I agree. This is the third year in a row his play is down; this year being worse than the previous two.

He could be done, I don't know. But it could be that he's dealing with something that rest and rehabilitation (or surgery) would help, like his back and/or concussions. He seems to be avoiding contact. Six or seven months of not getting hit might do him a lot of good.
- matt_ahrens

if the hawks are out the playoff bidding by march...they just do that

I agree. This is the third year in a row his play is down; this year being worse than the previous two.

He could be done, I don't know. But it could be that he's dealing with something that rest and rehabilitation (or surgery) would help, like his back and/or concussions. He seems to be avoiding contact. Six or seven months of not getting hit might do him a lot of good.
- matt_ahrens

This guy may have taken this team to the promise land and is part of the reason this franchise has turned around. The fans are grateful, the owners are happy but the harsh reality boys and girls is that we live in a what have you done for me lately world as this is a business.

And Toews lately (that's over 2 years ) has been on a steady decline yet its a great mystery as to the reason for this decline and no one dares to ask the harsh questions directly or to be overly critical for fear of reprisal.

Yet year after year we make excuses and invent scenarios:
-Maybe his back is injured?
-Maybe He had a concussion and now he's scared of contact
-He played a lot of hockey and he's tired
-He needs better wingers....lets bring back Saad
-He's no longer motivated after the cups and the big $
-He needs 7 months of shutdown and he will be better
-His body is banged up due to his style of play

blah, blah blah......we have to stop making excuses and make decisions that makes the team better moving forward. Unfortunately Toews is not making this team better as his production and effort vs. his salary is out of whack and is preventing the team from acquiring better talent.

If he plays he should not be on the top line and Q should limit his PP time, as well maybe the C goes to someone else. Better scenario is a change of venue and a trade that maybe revives his passion for the game because right now and for whatever reason that passion is gone or at least it appears that way and that's never a good ingredient for success.

The 19 year old 5’8” 160 lbs rookie showing more physicality than the Captain. Is it far enough into the season stop using the Toews starts slow excuse? Must be his linemates?

Kane showing up.
- bhawks2241

I think Justin has it right. Justin hypothesized Toews has a back condition that is not bad enough for surgery but he is not the same player because if it. There may also be concussion concern because he has had many. JRoenick blog comment goes one step farther..His observation is Q uses Toews to play like he used to, at least sometimes. Toews himself has not been in good situations to play his new speed game. Toews is in transition and so is the team when counting on some newer young kids. Add it all up and you have to say it is going to be tough to make playoffs

This guy may have taken this team to the promise land and is part of the reason this franchise has turned around. The fans are grateful, the owners are happy but the harsh reality boys and girls is that we live in a what have you done for me lately world as this is a business.

And Toews lately (that's over 2 years ) has been on a steady decline yet its a great mystery as to the reason for this decline and no one dares to ask the harsh questions directly or to be overly critical for fear of reprisal.

Yet year after year we make excuses and invent scenarios:
-Maybe his back is injured?
-Maybe He had a concussion and now he's scared of contact
-He played a lot of hockey and he's tired
-He needs better wingers....lets bring back Saad
-He's no longer motivated after the cups and the big $
-He needs 7 months of shutdown and he will be better
-His body is banged up due to his style of play

blah, blah blah......we have to stop making excuses and make decisions that makes the team better moving forward. Unfortunately Toews is not making this team better as his production and effort vs. his salary is out of whack and is preventing the team from acquiring better talent.

If he plays he should not be on the top line and Q should limit his PP time, as well maybe the C goes to someone else. Better scenario is a change of venue and a trade that maybe revives his passion for the game because right now and for whatever reason that passion is gone or at least it appears that way and that's never a good ingredient for success.
- Hawkster

Just being hypothetical. I don't know what's wrong with him. Everyone wants him playing better for the Blackhawks. If time away from the ice would help, they should do it. I don't know that it will. If it is chronic and this is as good as he'll get, he'll probably retire. Toews' value to this team extends beyond the ice and beyond his playing career, they aren't going to dump him. But teams aren't exactly lining up to give the Blackhawks a bunch of picks and prospects for him either. Not a lot can be done in-season to improve this season's fate. Not a lot to sell either.

I don't believe Rocky will let this last as long has his dad might.

If Rocky takes the Hawks home games off TV next year, he may actually be doing us a favor while the rebuild occurs.



- isu83boo

Unfortunately there’s really little Rocky can do, buyouts don’t even begin to save anywhere near what’s needed cap wise we’re screwed.

But canning Stan needs to be step one!

