Tyler Cameron: Let 'em play
An exciting 6-5 loss came off the heels of the trade deadline.

The Hawks started horrendously but then managed to jump out to a 3-1 lead. However, in true Blackhawks fashion, they had multiple breakdowns that led to 4 x 3rd-period goals by the Blues.

I say let the kids play and figure out what ya got!

Good Morning Ty - Thanks for the read. Agree - play the kids, get them exposed to the big show, and if it helps in the lottery positioning - even better.

Unfortunately, we have a "moron" level coach behind the bench.
There IS a difference between being smart about hockey strategy and being smart in understanding not only the flow of the game on-ice but matching wits with the opposing coach.

Not only does Colliton not get it -- by slotting in guys where they should not be in the lineup -- but he also appears to have no sense of the best matchups, regardless of whether he gets the last change (at home) or on the road.

It's beyond maddening and I'm certain Kane, Toews, Keith are gritting their teeth most of the time.

Another very good read. Thanks much,Tyler!

And I cannot agree with you more on this: Slot Dach with Kane for the rest of the way.

I think Strome's biggest thing now is that he's not close to 100% and trying to play through it. I do not give up on him. And hope he works very hard in the off-season to improve his starts from stationary position.

Would like to see these lines consistently the rest of the way. Let Strome and Highmore go back n forth at C.

Kubalik/Toews/Nylander
Saad/Dach/Kane
ADB/Strome/Highmore
Kampf/Carp/Caggs
Smith

Agree with all your points Tyler.
Toews , Dach , Strome should be the top 3 centre's
Play Nylander on the top 3 lines until the end of the season
Kubalik Toews Cags/Highmore
DCAT Strome Nylander
Saad Dach Kane

Already nervous about net year if we are relying heavily on Crawford

Agree on Nylander. JC is wasting him, and not putting him in a position to succeed. I’m not a fan of the trade that brought him to the Blackhawks, but his skill set doesn’t translate to limited, 4th line minutes. Expecting him to play a grinding, tight checking game, as the bottom line is asked to do, is foolish.

If he’s going to develop, he needs to be playing with other skilled players on a top 3 line.

Great write up Ty! Gotta agree play the kids. Some of the vets may not like it, but this is about next year and beyond vs some wins down the stretch.

Not suggesting a tank but maybe they somehow still end up drafting top 5 or better.

Dach needs to be on that 1st PP unit also. We need more pressure down low and Dach can provide it with his size and his ability to retrieve pucks in tight quarters.

Would like to see these lines consistently the rest of the way. Let Strome and Highmore go back n forth at C.

Kubalik/Toews/Nylander
Saad/Dach/Kane
ADB/Strome/Highmore
Kampf/Carp/Caggs
Smith
- Assman22

I like these lines a lot.

I think Caggiula has done great on that top line, but the reality is, I'm not sure they can keep him for next year (depending on his ask) and Nylander needs to play it out in the top 6 IMO.

Dach needs to be on that 1st PP unit also. We need more pressure down low and Dach can provide it with his size and his ability to retrieve pucks in tight quarters.
- 67hawks

Yep. Agreed.

DeBrincat as a "net-front presence" is quite funny.

My decision would be:

PP1
Keith-Kane-Dach-Toews-Kubalik

PP2
Boqvist-Nylander-Saad-Strome-DeBrincat


Do it, JC.

Another thing to note, I focused most on the skaters that are currently in Chicago, however, I wouldn't be shocked to see Dylan Sikura back, Phil Kurashev, Hagel up front.

On the backend, we may see Gilbert again or someone out of the McCoshen, Beaudin, Krys group.

This will all depend on injuries but there's a possibility the Hawks reward some of these guys and see what they have.

I like these lines a lot.

I think Caggiula has done great on that top line, but the reality is, I'm not sure they can keep him for next year (depending on his ask) and Nylander needs to play it out in the top 6 IMO.
- Tyler Cameron

I like Highmore but I think Caggiula gives you a bit more offense...at least right now anyway.

So I think I'd flip them on the 3rd and 4th lines.

Another thing to note, I focused most on the skaters that are currently in Chicago, however, I wouldn't be shocked to see Dylan Sikura back, Phil Kurashev, Hagel up front.

On the backend, we may see Gilbert again or someone out of the McCoshen, Beaudin, Krys group.

This will all depend on injuries but there's a possibility the Hawks reward some of these guys and see what they have.
- Tyler Cameron

At some point the Hawks need to give the kids some playing time. While the salary cap is still in effect there is no roster limit for the rest of the season. I'd bring up Sikura for the rest of the season. He might not play every night but he should play most nights. Kurashev will need some time to get back into the groove after his injury, but maybe he games some games towards the end of the season.

I wonder what the Hawks plan to do with Highmore. He's been a decent 4th line forward but hasn't been able to stay in the lineup consistently.

Unfortunately, we have a "moron" level coach behind the bench.
There IS a difference between being smart about hockey strategy and being smart in understanding not only the flow of the game on-ice but matching wits with the opposing coach.

