and the reserve is perilously close to running out. The best thing that could have happened was for Bowman to have started moving the core in 2016 to allow the team to rebuild more quickly, to get the cap back to neutral for the rebuild and so the fans understood the rebuild was on and were under no false illusions the team, as constructed, had another chance.

Buckle up boys, getting back into contention with 6 players all on the downsides of their careers and who take up a good part of the cap, with a moderate amount of blue chip prospects is going to take awhile.
- paulr

Look, Pallie, we all deserve an ongoing dynasty with a team among the top one in the league every year. The great players will stay great until they're 50 if the keep with my training program. And Lucky Sperm Club Stan should have drafted top of the league players in the late 1st and 2nd rounds. I have more to spew in your direction, but right now I gotta go bench press some trees.

Tyler this team is not going to make the playoffs just way to inconsistent and the coaching is not there like the blues had last year. So what happens imo bowman should get fired either soon or at the end of the season, sooner would be better. So 5 years of 1 and done missing the playoffs, the grace period of 3 championships is over a fresh set of eyes and vision of what this could be is needed. Now I thought bowman a fairly good offseason but again not looking good. Hawks need more speed skill and phyisical forchecking players. As far as Toews goes who knows anymore, my favorite player, is just whining all the time and is a shell of what he was last year, maybe a healthy scratch might be a good thing doubt it happens or put him on wing and see what happens. The team needs a big overhaul in the offseason and bowman and company cannot be making the decisions anymore.
- Scott1977

Quenneville is Phil Jackson: give him a team with a core that is ready to win, and he can take that team far. That's an important skill - many coaches can't do that. He's not a coach to lead a rebuild - that's a completely different talent. He was not the right coach for the Blackhawks at this point.

Bowman is possibly the same. A GM who can fill in around the edges of a good team, adding players who can complement what's already there, as he did for the 2013-2015 three-season run.

But can he bring in the dynamic players to replace the core that won the Cups? His off-season additions last summer would probably have worked out very well five years ago - players like Maatta, deHaan, Smith, Carepenter - add young players like Kubalik and Nylander. But in a rebuild situation, with a declining core - at least for this season, they are not likely to lead this Hawk team to the post-season.

Bowman has not proven able to make trades that dramatically improve the team. Signing free agents is another story - hard to sign difference-makers with little to no cap space - although his one excellent improvement last summer was Lehner.

Lots of potential future stars in Rockford, juniors, or college - maybe - hopefully - but - is Chicago's prospect group any better than many / most other teams? We shall see over the next several years. None seem to jump out now.

I am doubtful that Bowman can be the architect of a successful rebuild.

Quenneville is Phil Jackson: give him a team with a core that is ready to win, and he can take that team far. That's an important skill - many coaches can't do that. He's not a coach to lead a rebuild - that's a completely different talent. He was not the right coach for the Blackhawks at this point.

Bowman is possibly the same. A GM who can fill in around the edges of a good team, adding players who can complement what's already there, as he did for the 2013-2015 three-season run.

But can he bring in the dynamic players to replace the core that won the Cups? His off-season additions last summer would probably have worked out very well five years ago - players like Maatta, deHaan, Smith, Carepenter - add young players like Kubalik and Nylander. But in a rebuild situation, with a declining core - at least for this season, they are not likely to lead this Hawk team to the post-season.

Bowman has not proven able to make trades that dramatically improve the team. Signing free agents is another story - hard to sign difference-makers with little to no cap space - although his one excellent improvement last summer was Lehner.

Lots of potential future stars in Rockford, juniors, or college - maybe - hopefully - but - is Chicago's prospect group any better than many / most other teams? We shall see over the next several years. None seem to jump out now.

I am doubtful that Bowman can be the architect of a successful rebuild.
- StLBravesFan

Agree I give bowman the 15th cup but the 2 others is tallon's. Since the 15th cup its been downhill for the hawks.

But Toews is one of the top 100 players of all time and Malkin isn't.

What a joke.. Malkin makes Toews look house league.

Quenneville is Phil Jackson: give him a team with a core that is ready to win, and he can take that team far. That's an important skill - many coaches can't do that. He's not a coach to lead a rebuild - that's a completely different talent. He was not the right coach for the Blackhawks at this point.

Bowman is possibly the same. A GM who can fill in around the edges of a good team, adding players who can complement what's already there, as he did for the 2013-2015 three-season run.

But can he bring in the dynamic players to replace the core that won the Cups? His off-season additions last summer would probably have worked out very well five years ago - players like Maatta, deHaan, Smith, Carepenter - add young players like Kubalik and Nylander. But in a rebuild situation, with a declining core - at least for this season, they are not likely to lead this Hawk team to the post-season.

