As weird as it sounds, I thought Dach played his best hockey paired with Smith and Carpenter. Take your pick as to who actually centers that line.

I would like Saad with ADB and Strome, but not sure who would actually play right wing.

I think Kampf Highmore Caggiula would be a hell of a line as well.

So basically, I'm just throwing crap at the wall and hoping something sticks...
- Chunk

He did play very well with those guys and I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that Carpenter and Smith did most of the dirty work and Dach was able to just use his skill to make things happen. I'd be fine with playing Carpenter with him, but I'd like to see them add someone with a little bit more offensive punch to his game with Dach to see if they can start to unlock more of his skill.

I know everyone has gone back n fourth about loading the top 6 versus spreading the talent out, but I think there's gotta be a happy medium with that. Something like...

Kubalik-Toews-Kane
Cat-Strome-Caggiula
Saad-Carpenter-Dach

You can flip Caggiula and Dach if you want. You can even slide Kane down if you want as well and bump Saad up with Kubalik and Toews. Options are there. Feels like the Hawks have a lot of good pieces there but are two forwards short of being a LEGIT set team at FORWARD. If you take out Carpenter and Caggiula from their spots and replace them with better players and have those two playing on your 4th line you're looking at a group of forwards that could drive a team during the Playoffs. Defense is another story...lol

They have seemed to play better hockey on the road (although the stats say mostly on special teams). So maybe not as unfavorable as we think.

No, I'm not riding the Playoffs train, but it would be nice to see them keep up the higher pace (and quality) of play.
- Chunk

i am with you...we are seeing some improvement defensively the last 5-6 games despite all the injuries.

I want to see continued improved and consistent play and stop falling behind early and minimize they absurd poor showing like vs the devils, preds and sharks earlier...etc etc...

92 was MUCH better early in the year was a constant threat. Some great coaching has obviously neutered him.
- rpeters01

AGREED. I'd rather have Sikura in the lineup. Nylander reminds me of perlini most nights. Has the tool kit to be dangerous but can't put it together. Nylander has marginally better work ethic than Perlini did but his awareness and positioning hasn't come together.

Certainly seems like he's overthinking out there.

Based on what Keith said about the coaching staff his season and how the entire team is overthinking...I will give Nylander the benefit of the doubt and put a fair share of responsibility on JC.

With all the coaching changes the past couple of years, JC is ranked 16th and Q 18th in longest tenured coaches currently. That is crazy.
- LAHawk

he may continue to climb that ladder as we head toward the summer...

AGREED. I'd rather have Sikura in the lineup. Nylander reminds me of perlini most nights. Has the tool kit to be dangerous but can't put it together. Nylander has marginally better work ethic than Perlini did but his awareness and positioning hasn't come together.

Certainly seems like he's overthinking out there.

Based on what Keith said about the coaching staff his season and how the entire team is overthinking...I will give Nylander the benefit of the doubt and put a fair share of responsibility on JC.
- catrisc

Would like to see Denis Savard work with him.

Would like to see Denis Savard work with him.
- rpeters01

I'd settle for Kubalik or Caggiula working with him. If he learned to like playing in the middle of the ice, he would likely be a very good player. That and be a little more selfish in shooting.

NHL Public Relations
✔
@PR_NHL
Zach Smith's 11 shorthanded goals since 2015-16 are tied for the most among all skaters through that span.

AGREED. I'd rather have Sikura in the lineup. Nylander reminds me of perlini most nights. Has the tool kit to be dangerous but can't put it together. Nylander has marginally better work ethic than Perlini did but his awareness and positioning hasn't come together.

Certainly seems like he's overthinking out there.

Based on what Keith said about the coaching staff his season and how the entire team is overthinking...I will give Nylander the benefit of the doubt and put a fair share of responsibility on JC.
- catrisc

And who else on the Hawks currently do you think is overthinking, if this is a coaching problem as you allude to, it should affect more than one guy.

Could the Blackhawks REALLY be talking to Vegas about Gus, and asking for an "already drafted prospect of high prominence"...

Peyton Krebs?

