BREAKING: Rangers have reached agreement to hire Gerard Gallant as head coach, Post has learned.
- Chunk

I think there were reasons for his firing in Las Vegas...

"Too slow to be small, too small to be slow" is what they're now. Defense is a fire drill getting out of their own end. Too many Forwards not good at more than one thing.
- rpeters01

Imo going into the new season defensive zone coverage has to be priority number one the forwards and defense need to work as one. Forwards cannot be flying the zone and losing coverage need to be outlets for the d on the walls and in the middle. They do that and stretch passes and rushes and odd man breaks will happen but starts as a five player commitment to defense to have success.

That makes three of us.

Oh, they may squeeze or eek their way into a playoffs due to some extenuating circumstances that fall into their lap but going anywhere I highly doubt anytime soon. The defense would have to make unbelievable strides and we hit on all the question mark Forwards. Then there's still the goalie thing.
- rpeters01

Eh, the Islanders are not a great team talent wise but play structured boring hockey and are getting outstanding goaltending. Doesn't take a lot.

Montreal certainly isn't a good team but here they are. Danault is eating guys alive and Price is playing out of his mind.

Vegas and Tampa are "good" teams with Tampa probably on the down slide with their cap situation.

Nashville bad, Oilers bad, Jets bad, Wild not good, Florida mediocre, Penguins, Caps and Bruins was more of a contest about who could be bad less in a meh division.

Both Carolina and Colorado lost to good teams. Oops. Rest of the league not very impressive and certainly not getting much better after the talent pool is further diluted by the next expansion draft.

The Hawks are bad - especially defensively, probably the worst team in the league. But you add 50 pts from Hamiton or Jones + 60 from Toews and I dunno we'll say 35 from Dach and they are in a playoff spot.

If one of the goalies was to figure it out they could get through a round on Patrick Kane's back with a favorable draw and if injury free who knows. Weirder crap has happened.

The Hawks aren't that far away not because the Hawks are close to being good but because the rest of the league is so not good because the cap and dilution of talent.

Eh, the Islanders are not a great team talent wise but play structured boring hockey and are getting outstanding goaltending. Doesn't take a lot.

Montreal certainly isn't a good team but here they are. Danault is eating guys alive and Price is playing out of his mind.

Vegas and Tampa are "good" teams with Tampa probably on the down slide with their cap situation.

Nashville bad, Oilers bad, Jets bad, Wild not good, Florida mediocre, Penguins, Caps and Bruins was more of a contest about who could be bad less in a meh division.

Both Carolina and Colorado lost to good teams. Oops. Rest of the league not very impressive and certainly not getting much better after the talent pool is further diluted by the next expansion draft.

The Hawks are bad - especially defensively, probably the worst team in the league. But you add 50 pts from 1 Hamiton or Jones + 60 from 2 Toews and I dunno we'll say 35 from 3 Dach and they are in a playoff spot.

If one of the 4 goalies was to figure it out they could get through a round on
5 Patrick Kane's back with a 6 favorable draw and if 7 injury free who knows. Weirder crap has happened.

The Hawks aren't that far away not because the Hawks are close to being good but because the rest of the league is so not good because the cap and dilution of talent.
- fattybeef

Just counted 7 big "ifs." Like I said, time to get real.

The Hawks have way too many average forwards. Some could still be playing in Rockford. While this team is improved, they are still a ways off from making a deep playoff run. Kane and Toews (pending his mysterious illness) will always be legends in Chicago. They should be moved for draft picks or quality younger players. By the time the Hawks can contend again, they will most likely be well past their prime or retired. I would also look to move Keith. While not a #1 anymore, he could be an excellent 2nd or even 3rd pair D on a contending team.
- MNHawksfan

Name me a NHL trade where a star player in the twilight of their career was moved for significant futures since the lockout.

This isn't baseball. You can't unload superstars for meaningful young players or draft picks.

Kane is going to be productive into his late 30s like St Louis was unless he gets catastrophically injured.

Just counted 7 big "ifs." Like I said, time to get real.
- rpeters01

Those aren't big if's. Look at how bad half the teams in the playoffs were and how meh two of them in the conference finals are.

Doesn't take a lot to jump a few spots in the standings.

I think there were reasons for his firing in Las Vegas...
- wiz1901

He's kind of a red ass and arrogant...

Eh, the Islanders are not a great team talent wise but play structured boring hockey and are getting outstanding goaltending. Doesn't take a lot.

Montreal certainly isn't a good team but here they are. Danault is eating guys alive and Price is playing out of his mind.

Vegas and Tampa are "good" teams with Tampa probably on the down slide with their cap situation.

Nashville bad, Oilers bad, Jets bad, Wild not good, Florida mediocre, Penguins, Caps and Bruins was more of a contest about who could be bad less in a meh division.

Both Carolina and Colorado lost to good teams. Oops. Rest of the league not very impressive and certainly not getting much better after the talent pool is further diluted by the next expansion draft.

The Hawks are bad - especially defensively, probably the worst team in the league. But you add 50 pts from Hamiton or Jones + 60 from Toews and I dunno we'll say 35 from Dach and they are in a playoff spot.

If one of the goalies was to figure it out they could get through a round on Patrick Kane's back with a favorable draw and if injury free who knows. Weirder crap has happened.

The Hawks aren't that far away not because the Hawks are close to being good but because the rest of the league is so not good because the cap and dilution of talent.
- fattybeef

The whole league is awful!

Well, then it shouldn't take much for the Hawks to get into contention, eh?

