I feel like the "DBC plays well with Kane and vice-versa" is a misconception that fans and sportswriters share. He doesn't do significantly worse, but it's not the magic pill for either of them, except on the PP last year. That well seems to have dried up.

In past couple of years, he's played with Kane 5-on-5 about 1/3 of the time

w/Kane on his line, collectively 0.48 shots/minute and 0.05 goals/minute (with demonstrably worse GA)

w/o Kane 0.55 shots/minute and 0.04 goals/minute

Kane w/o DBC 0.52 shots/minute and 0.06 goals/minute
- pdx2ord

This year when ADB and Kane played together, if the puck got in the defensive zone, it took 2/3 of the shift just to get it out, and whoever got the puck at center ice just dumped it in as the line was tired and went off on a line change.

I feel like the "DBC plays well with Kane and vice-versa" is a misconception that fans and sportswriters share. He doesn't do significantly worse, but it's not the magic pill for either of them, except on the PP last year. That well seems to have dried up.

In past couple of years, he's played with Kane 5-on-5 about 1/3 of the time

w/Kane on his line, collectively 0.48 shots/minute and 0.05 goals/minute (with demonstrably worse GA)

w/o Kane 0.55 shots/minute and 0.04 goals/minute

Kane w/o DBC 0.52 shots/minute and 0.06 goals/minute
- pdx2ord

Agree. Kane and ADB connected mainly on the PP last year. Many of their points were on the PP. But the opposition has made the adjustment on the PP and 5v5. Now Colliton, Kane and ADB need to make adjustments.

Not really aimed just at you, but I don't get what people are thinking here. Colliton has benched Seabrook, and a number of other guys who haven't pulled their weight. You are not going to bench Toews in favor of "young player X" at the beginning of the year because he is still the best center on the team. Colliton is playing the young guys (which is apparently good and bad a the same time). He also has a team that has about 50% NHL caliber players at least competing to get into the playoffs. Does he make some decisions that infuriate/befuddle everyone? Yes. Are there likely more influencing forces making some of these decisions (i.e. playing Gus so much)? Yes.

1) We have NO idea what the FO's actual plans are for this team (development vs being a competitive team.

2) Nobody knows how a different coach will fare with this team., but odds are that the results would be about the same +/- about 3 wins.

3) I wouldn't get your hopes up about a new coach coming in here this year (and likely this offseason) unless there is a seismic shift in the quality of the roster.
- Chunk

Exactly, just like the narrative that just wait until Crawford gets back from suspension, he will talk "sense" in Colliton on line-ups, who to play when etc.

It's "sad" that he gets pissed when things don't go his way? I'm glad he cares.
- mohel

Couldn't possibly be he was pissed at someone from Ottawa could it? (red font)

I feel like the "DBC plays well with Kane and vice-versa" is a misconception that fans and sportswriters share. He doesn't do significantly worse, but it's not the magic pill for either of them, except on the PP last year. That well seems to have dried up.

In past couple of years, he's played with Kane 5-on-5 about 1/3 of the time

w/Kane on his line, collectively 0.48 shots/minute and 0.05 goals/minute (with demonstrably worse GA)

w/o Kane 0.55 shots/minute and 0.04 goals/minute

Kane w/o DBC 0.52 shots/minute and 0.06 goals/minute
- pdx2ord

Finally someone posted this. Kane and Debrincat only played well together on the power play for about quarter of the season. ADB and Strome should be paired and left together

Do you really think a different coach would have had a different result? I don't.
- LAHawk

We will always complain about the coach. We complained about Q in his Cup winning seasons and playoffs.

But I do think an experienced coach could make a difference in certain areas:
1) line combinations
2) in game matchups (especially on home ice when he gets the last change)
3) late game TOI for certain players, lines, pairings

I could add the overall defensive, PP, PK schemes.
I could add motivation, will/drive, effort and fire.

Having said all that the difference would be marginal. Maybe from just missing the playoffs to just making the playoffs. It really is on the players.

Not really aimed just at you, but I don't get what people are thinking here. Colliton has benched Seabrook, and a number of other guys who haven't pulled their weight. You are not going to bench Toews in favor of "young player X" at the beginning of the year because he is still the best center on the team. Colliton is playing the young guys (which is apparently good and bad a the same time). He also has a team that has about 50% NHL caliber players at least competing to get into the playoffs. Does he make some decisions that infuriate/befuddle everyone? Yes. Are there likely more influencing forces making some of these decisions (i.e. playing Gus so much)? Yes.

