No one is suggesting that firing the Coach & Stan solves the problems of this version of the Hawks.

That said - if the rebuild is on a lot of people would now prefer a new GM with a plan & a new voice behind the bench.

Include me in that camp.
- Colbyboy

This is a general post, not directed at you specifically.....

This idea that the Hawks front office has no plan might be the wackiest meme on this board. Stan is an accountant, ffs, and McD is a control freak. These are people who LIVE by plans.

Seems fair to say you don't like his plan, he can't execute the plan, or I don't understand his plan. To say he (and they) have no plan is nutty, imo.

Totally agree with this assessment.
- gabriel

The rebuild started before last season. Seems upper management chose to allow Stan to implement it.

On April 5 the final standings will likely have the Hawks last in the Central Div. Arguably the team has received goaltending that is in the top 25% of the league, so that isn't the issue. So what is the problem and where does the blame lie - coaching staff, management or player personnel? Seems to me it's all of the above and it isn't getting fixed by just firing JC.

Veteran coaches Babcock, Boudreau, Gallant, Deboer, Laviolette, Hines have all been axed this year. Are their old teams really playing dramatically better under a new guy? Not many of them.

Where the Hawks are doesn't surprise me - dressing 19 year olds every night to play against men doesn't usually turn out well. Playing guys like Gus, Kampf, Smith, Carpenter every night demonstrates how far below contending status their roster is.
So when players like Debrincat, Nylander and Strome come up with disappointing seasons, forget the playoffs and don't blame it all on coaching.

What I don't like about this team is how poorly they play on home ice (coach and player blame) and the lack of size and grit on the roster (Bowman).

It isn't a quick fix that is accomplished by a couple of firings.
- RickJ

With all that - the Hawks have lost 33 games this season.

19 have been one-goal losses, two goal losses with an ENG (effectively one goal games), or games lost on OT or SO.

They are in most games, with a chance to win or get games to OT at the end.

Doesn’t mean they’re close to being a Cup contender. But - does that mean they are not far away from being a bubble team on top of the bubble - instead of being one at the bottom of the bubble?

JC loves Kampf, he'll be a regular forward next season. I do expect higher than normal turnover, by the time next season starts they'll be several guys gone:

Toews - stays
Kane - stays
DeBrincat - stays
Strome - dealt at the draft
Saad - dealt at the draft
Caggiula - dealt in the summer
Kampf - stays
Carpenter - stays
Dach - stays
Smith - bought out
Highmore - dealt in the summer
Kubalik - re-signed
Nylander - stays
Boqvist - dealt in the summer
de Haan - stays
Gus - dealt at the deadline
Keith - stays
Maatta - dealt in the summer
Seabrook - stays
Seeler - AHL bound
Lehner - dealt in June
Crawford - re-signed
- DarthKane

Think trading Boqvist would be foolish. Not sure if you're implying that the trades of Strome/Saad would be done only to move up higher in the draft order - if so, think that is foolish, too, since all picks are crapshoots. If for other players + a move up, maybe.

Otherwise, a very solid prediction.

Something else to debate, though it was nice to see so many Hawks on the list:

https://www.espn.com/nhl/...ke-modano-others-rank-all

Listen Junior ,pull your bullpoop on some of these other posters On how you talk to people like their pieces of poop on the site. I’ve never said anything because you weren’t directing it towards me, and actually agreed with you on some of your points. But when you start attacking personally hey, (frank) you! Im probably 50 (frank)ing years older than you I’ve been dumping season ticket money into this team for nearly 50 years.I know what the (frank) I’m talking about.
- wonthecup10

Actually you don't. All the poop you spew is your opinion and in my opinion its bullpoop

No one is suggesting that firing the Coach & Stan solves the problems of this version of the Hawks.

That said - if the rebuild is on a lot of people would now prefer a new GM with a plan & a new voice behind the bench.

Include me in that camp.
- Colbyboy

Great observation and well said. The problem originated with mc D bringing in Stan. Stan wasn't the architect of the rebuild that brought Chicago 3 cups and many years of exciting hockey. Stan tinkered around the edges with guys like rozi, handzus, Richards and vermette but let's be honest the main core of this team was always intact and gave Chicago a high probability of contending. Stan overpaid players, gave up depth with nothing to show for in the end regarding future depth .

Coach Q deserved better and the talent Stan gave him to then turn around and fire him only to bring in a inexperienced head coach who hasn't turned things around

The Hawks have given up 188 goals so far. Only six teams have given up more. For perspective, they are in a tightly bunched pack, and are 8 goals against from 13th in the league.

One of the teams below the Hawks, are your Florida Panthers with 198. That works out to 3.41 per game. Last year they gave up 280, which is.....3.41 per game. Gotta be the fault of the new coach and the "system" he is trying to install. Or the GM who put the team together. Wait, what's that you say? Dale is the GM, and Q is the coach? (frank)ing idiot players......
- mohel

LMAO. Exactly

This is a general post, not directed at you specifically.....