Sorry, but Tampa is better than "good".

Eh, the Islanders are not a great team talent wise but play structured boring hockey and are getting outstanding goaltending. Doesn't take a lot.

Montreal certainly isn't a good team but here they are. Danault is eating guys alive and Price is playing out of his mind.

Vegas and Tampa are "good" teams with Tampa probably on the down slide with their cap situation.

Nashville bad, Oilers bad, Jets bad, Wild not good, Florida mediocre, Penguins, Caps and Bruins was more of a contest about who could be bad less in a meh division.

Both Carolina and Colorado lost to good teams. Oops. Rest of the league not very impressive and certainly not getting much better after the talent pool is further diluted by the next expansion draft.

The Hawks are bad - especially defensively, probably the worst team in the league. But you add 50 pts from Hamiton or Jones + 60 from Toews and I dunno we'll say 35 from Dach and they are in a playoff spot.

If one of the goalies was to figure it out they could get through a round on Patrick Kane's back with a favorable draw and if injury free who knows. Weirder crap has happened.

The Hawks aren't that far away not because the Hawks are close to being good but because the rest of the league is so not good because the cap and dilution of talent.
- fattybeef

And yet the Hawks still were out of contention for a spot in the playoffs with about 2-3 weeks left.

Edit: Adding Toews will help as long as he is back to what he was. I'm not sure if adding Hamilton will help all that much. He would need to be a lot better defensively to make a huge dent. Gus put up a crap ton of points a few years ago and it didn't move the needle much. I'm not saying Hamilton is as bad as Gus was, but he would need to be much better if he were to be the reason (or one of the main reasons) that they make the playoffs.

Eh, the Islanders are not a great team talent wise but play structured boring hockey and are getting outstanding goaltending. Doesn't take a lot.

Montreal certainly isn't a good team but here they are. Danault is eating guys alive and Price is playing out of his mind.

Vegas and Tampa are "good" teams with Tampa probably on the down slide with their cap situation.

Nashville bad, Oilers bad, Jets bad, Wild not good, Florida mediocre, Penguins, Caps and Bruins was more of a contest about who could be bad less in a meh division.

Both Carolina and Colorado lost to good teams. Oops. Rest of the league not very impressive and certainly not getting much better after the talent pool is further diluted by the next expansion draft.

The Hawks are bad - especially defensively, probably the worst team in the league. But you add 50 pts from Hamiton or Jones + 60 from Toews and I dunno we'll say 35 from Dach and they are in a playoff spot.

If one of the goalies was to figure it out they could get through a round on Patrick Kane's back with a favorable draw and if injury free who knows. Weirder crap has happened.

The Hawks aren't that far away not because the Hawks are close to being good but because the rest of the league is so not good because the cap and dilution of talent.
- fattybeef

Why even watch Hockey if almost every team is bad...Think what you want but any team in a conference final is a good/great team.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/hurricanes-give-dougie-hamilton-permission-talk-teams/

Will Stan bite?
- LAHawk

via GIPHY

Eh, the Islanders are not a great team talent wise but play structured boring hockey and are getting outstanding goaltending. Doesn't take a lot.

Montreal certainly isn't a good team but here they are. Danault is eating guys alive and Price is playing out of his mind.

Vegas and Tampa are "good" teams with Tampa probably on the down slide with their cap situation.

Nashville bad, Oilers bad, Jets bad, Wild not good, Florida mediocre, Penguins, Caps and Bruins was more of a contest about who could be bad less in a meh division.

Both Carolina and Colorado lost to good teams. Oops. Rest of the league not very impressive and certainly not getting much better after the talent pool is further diluted by the next expansion draft.

The Hawks are bad - especially defensively, probably the worst team in the league. But you add 50 pts from Hamiton or Jones + 60 from Toews and I dunno we'll say 35 from Dach and they are in a playoff spot.

If one of the goalies was to figure it out they could get through a round on Patrick Kane's back with a favorable draw and if injury free who knows. Weirder crap has happened.

The Hawks aren't that far away not because the Hawks are close to being good but because the rest of the league is so not good because the cap and dilution of talent.
- fattybeef

I thought you had a good evaluation around the league but I believe you better explain your thoughts better, more details about The Blackhaws because none of that is too likely to happen.

Before any good results both players and coach have to get their act together

For various reasons the break out and stretch passes need to be resolved because they are a joke, a laughing stock and the time is up for making excuses about them. Darn, either the players start to understand and get it, or either the coach and some players should be moved out. There is a lot of young talent and some good development coaching and attention to prospects in Rockford. Better get it right in Chicago or expect less fans in the stands and not to become the league's biggest embarrassment. Plenty of alcohol to drown out your sorrow, Rocky and Stan. You get your coach and players to fix this joke or your head is called for. You can count all your lost revenue if you put a crap team on the ice.

Once the youngsters take further steps in development, maybe then fatty beef post you can begin to guess how developments might turn..

And as for Nylander, too much talk and negativity too soon. Use common sense, man. Bowman traded for him. He was injured. He left something to be desired yet before giving up on him, Nylander will get a second chance. He will determine his TOI via his effort. He has something to prove alright.
.

New blog! A few thoughts on the Blackhawks search for a #1 defenseman on the heels of Seth Jones and now Dougie Hamilton being on the market.

https://bit.ly/3wqq8YX

He's kind of a red ass and arrogant...
- fattybeef

Not to be a smart aleck, but there’s always a reason for terminations, some more legitimate than others, but there’s always a reason.