1) We have NO idea what the FO's actual plans are for this team (development vs being a competitive team.

2) Nobody knows how a different coach will fare with this team., but odds are that the results would be about the same +/- about 3 wins.

3) I wouldn't get your hopes up about a new coach coming in here this year (and likely this offseason) unless there is a seismic shift in the quality of the roster.
- Chunk

Do you really think a different coach would have had a different result? I don't.
- LAHawk

I'm not getting my hopes up at all about a new Coach coming in. Colliton is going to be the guy whether we like it or not. Same goes with Stan as the GM. These guys aren't going anywhere. They're going to stick around as long as Kane, Toews, and Keith are still around and they are going to push to compete while developing on the fly.

The difference in the moves he's made (benching Seabrook, etc.) is that the guys don't respect him for what he's doing. We've seen enough quotes from guys after guys and frustration during games to see that they aren't happy with the decisions the coach is making.

Maybe bringing a new coach can change the team, maybe it won't without having a better roster in place. The point I was making about it, is that the Core guys don't respect JC and his coaching because they've accomplished more in their entire career's then he's ever dreamed of doing and they're the same age.

Idk about any of you guys, but I'd have a hard time having someone come into my job with less experience and no pedigree telling me how I need to do my job better.

How about Boudreau having to go with only five defenseman last night because he forgot he was scratching a forward (Donato) but he wrote his name in as opposed to Patyryn. Then they get smoked by the Pens in Crosby's first game back.

Q's pedigree was pretty good, too.
- mohel

Agreed, but he'd also been with the team for almost a decade. After hearing the same message over and over and over and over again wears thin no matter how much you respect someone. Sometimes it's just time to move on whether we wanted it or not or agreed with it or not

Yes. The D system alone is a joke. He does not have the horses to run it. He (JC) could have made everything very simple with a zone D scheme. Schit run a trap if you have to. Watching the highlights last night?!?! We won because Lehner stood on his head. Way too many breakdowns and high danger chances against the Sens.
- z1990z

If these two are true, then it doesn't matter who the coach is, or what scheme they are running. Q ran a zone and they were brutal before he got fired. Who is blame there? Q for not simplifying his D or the players for not being good enough/smart enough/willing to execute it.

How about Boudreau having to go with only five defenseman last night because he forgot he was scratching a forward (Donato) but he wrote his name in as opposed to Patyryn. Then they get smoked by the Pens in Crosby's first game back.
- LAHawk

Yeah I saw this I couldn't believe it when I heard it

Gallant's style and drill sargent nature gets old. Look at what happened in Florida. Also, I can definitely see him ending up in Detroit with Stevie Y.
- nickmo2699

This is possible. They played together in Detroit.

Blashill has only one winning season in the last five with the Wings although he's pretty much had junk to work with. He also has only one year left on his contract after this one.

I could see Gallant heading to Detroit.

How about Boudreau having to go with only five defenseman last night because he forgot he was scratching a forward (Donato) but he wrote his name in as opposed to Patyryn. Then they get smoked by the Pens in Crosby's first game back.
- LAHawk

Here is a question and different look at the this coach is better than that coach. Outside of Nylander (that has been benched twice by JC this year), I think the Hawks young players have definitely not disappointed and in fact exceeded expectations. Do you think his handling of the young players and development by and under JC (often critisized on this board) of Kubalik, Dach, Bovquist, Strome, (even ADB), Kampf, Highmore,Gilbert would of happened under Q? I bet Q would love some Zach Smith (although if Q was here I doubt AA would of been traded), and probably would at some point this year played him with Toews and Kane.

Also, sure did not see anything from AA that made me wish we still had him. 0 for 6 on face offs (primarily against Smith), some things never change.

- Rota's Rooter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvLAhPccHHA

We will always complain about the coach. We complained about Q in his Cup winning seasons and playoffs.

But I do think an experienced coach could make a difference in certain areas:
1) line combinations
2) in game matchups (especially on home ice when he gets the last change)
3) late game TOI for certain players, lines, pairings

I could add the overall defensive, PP, PK schemes.
I could add motivation, will/drive, effort and fire.