Speaking of Eddie O, another good profile on him:

http://www.dailyherald.co...-his-fight-against-cancer

For those celebrating, a very happy and safe Christmas holiday to you all. And, Justin, may your family's new addition come into this world safely. Congratulations!

Hartman back at center, 22% on faceoffs
Sharp draws back in has a TO to lead to goal
Panik finds a way back in lineup, does NOTHIng for two games and also has his leading-to-goal turnover.

That's where you start right there. Time to bid farewell to Sharp and Panik. KNOCK IT THE HELL off with Hartman at center. What makes Q think that move is suddenly going to work? He dumped him from C already and somehow thinks it's going to magically work the 2nd time he tries it?

Still like the way the D is coming along, but the mix on the forwards is terrible, mainly because they desperately need a capable L3-C. That way you can reslot guys into their proper spot and quit playing washed up players or floaters who don't care. Short of a trade that likely won't happen consider Highmore as a call up and see if some more youth into the lineup can inject energy.

The situation with Toews and other overpaid veterans is nothing that can be fixed. NO ONE is going to want Toews or Seabrook. You'd have to retain a huge chuck of salary + give up prospects.

I still think Stan did OK in forming this team, some things have just not worked out. His one major failing is the horrible center depth this team has. That's aiding this descent into completely mediocrity.

Bowman
At some point he needs a press conference like Charelli did in Edmonton

Toews
If the team falls out of it in January I think the team shuts him down and he goes on LTIR

Bowman
At some point he needs a press conference like Charelli did in Edmonton

Toews
If the team falls out of it in January I think the team shuts him down and he goes on LTIR
- Colbyboy

Still think best way out of this situation is to start with coaching change at the bench. Did wonders for Kings and Pens if you find a coach that is willing to put 'hard-work-first' mentality instead of 'country club lazy forecheck lets waltz our way to playoffs and then elevate mystical gear'.
We can see what hard work message can do to Pens in 15 or even Vegas or Devils this year. Get a coach that understands modern speed skilled game and not drags Totto/Bollig or Mashinter around (that includes Nashville series in 2015 when he almost lost to a team that had 1D defender out of lineup by sitting Vernette and TT for the first 2 games).

Still think best way out of this situation is to start with coaching change at the bench. Did wonders for Kings and Pens if you find a coach that is willing to put 'hard-work-first' mentality instead of 'country club lazy forecheck lets waltz our way to playoffs and then elevate mystical gear'.
We can see what hard work message can do to Pens in 15 or even Vegas or Devils this year. Get a coach that understands modern speed skilled game and not drags Totto/Bollig or Mashinter around (that includes Nashville series in 2015 when he almost lost to a team that had 1D defender out of lineup by sitting Vernette and TT for the first 2 games).
- vshun

I am getting a bit tired of Q, but Coaching change is NOT the panacea. The team, as constructed, is simply not that good. Poor players, over-aged players, floating players, overpaid players litter the lineup, players playing out of position because no capable center on the roster after 1 and 2. Penguins had talent, lots of it when Sullivan took over. Hawks talent right now is a fraction of that team. Give me a Nick Bonino centering our Third line and not Ryan friggin hartman, Phil Kessel on your third line as well....a top 2 center combo of Sid and Geno.... then we can talk. Hawks are child's play compared to that group. Toss in Sheary, Hornqvist, Guentzal playing with Sid or Geno and it's a matchup nightmare. Pens top 9 was sick. Meanwhile, Hawks top 9 have fashioned Richard Panik, Pat Sharp and Lance Bouma at one point or another this year. The two teams are not even remotely comparable, thus coaching change will do very little over the long term.

end of regular season to the start of camp is about 5 months. If they aren't making the playoffs, why not give him a couple more?
- matt_ahrens

the white flag is not in this organ-i-za-tion's dna...

well Craws sparkling GA and Save% had to go down and his mates made sure of that the last 2 games...no chance on on 5 or or 6 of those goals...

I am getting a bit tired of Q, but Coaching change is NOT the panacea. The team, as constructed, is simply not that good. Poor players, over-aged players, floating players, overpaid players litter the lineup, players playing out of position because no capable center on the roster after 1 and 2. Penguins had talent, lots of it when Sullivan took over. Hawks talent right now is a fraction of that team. Give me a Nick Bonino centering our Third line and not Ryan friggin hartman, Phil Kessel on your third line as well....a top 2 center combo of Sid and Geno.... then we can talk. Hawks are child's play compared to that group. Toss in Sheary, Hornqvist, Guentzal playing with Sid or Geno and it's a matchup nightmare. Pens top 9 was sick. Meanwhile, Hawks top 9 have fashioned Richard Panik, Pat Sharp and Lance Bouma at one point or another this year. The two teams are not even remotely comparable, thus coaching change will do very little over the long term.
- kwolf68

I agree. Q didn't turn into an idiot this year after winning 3 Cups. Head coach is not the problem with this team. TALENT is the problem. The LACK of top end talent.
Tho I DO have to say the coaching on the power play (Dineen?) Is pathetic.

a few weeks ago with the musical skates at "1RW" why not place bouma up there...make it so Q and he did in the 3rd last night...

so the prior two years it was the magical mystery tour at "1LW" now its "1RW"

panik, ADB, kane, sharp, bouma, hartman...i leave anybody out...