Dont hang me out on this one, but just heard it and it rings true in my mind that Gus would fit, but they also have their firsts and five 2nds in the next two drafts....
- wiz1901

That would be better than Christmas morning. But probably as real as Santa Clause. (no offense WIZ, I like your stuff)

And who else on the Hawks currently do you think is overthinking, if this is a coaching problem as you allude to, it should affect more than one guy.
- LAHawk

92 is playing like the proverbial chicken with his head cut off. When a player goes backwards, Nylander, Carl Edwards starting the season with an illegal pitching motion, that's on coaches.
Trubisky just sucks.

92 is playing like the proverbial chicken with his head cut off.
- rpeters01

The Hawks bye week is 1/22-1/31. I would send him down for that week to get him some games in Rockford and see if he can straighten out.

That would be better than Christmas morning. But probably as real as Santa Clause. (no offense WIZ, I like your stuff)
- -Doh-

They can't take on any salary any move would have at least a player coming our way.

The Hawks bye week is 1/22-1/31. I would send him down for that week to get him some games in Rockford and see if he can straighten out.
- LAHawk

Couldn't hurt.

Coach of Decade? Not even close. Its Q.

https://www.nhl.com/news/...-2010s-decade/c-313969270

"We had a great run, we had a real young team that was deep in talent, skill, speed and character," said Quenneville, who was 452-249-96 in 11 seasons with the Blackhawks. "It was a privilege. When we had to change on the fly, I think we did a pretty amazing job of keeping some balance and depth and still able to have four lines that were contributing and a factor. And when push came to shove in the bigger games later in series, big players, top guys were outstanding. But the depth, the four-line team put us in position to have that balance for 10 years."

Possible there will be a few more hawk related recognitions with this list.

All-Decade schedule:
Jan. 15: Save of the Decade -- Braden Holtby, Game 2, 2018 Stanley Cup Final

Jan. 16: Coach of the Decade -- Joel Quenneville

Fri, Jan. 17: Franchise of the Decade

Sat, Jan. 18: Playoff Series of the Decade

Sun, Jan. 19: Game of the Decade

Mon, Jan. 20: Event of the Decade

Tue, Jan. 21: Moment of the Decade

Wed, Jan. 22: Goal of the Decade

Fri, Jan 24: First and Second All-Decade Team

92 is playing like the proverbial chicken with his head cut off. When a player goes backwards, Nylander, Carl Edwards starting the season with an illegal pitching motion, that's on coaches.
Trubisky just sucks.
- rpeters01

nope...next tom brady...Book it!

Coach of Decade? Not even close. Its Q.

https://www.nhl.com/news/...-2010s-decade/c-313969270

"We had a great run, we had a real young team that was deep in talent, skill, speed and character," said Quenneville, who was 452-249-96 in 11 seasons with the Blackhawks. "It was a privilege. When we had to change on the fly, I think we did a pretty amazing job of keeping some balance and depth and still able to have four lines that were contributing and a factor. And when push came to shove in the bigger games later in series, big players, top guys were outstanding. But the depth, the four-line team put us in position to have that balance for 10 years."

Possible there will be a few more hawk related recognitions with this list.

All-Decade schedule:
Jan. 15: Save of the Decade -- Braden Holtby, Game 2, 2018 Stanley Cup Final

Jan. 16: Coach of the Decade -- Joel Quenneville

Fri, Jan. 17: Franchise of the Decade

Sat, Jan. 18: Playoff Series of the Decade

Sun, Jan. 19: Game of the Decade

Mon, Jan. 20: Event of the Decade

Tue, Jan. 21: Moment of the Decade

Wed, Jan. 22: Goal of the Decade

Fri, Jan 24: First and Second All-Decade Team
- bogiedoc

Best playoff series, imo, was Kings v. Hawks in 2014. Hawks lost in 7, but that series was incredible.

That's all JC does.



And what Q did.....
- mohel

Actually, Q didnt do that

Q matched lines. And when he would mix his own lines, they would see short periods of time together in spurts. He used the regular season mixing/matching to then use that experience come playoff time

So when one series, he would use a line of Saad-Shaw -Kane. Then, next series...he may use Bickell-Toews-Kane. Each of those lines, while some would whine about a "blender" during the regular season...were actually "experimented" with during the season so he could see what would/wouldnt work. And players wouldnt be shell shocked come playoff time to playing with "different players"

It was a big reason if/when a series was tied 2-2...he could make a few line changes and the players would still have chemistry (from playing together in the regular season). Other teams struggled with trying to make adjustments to counter his....and he used those changes to line matchup advantages - which he is one of the best at.