Bowman has not proven able to make trades that dramatically improve the team. Signing free agents is another story - hard to sign difference-makers with little to no cap space - although his one excellent improvement last summer was Lehner.

Lots of potential future stars in Rockford, juniors, or college - maybe - hopefully - but - is Chicago's prospect group any better than many / most other teams? We shall see over the next several years. None seem to jump out now.

I am doubtful that Bowman can be the architect of a successful rebuild.
- StLBravesFan

Could be that Stan isn't a builder. Question, though....how could a GM replace 4 Hall of Fame players drafting at the bottom of each round for a decade, especially given that the UFA market is very unlikely to produce dynamic young players?

Going forward? I don't know if he can do it, but to suggest he can't because he hasn't done it to date is an improper analysis, imo.

We are putting blame on Nylander for Toews lack of production? That’s comical. Toews should be making Nylander better not the other way around. Kubalik is a 3rd line type player. Putting him with Toews is going to suddenly ignite Toews.

He had Kane on his wing at begging of the year and he wasn’t producing.

His shooting percentage is low because he isn’t creating quality looks for himself. I don’t buy the puck luck.

The dude busted his ass all over the ice for a decade and lifted 3 cups. He clearly just doesn’t have it anymore.

Kane might be the only one that can help at this point. I think you have to pair them and give Toews a lot of ozone starts.

Agree I give bowman the 15th cup but the 2 others is tallon's. Since the 15th cup its been downhill for the hawks.
- Scott1977

After the forced player losses after the 2010 Cup season, Bowman retooled and brought in the following players who played important roles in the 2013 Cup run:

Shaw (2011 draft)
Saad (2011 draft)
Frolik (2011 trade)
Oduya (2012 trade)
Emery (2012 trade)
Handzus (2013 trade)
Rozsival (2013 trade)

If you want to give Tallon the most credit for the 2013 run - OK, I guess - but the 2011 and 2012 teams were not anywhere near Cup-runnable.

You have to give Bowman credit for "filling in" and creating the depth that a Cup-contender needs.

Again: not that he's the right person for the rebuild. If Quenneville is Phil Jackson, then Bowman is Jerry Krause - good at picking up the players required to give depth to the stars, but not at replacing those stars.

Could be that Stan isn't a builder. Question, though....how could a GM replace 4 Hall of Fame players drafting at the bottom of each round for a decade, especially given that the UFA market is very unlikely to produce dynamic young players?

Going forward? I don't know if he can do it, but to suggest he can't because he hasn't done it to date is an improper analysis, imo.
- mohel

Maybe. We'll see.

But I haven't seen anything yet that says he can.

We are putting blame on Nylander for Toews lack of production? That’s comical. Toews should be making Nylander better not the other way around. Kubalik is a 3rd line type player. Putting him with Toews is going to suddenly ignite Toews.

He had Kane on his wing at begging of the year and he wasn’t producing.

His shooting percentage is low because he isn’t creating quality looks for himself. I don’t buy the puck luck.

The dude busted his ass all over the ice for a decade and lifted 3 cups. He clearly just doesn’t have it anymore.

Kane might be the only one that can help at this point. I think you have to pair them and give Toews a lot of ozone starts.
- bhawks2241

That's just a false narrative. He was done for 2 years prior......until he wasn't last year. Agreed that Toews is not what he was from 2010-2015, but he is far from done.

Tyler- What do you think of JT's defensive zone coverage? That has seemed to slip as well, which has nothing to do with puck luck.
- RaleighHawk

I feel like his defensive play started to slip 2-3 years ago.

The team as a whole gives up so many scoring chances and shots, it's hard to pick him out of a crowd as not being his former-Selke self night-in-and-night-out.

I would say he's still above average. Some games are better than others.

I feel like his defensive play started to slip 2-3 years ago.

The team as a whole gives up so many scoring chances and shots, it's hard to pick him out of a crowd as not being his former-Selke self night-in-and-night-out.

I would say he's still above average. Some games are better than others.
- Tyler Cameron

Kinda like the whole team once you subtracted #81.

I think his utilization and what they are asking him to do has changed over the years

Maybe. We'll see.

But I haven't seen anything yet that says he can.
- StLBravesFan

Me either. My point is that he's been tasked as The Maintainer since getting his job. Not fair to say he hasn't been The Builder, when his job has been to be The Maintainer.

One more point....I think they've been retooling/rebuilding since Q left. But I also think they don't feel they can admit that without a big revenue drop. This makes Stan's job Rebuilder in Secret.

* Linemates –Can we please put Saad-Toews-Kubalik together, Jeremy?

THIS!!!! Try Kuablik with Toews and Saad.

A 2nd option would be
ADB - Strome - Kane
Nylander - Toews - Kubalik
Saad - Dach - Kampf (Shaw/Caggiula when healthy)
Wedin - Carp - Smith