Not only does Colliton not get it -- by slotting in guys where they should not be in the lineup -- but he also appears to have no sense of the best matchups, regardless of whether he gets the last change (at home) or on the road.

It's beyond maddening and I'm certain Kane, Toews, Keith are gritting their teeth most of the time.
- savvyone-1

Good morning, Savvy.

If I recall correctly, you also thought the previous coach was at moron level.

Good write up. I think the haphazard roster construction is another good talking point which only exacerbates the issue behind the bench.

You could possibly sell me moving lil Henri for forward depth but i think they undersold a bit there.

Having coocoo, Gilbert, Seabrook and Maatta (now seeler) all on the same team is kinda nuts. de Haan was a fine pick up for d depth that can d but if you're serious about Boqvist and Mitchell contributing straight away then those other roster decisions seem a bit puzzling.

Basically, it seems like they threw a bunch of crap at the wall to see what stuck since they have no idea what they're actually doing. The whole not having a plan but a process is a bit of a problem.

Yep. Agreed.

DeBrincat as a "net-front presence" is quite funny.

My decision would be:

PP1
Keith-Kane-Dach-Toews-Kubalik

PP2
Boqvist-Nylander-Saad-Strome-DeBrincat


Do it, JC.
- Tyler Cameron

While I wouldn't want to see it on a regular basis, ADB as a net front presence is something I’d like to see more of to change things up. Dino Ciccerelli was one of the best net front guys I have ever seen, he wasn’t a tall guy but he was solid and he played in an era where defenders could get away with pretty much anything short of homicide. ADB doesn’t have to deal with allot of physicality and if he’s in front of the net there should be a defender there too creating a disturbance for the goalie. The last game I saw a number of changes to the powerplay, most notably Kane not standing stationary by the sideboards but instead playing the opposite side and playing less statically. This opened up a lane for Keith to walk into to score. ADB playing in front of the net once in a while or playing the left side hashmarks keeps the opposition guessing.

So now we want Nylander to play to six...after months of roasting the coach for trying to play him in the......top six.

Shoulda been playing the kids all season.

Certainly appears too much lack of responsibility to playing defense with Nylander playing with Strome and DeBrincat.

So now we want Nylander to play to six...after months of roasting the coach for trying to play him in the......top six.

Shoulda been playing the kids all season.
- mohel

What's wrong with you? There is a narrative, follow it! All coaches are morons. If Q matched ines he was an idiot. If JC doesn't match lines he is an idiot. Is it really so hard to follow?

Unfortunately, we have a "moron" level coach behind the bench.
There IS a difference between being smart about hockey strategy and being smart in understanding not only the flow of the game on-ice but matching wits with the opposing coach.

Not only does Colliton not get it -- by slotting in guys where they should not be in the lineup -- but he also appears to have no sense of the best matchups, regardless of whether he gets the last change (at home) or on the road.

It's beyond maddening and I'm certain Kane, Toews, Keith are gritting their teeth most of the time.
- savvyone-1

I have a fettish for the blatant truth. I'm getting my jollies this morning

I have a fettish for the blatant truth. I'm getting my jollies this morning
- catrisc

Truthful jollies. You may be on to something ....

Good morning, Savvy.

If I recall correctly, you also thought the previous coach was at moron level.
- mohel

Good Morning Mo,
Ha, yes!
I would classify that with the term "hard-headed."

Am certain you recall me saying that numerous times.
Only so many times you can miss the nail with the hammer and pound the sh!t out of your hand/fingers. However, the hard-headed individual never seems to feel that and keeps whacking away.

For me, that's a more apt description of what Q did on many occasions.
So maybe, then, that is a trait of most/all coaches?
IDK
I've had the occasion to run teams that I've been rostered on when the guy that usually did so wasn't there. Of course, I did it my way!

However, what I found myself doing was, like George Constanza -- the opposite of what was always done (by the guy usually running things). And just like George, I found out that in most cases, that worked.

"If every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right!"

So now we want Nylander to play to six...after months of roasting the coach for trying to play him in the......top six.

Shoulda been playing the kids all season.
- mohel

Well, that's when the games mattered.

Now, we put him back there and give him another run in the top 6. If he's not working over a span after 8-10 games, I wouldn't reward him by keeping him there, but this team would severely benefit by Nylander "figuring it out" more "consistently".

It would make this offseason easier for Stan / New GM.

Another thing to note, I focused most on the skaters that are currently in Chicago, however, I wouldn't be shocked to see Dylan Sikura back, Phil Kurashev, Hagel up front.

On the backend, we may see Gilbert again or someone out of the McCoshen, Beaudin, Krys group.

This will all depend on injuries but there's a possibility the Hawks reward some of these guys and see what they have.
- Tyler Cameron

YES. Happy you mentioned this. This is the time where you can throw poop on the wall and see if anything sticks. Grab your top prospects from rockford and keep that bus moving. Players don't stick? Send them back and get new ones up.