Q had a method to mixing lines during the season. Spreading talent between lines is advantageous when a coach matches lines.

That would be better than Christmas morning. But probably as real as Santa Clause. (no offense WIZ, I like your stuff)
- -Doh-

People get crazy around the Deadline...s#!t we just saw they do something crazy and fire their HC. I wouldn't put it past them to be all in on Gus. Makes a lot of sense for them to add some more offensive fire power from the backend with all the defensive minded guys they have

In other news. Carlos Beltran out as manager of the Mets. Another one bites the dust.

In other news. Carlos Beltran out as manager of the Mets. Another one bites the dust.
- rpeters01

And what are they going to do to the active players that were complicit? If you use the Black Sox scandal as precedent, shouldn't they be banned for life? Of course that was before there was a players union.

Actually, Q didnt do that

Q matched lines. And when he would mix his own lines, they would see short periods of time together in spurts. He used the regular season mixing/matching to then use that experience come playoff time

So when one series, he would use a line of Saad-Shaw -Kane. Then, next series...he may use Bickell-Toews-Kane. Each of those lines, while some would whine about a "blender" during the regular season...were actually "experimented" with during the season so he could see what would/wouldnt work. And players wouldnt be shell shocked come playoff time to playing with "different players"

It was a big reason if/when a series was tied 2-2...he could make a few line changes and the players would still have chemistry (from playing together in the regular season). Other teams struggled with trying to make adjustments to counter his....and he used those changes to line matchup advantages - which he is one of the best at.

Q had a method to mixing lines during the season. Spreading talent between lines is advantageous when a coach matches lines.
- PatShart

Yeah, nobody ever had a negative thing to say about Q's "blender".......

With all the coaching changes the past couple of years, JC is ranked 16th and Q 18th in longest tenured coaches currently. That is crazy.
- LAHawk

Does that mean JC is currently more experienced than Q ?

Coach of Decade? Not even close. Its Q.

https://www.nhl.com/news/...-2010s-decade/c-313969270

"We had a great run, we had a real young team that was deep in talent, skill, speed and character," said Quenneville, who was 452-249-96 in 11 seasons with the Blackhawks. "It was a privilege. When we had to change on the fly, I think we did a pretty amazing job of keeping some balance and depth and still able to have four lines that were contributing and a factor. And when push came to shove in the bigger games later in series, big players, top guys were outstanding. But the depth, the four-line team put us in position to have that balance for 10 years."

Possible there will be a few more hawk related recognitions with this list.

All-Decade schedule:
Jan. 15: Save of the Decade -- Braden Holtby, Game 2, 2018 Stanley Cup Final

Jan. 16: Coach of the Decade -- Joel Quenneville

Fri, Jan. 17: Franchise of the Decade

Sat, Jan. 18: Playoff Series of the Decade

Sun, Jan. 19: Game of the Decade

Mon, Jan. 20: Event of the Decade

Tue, Jan. 21: Moment of the Decade

Wed, Jan. 22: Goal of the Decade

Fri, Jan 24: First and Second All-Decade Team
- bogiedoc

All these 2010s retrospectives are bringing back such good memories. The NHL's recency bias will hurt our standings, but still fun to see all the clips.

92 was MUCH better early in the year was a constant threat. Some great coaching has obviously neutered him.
- rpeters01

What games were you watching?

The bottom lines of Ottawa and Montreal are berift of offensive talent. They may have had 0 high danger chances with no defensive pairings on the ice. Toronto will be a different story.

I like K4 better than most posters. I think he could develop into a decent 3rd pairing defender.
- -Doh-

You and I both are optimistic on Special K. I like his combination of physical play and skating/skill. He has shown solid performance in a period - of - time which I cannot state exactly how long until he committed some blunders

. Sometimes young players who have some professional experience are in the right spot right time but need a bit of rope. That is not always palatable for coaches. Being a #12 overall I like to think that he can put forth effort and benefits from experience so that he can show as a capable defender. I really want to see him and this Carlsson to become strong bottom pair guys.

Furthermore, I would love to see Kyrs develop to the point of being third pair capable. He could be a real nice weapon in this spot. Then one of these three either is promoted to second pair or traded.