Looking forward to a bounce back game on the 28th vs Vancouver.
One shift at a time.

Speaking of Eddie O, another good profile on him:

http://www.dailyherald.co...-his-fight-against-cancer

For those celebrating, a very happy and safe Christmas holiday to you all. And, Justin, may your family's new addition come into this world safely. Congratulations!
- pdx2ord

Wow…….great article !! Thanks for sharing this. As a 19 yr. cancer survivor myself, it was still very emotional reading through this. If you see this Eddie- O, Godspeed sir !!

Merry Christmas everyone !!

lets beat a dead horse known as the blackhawks powerless play...

1. 2nd in the league in pp's @ 137
2. 23 in goals scored with 19: toews with 1, kane with 2, keith and seabs = 0
3. 29 in pp% = 13.9

Neither is Toews or Seabrook. But Keith or his contract isn't the problem on this team.

He's not effective on the PP but there's not a lot of choices on this team to play PP point.
- tompo1015

Rutta, Kempny and Forsling aren't choices? If not why?

Well watch the 1st and had to go out and grab some Christmas Cheer . Merry Christmas to all ,well some I may wish a Lump of coal on .Anyway I believe this team has teased us with what they can do ,but Coach Q keeps getting in the way with asinine roster moves ,and old out dated coaching style . It is time to show him the door . Coach Q must go !!!!!!!!!!

I am getting a bit tired of Q, but Coaching change is NOT the panacea. The team, as constructed, is simply not that good. Poor players, over-aged players, floating players, overpaid players litter the lineup, players playing out of position because no capable center on the roster after 1 and 2. Penguins had talent, lots of it when Sullivan took over. Hawks talent right now is a fraction of that team. Give me a Nick Bonino centering our Third line and not Ryan friggin hartman, Phil Kessel on your third line as well....a top 2 center combo of Sid and Geno.... then we can talk. Hawks are child's play compared to that group. Toss in Sheary, Hornqvist, Guentzal playing with Sid or Geno and it's a matchup nightmare. Pens top 9 was sick. Meanwhile, Hawks top 9 have fashioned Richard Panik, Pat Sharp and Lance Bouma at one point or another this year. The two teams are not even remotely comparable, thus coaching change will do very little over the long term.
- kwolf68

Good points. However coaching change revitalized Kings who were in similar situation (severely declined Brown and Kopitar who was not able to get anything done recently). They also made talentless roster of Devils or Vegas perform well and those teams are fun to watch because they try so hard. Also what is there to lose, as you yourself pointed out earlier we cannot get rid of 7/19 so might as well try something.

Still think best way out of this situation is to start with coaching change at the bench. Did wonders for Kings and Pens if you find a coach that is willing to put 'hard-work-first' mentality instead of 'country club lazy forecheck lets waltz our way to playoffs and then elevate mystical gear'.
We can see what hard work message can do to Pens in 15 or even Vegas or Devils this year. Get a coach that understands modern speed skilled game and not drags Totto/Bollig or Mashinter around (that includes Nashville series in 2015 when he almost lost to a team that had 1D defender out of lineup by sitting Vernette and TT for the first 2 games).
- vshun

A guy who plays the hand he's dealt. This guy doesn't have all the horses to ride anymore. It'd be a start, not the fix.

And I don't think for 2 seconds that SB is solely responsible for the existing contracts. There were more than a few forces at work behind those signings.

And Happy Holidays to everyone here.

Looking forward to a bounce back game on the 28th vs Vancouver.
One shift at a time.
- 35Tony0

No changes needed for the Hocks. Time to extend Toews, remember he is NOT overrated, he is a top 100 player of all time.

9-10 seed is perfect. Just don’t get a lottery pick

Merry Christmas!

No changes needed for the Hocks. Time to extend Toews, remember he is NOT overrated, he is a top 100 player of all time.

9-10 seed is perfect. Just don’t get a lottery pick

Merry Christmas!
- VopatsRash

PHUCK OFF......You Toothless Bastard go back to your trailer and enjoy your Western Conference Championship...

What's that smell?
Oh, it's a troll to be ignored!