This idea that the Hawks front office has no plan might be the wackiest meme on this board. Stan is an accountant, ffs, and McD is a control freak. These are people who LIVE by plans.

Seems fair to say you don't like his plan, he can't execute the plan, or I don't understand his plan. To say he (and they) have no plan is nutty, imo.
- mohel

I think it's fair to suggest that other qualified professionals should be allowed to try and right the Hawk's ship. If it's true that Q's tenure and way of doing things became stale, how can Stan keep receiving a pass? True, Stan has a plan, but perhaps others have more astute plans? Just asking, and good morning to you, sir.

The metric to measure the SB post cup era is that FOUR YEARS AFTER the last cup, this year's team will have the worst record it's ever had since 2006-7 when they had 71 points.

Four years of time for SB to get it together.

Almost two years under Colliton.

Something else to debate, though it was nice to see so many Hawks on the list:

https://www.espn.com/nhl/...ke-modano-others-rank-all
- pdx2ord

Fun list. I think he's spot on about Kane.

Great observation and well said. The problem originated with mc D bringing in Stan. Stan wasn't the architect of the rebuild that brought Chicago 3 cups and many years of exciting hockey. Stan tinkered around the edges with guys like rozi, handzus, Richards and vermette but let's be honest the main core of this team was always intact and gave Chicago a high probability of contending. Stan overpaid players, gave up depth with nothing to show for in the end regarding future depth .

Coach Q deserved better and the talent Stan gave him to then turn around and fire him only to bring in a inexperienced head coach who hasn't turned things around
- Taylorst1

Pure gold.

I chalk it up to the Flames were playing their fourth game in six days.
- Beaver-Warrior

The Flames are very much a Jekyll and Hyde defensive team this year. Some nights they're very good, and some nights they are extremely bad. The Hawks game was the 2nd time this month that they allowed 8 goals.

The Flames are very much a Jekyll and Hyde defensive team this year. Some nights they're very good, and some nights they are extremely bad. The Hawks game was the 2nd time this month that they allowed 8 goals.
- Hawks_49

Against the Oil were the EMD's best players were their best players that night. The Hawk game was a trap game for the Flames.

This is a general post, not directed at you specifically.....

This idea that the Hawks front office has no plan might be the wackiest meme on this board. Stan is an accountant, ffs, and McD is a control freak. These are people who LIVE by plans.

Seems fair to say you don't like his plan, he can't execute the plan, or I don't understand his plan. To say he (and they) have no plan is nutty, imo.
- mohel

I’ll edit the word plan with the words “new direction”

I'd like to see Kampf and Carpenter both on the 4th line.
- mohel

Next season’s 4th line:
Entwistle- Carpenter - Highmore

That will be hard to play against. Of course Stan & JC will need to figure out what t9 do with the other 3 lines.

Fun list. I think he's spot on about Kane.
- mohel

Absolutely loved the line, "Kane is brilliance."

Though his stats may ultimately be sandwiched and buried by those who came before and after (those playing in higher-scoring eras), he has been a truly great, if not the greatest, US talent.

I think it's fair to suggest that other qualified professionals should be allowed to try and right the Hawk's ship. If it's true that Q's tenure and way of doing things became stale, how can Stan keep receiving a pass? True, Stan has a plan, but perhaps others have more astute plans? Just asking, and good morning to you, sir.
- gabriel

Good morning, Gabe.

I believe Stan and McD have a plan. I suspect it is a modified rebuild (they don't want ticket sales to fall too much). I think McD has decided Stan is the guy to implement the plan. That's what I think is happening.

I would rather go the gut rehab route, and I would let Stan handle it. I think they are pretty good at identifying talent, and recent drafts seem solid. But I'd be open to a different GM to handle the rehab - but I would need evidence that a replacement is better than Stan before launching.

Regarding Q being stale....not sure I totally buy that because new players are there all the time. But if it is a thing, it's more of a thing with the coach who manages them day to day, than the GM.

Just my take.

Pure gold.
- mohel

He’s (she’s?) funny that guy (gal?).

Against the Oil were the EMD's best players were their best players that night. The Hawk game was a trap game for the Flames.
- Beaver-Warrior

The Flames have been doing this all season. Their February has been an unpredictable mess.

EDM: 8-3 L
SJ: 3-1 L
NSH: 3-2 L
VAN: 6-2 W
SJ: 6-2 W
LA: 5-3 L
ANA: 6-0 W
CHI: 8-4 L

I don't think they were trapped by the game against Chicago. I think Calgary has very serious consistency issues that need to be addressed if they have hopes of making the playoffs and getting out of the 1st round.