Having said all that the difference would be marginal. Maybe from just missing the playoffs to just making the playoffs. It really is on the players.
- -Doh-

You make some excellent points. I do believe a wholesale change in the front office and in the head coach and staff will improve this team.

We haven't talked about this just yet...

What kind of contract is Kubalik getting at the end of this year if he keeps this up and gets close to 30 goals? Two years for 3-4M per?

I'm not getting my hopes up at all about a new Coach coming in. Colliton is going to be the guy whether we like it or not. Same goes with Stan as the GM. These guys aren't going anywhere. They're going to stick around as long as Kane, Toews, and Keith are still around and they are going to push to compete while developing on the fly.

The difference in the moves he's made (benching Seabrook, etc.) is that the guys don't respect him for what he's doing. We've seen enough quotes from guys after guys and frustration during games to see that they aren't happy with the decisions the coach is making.

Maybe bringing a new coach can change the team, maybe it won't without having a better roster in place. The point I was making about it, is that the Core guys don't respect JC and his coaching because they've accomplished more in their entire career's then he's ever dreamed of doing and they're the same age.

Idk about any of you guys, but I'd have a hard time having someone come into my job with less experience and no pedigree telling me how I need to do my job better.
- Savetheembers33

I respect your opinion, but I believe it is just conjecture. Most of the players have said positive things about the coach. Anyone would be mad if they got benched, and when they are losing.

Not that you have any responsibility to me, but I can't stand the argument about accomplishments. Trotz was a coach that couldn't win anything...until he was. Same thing can be said about almost all coaches (or goalies for that matter). They start out trying to figure things out and they tweak from there. Even seasoned coaches have to modify things to the roster/situation that they are in. You (collective you) can't say that they aren't a good coach simply because they don't have the credentials yet. As I've heard it described, Colliton was trying to install virtually the same system that Trotz uses.

You make some excellent points. I do believe a wholesale change in the front office and in the head coach and staff will improve this team.
- Taylorst1

I'm not being an arse here, but who would you replace them with and how/why would the team improve?

You make some excellent points. I do believe a wholesale change in the front office and in the head coach and staff will improve this team.
- Taylorst1

IDK, there has seemed to be an outsized shuffling of the deck chairs (GM's and coaches), the past 2 years and the only one that really has worked out so far is St. Louis (and even they had to shuffle the deck a couple of times).

We haven't talked about this just yet...

What kind of contract is Kubalik getting at the end of this year if he keeps this up and gets close to 30 goals? Two years for 3-4M per?
- Savetheembers33

I'm not familiar enough with the process to know how it effects the overall number, but he is Arbitration eligible RFA at the end of the year. I would assume 3-4 per would be about where he lands, but not sure if the arbitration part of it inflates or evens out the numbers.

Gerard Gallant is the type of coach that Stan should definitely explore.

Really surprised Vegas let him go.
- Tyler Cameron

I don't get this one. That division is all stacked up. Cap and contracts caught up with this team as everyone knew it would...

maybe there is a rest of the story here...

7th coach let go this season...go figure...

Here is a question and different look at the this coach is better than that coach. Outside of Nylander (that has been benched twice by JC this year), I think the Hawks young players have definitely not disappointed and in fact exceeded expectations. Do you think his handling of the young players and development by and under JC (often critisized on this board) of Kubalik, Dach, Bovquist, Strome, (even ADB), Kampf, Highmore,Gilbert would of happened under Q? I bet Q would love some Zach Smith (although if Q was here I doubt AA would of been traded), and probably would at some point this year played him with Toews and Kane.

Also, sure did not see anything from AA that made me wish we still had him. 0 for 6 on face offs (primarily against Smith), some things never change.
- LAHawk

They need to install a "like" button for posts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvLAhPccHHA
- LAHawk

Nice.

Someone needs to find the clip of the 2015 WCF game 7, when coach Q would have the Toews line take a face-off against the Kessler line and then have the Toews line immediately change.

The look on BB's face was priceless.

Toews earning his paycheck? Ha. Even if you give him credit for showing up the last few games, where was he for the first 40?

In 47 games this season he has SEVEN even strength goals. SEVEN. And only ONE power play goal in 151 minutes of PP time. ONE.

The guy is a contact avoiding cherry picker who only gets on the scoreboard when he has more ice to work with and less opponents skating against him.