Couple things I have noticed as of late:

1) Strome just doesn't do it for me. I know he was injured recently... but there are too many holes in his game. I am tired of watching him get out muscled along the boards or just simply give up. I am not sure if this is a strength issue that correlates with his lack of explosiveness (some would be nice) but you can't be slow, lack any sort of explosiveness, and lack the ability/strength to play a physical puck possession style. I know he his young but to my untrained novice eye these are deficiencies I am not sure he can overcome.

2) Why in the world is Dcat playing with a longer stick this year? He looks more explosive this year but his inability to connect on one timers and control the puck at times has to be related to the longer stick.

3) The Peg game plan for the Hawks is perfect. Forwards carry the puck up high and crisscross often. Causes confusion and requires the Hawks D and forwards to constantly talk and switch assignments. Idk how many times I saw a Hawks D up by the blueline chasing. Makes it easy for someone to sneak to the front of the net. It also makes it easy for guys to just skate across the middle and tip shots on net. Hawks D chase and get gassed 30 secs into their shifts. All it takes is one 1/2 second lapse by a Hawks forward or D and the result is a prime scoring chance. The system all but maximizes the potential for errors and missed assignments.

4) Can Carpenter centering Saad and Kane please die?

5) Kampf is an offensive black hole. Highmore and Nylander actually looked pretty solid together. As soon as Kampf touches the puck you can all but kiss the offensive possession good bye.

6) I saw Keith get upset on the ice a few times. One particular play by KK that was bone headed. The guy is still a thoroughbred and cares about winning.

7) I don't mind Seeler as a 6/7 but not in this system. It was nice to see someone flatten opposing forwards who try to take the puck to the net. The problem is if you leave to make a hit it leaves even more ice open then it normally should because everyone is chasing in the Dzone already.

Great observation and well said. The problem originated with mc D bringing in Stan. Stan wasn't the architect of the rebuild that brought Chicago 3 cups and many years of exciting hockey. Stan tinkered around the edges with guys like rozi, handzus, Richards and vermette but let's be honest the main core of this team was always intact and gave Chicago a high probability of contending. Stan overpaid players, gave up depth with nothing to show for in the end regarding future depth .

Coach Q deserved better and the talent Stan gave him to then turn around and fire him only to bring in a inexperienced head coach who hasn't turned things around
- Taylorst1

Helps to build when you are so bad, that you draft #’s 1 and 3 in consecutive years. Didn’t builder Dale get overruled with the Hossa signing, he wanted to keep Havlat.

How has Dale done building the Panthers the past 10 years? He has sure gone through a lot of coaches including DeBoer, Gallant, and Boughner

Good morning, Gabe.

I believe Stan and McD have a plan. I suspect it is a modified rebuild (they don't want ticket sales to fall too much). I think McD has decided Stan is the guy to implement the plan. That's what I think is happening.

I would rather go the gut rehab route, and I would let Stan handle it. I think they are pretty good at identifying talent, and recent drafts seem solid. But I'd be open to a different GM to handle the rehab - but I would need evidence that a replacement is better than Stan before launching.

Regarding Q being stale....not sure I totally buy that because new players are there all the time. But if it is a thing, it's more of a thing with the coach who manages them day to day, than the GM.

Just my take.
- mohel

Mohel I believe you nailed Chicago's current situation and plan. I read Keith's recent comments in the athletic and what stood out in my mind was , he is of the belief based on what Chicago front office has told him they are not doing a rebuild and I gathered that if it was the case he would be open To a trade. Otherwise he has no intentions on waiving his NMC.

The Flames have been doing this all season. Their February has been an unpredictable mess.

EDM: 8-3 L
SJ: 3-1 L
NSH: 3-2 L
VAN: 6-2 W
SJ: 6-2 W
LA: 5-3 L
ANA: 6-0 W
CHI: 8-4 L

I don't think they were trapped by the game against Chicago. I think Calgary has very serious consistency issues that need to be addressed if they have hopes of making the playoffs and getting out of the 1st round.
- Hawks_49

What you say can in no way be possible. The Flames have Looch and a Tkachuk on the same team (red font).

Next season’s 4th line:
Entwistle- Carpenter - Highmore

That will be hard to play against. Of course Stan & JC will need to figure out what t9 do with the other 3 lines.
- scottak

Highmore is a high value guy. Just like Caggiula. No these are not superstars or guys that will be game changers but we need them on the team. Highmore is a GREAT 4th line player. Caggiula is a GREAT third liner. Need both of them.

Furthermore, look how Highmore has been playing on the boards. The Hawks DO NOT have enough guys that can win board battles. He out maneuvered Tkachuk in the Calgary game to score a goal. You need him.

Not too mention, the learning curve for rookies is steep. Hawks can't afford to play as many rookies next year. Need guys like Dach and Highmore to be strong year 2 players.