The defensive zone coverages, the lack of compete, the lack of culpability for certain veterans who do not produce yet still see Powerplay time.....I think it's time for Q to go. Like others have said, easier to change coaches than an entire roster. I'd be very curious to see how another coach would use Toews, Sharp, and Seabrook given their current level of play.

Would be awesome to draft Tzchuk's kid next summer. Big, fast, skilled and MEAN. Exactly what the doctor ordered for this group that goes through the motions most nights.

Quotes not working....

A great coach is not going to win without talent/skill. Do you think Buffalo or Arizona will suddenly become a Cup contender if they had a great coach?

Q has a bunch of aging/slowing, over paid stars and a bunch of young, unproven guys.

If Q was let go, you can bet he won't be unemployed long.

So, last year, the PK was garbage and they canned Kitchen. How long does Dineen get with his pure garbage PP?

EVERY SINGLE team has flashes, either games or moments. You can't look at 1 or 2 games and say "that's the team"....Colorado has looked brilliant in a few games this year. But mostly they suck. That said COLORADO IS TWO points behind Chicago. Everyone talking about nebulous things like effort, heart, injuries...NONE quantifiable, just idle speculation from a hopeful fanbase that maybe when they "care again" then all will be rosy. The truth is this season has been the worst play of the Hawks I have seen in over 10 years. AT SOME POINT the loss of talent is/was going to catch up. I think it has.
- kwolf68

I agree. Especially when, in addition to players lost to the salary cap, you add the loss of their top talent to age and/or chronic injury (Toews, Hossa, Keith, Seabrook). Let's face it, the Hawks have not had a true 1C this year, nor a true 1D or 2D. Without those components, no team is going to be very good in today's NHL.

I'm not 100% sure. I believe the core is still with him and the younger players respect him. He treats his guys pretty well but now that they are not winning, things can go south pretty quick.

I said today to my wife, I wish Q could just go on an extended holiday and the Hawks could have someone else pop in temporarily to see if they could improve the team.

You know, because I would hate to dump a HOF coach just to find out that maybe tbis team is just not that good.

... and at that point the sights hone in on the guy(s) that put this team together.
- Justin Lowe

It's time to blame the guy(s) that assembled this mess.

I'm not 100% sure. I believe the core is still with him and the younger players respect him. He treats his guys pretty well but now that they are not winning, things can go south pretty quick.

I said today to my wife, I wish Q could just go on an extended holiday and the Hawks could have someone else pop in temporarily to see if they could improve the team.

You know, because I would hate to dump a HOF coach just to find out that maybe tbis team is just not that good.

... and at that point the sights hone in on the guy(s) that put this team together.
- Justin Lowe

When Q was sick about 5 or 6 years ago Mike Haviland stepped in and the team responded well. So of course Haviland was let go after the season. Wonder who cooked that up.

Is Panik still playing?Or injured?

Is Panik still playing?Or injured?
- walshyleafsfan

Healthy scratched lately. No goals in almost 2 months.

Healthy scratched lately. No goals in almost 2 months.
- EnzoD

Ahh I see.

Yes, he goes hot and cold iirc

Quotes not working....

A great coach is not going to win without talent/skill. Do you think Buffalo or Arizona will suddenly become a Cup contender if they had a great coach?

Q has a bunch of aging/slowing, over paid stars and a bunch of young, unproven guys.

If Q was let go, you can bet he won't be unemployed long.
- tompo1015

While I generally agree, sometimes a coach change lights the right fire under guys. The Pens took off after they hired Sullivan. The Hawks aren't really that lacking in talent.
Toews - can be better
Saad - needs to be better
Panik - can be better
Sharp - can be better
Keith - still great
Seabs - still okay, has been better recently
Anisimov - doing well
Schmaltz - doing well
Kane - can be better, but is doing well
Hartman - can be better
Hayden - has cooled off
ADB - has cooled off
Murphy - is better than before
Rutta - cooled off
Forsling - cooled off
Wingels/Bouma - fine
Oesterle - inconsistent
Hino - untapped


A lot, if not all of these guys can be better and have been. It could be an attitude or culture thing. A new coach could jump start that, but it's also really hard to move on from a coach as good as Q, because you can do a lot worse.

Quotes not working....

A great coach is not going to win without talent/skill. Do you think Buffalo or Arizona will suddenly become a Cup contender if they had a great coach?

Q has a bunch of aging/slowing, over paid stars and a bunch of young, unproven guys.

If Q was let go, you can bet he won't be unemployed long.
- tompo1015

This is true, and I’m not sure that’s the answer, but with a modicum of talent a good head coach should be able to win in this league.

Sometimes it’s not necessarily even good as much as a fresh pair of eyes. A willingness to look at things objectively and say hey this isn’t working time to figure out something different.

Just look to Vegas to see what can be done with a bunch of misfit players. They’re definitely getting more out of that group of guys than what most expected.

While I generally agree, sometimes a coach change lights the right fire under guys. The Pens took off after they hired Sullivan. The Hawks aren't really that lacking in talent.
Toews - can be better
Saad - needs to be better
Panik - can be better
Sharp - can be better
Keith - still great
Seabs - still okay, has been better recently
Anisimov - doing well
Schmaltz - doing well
Kane - can be better, but is doing well
Hartman - can be better
Hayden - has cooled off
ADB - has cooled off
Murphy - is better than before
Rutta - cooled off
Forsling - cooled off
Wingels/Bouma - fine
Oesterle - inconsistent
Hino - untapped


A lot, if not all of these guys can be better and have been. It could be an attitude or culture thing. A new coach could jump start that, but it's also really hard to move on from a coach as good as Q, because you can do a lot worse.
- JRoenick97

The Hawks aren't lacking in talent??? Who are their "skills" guys? Kane and maybe Schmaltz. The Cat is young and unproven--and has cooled dramatically. Saad is a good young player, but he's dragging Toews around.

On the back end, Keith is still their best Dman and he's not what he was 3 years ago. Forsling has had his ups and downs, still very "green".

The stabilizing influence for this team has been Crawford. Without his early outstanding play this team would have at least 5,6 more losses.

I was at the game last night and while the entire team looked sluggish from about the middle of the first on, nobody struggled worse than Seabrook. His footwork and speed have noticeably regressed while his decision making and passing last night was way off. I don't know if he's gotten old in a hurry or fighting an injury but he was really struggling. Hartman and Toews were probably our most effective forwards while Kampf is abrasive yet slow. Hayden makes things happen out there and IMO should get more ice time while Bouma should not. Murphy was very solid and brings a physical presence back there and seems to be gaining confidence. Duncan Keith live is unbelievable. He continually bails out his teammates and covers the entire ice. While not as skilled as he was he's well worth the 5 mill per and is still a very good player. Team definitely looks lost...and slow. Tough to watch.

This is true, and I’m not sure that’s the answer, but with a modicum of talent a good head coach should be able to win in this league.

Sometimes it’s not necessarily even good as much as a fresh pair of eyes. A willingness to look at things objectively and say hey this isn’t working time to figure out something different.

Just look to Vegas to see what can be done with a bunch of misfit players. They’re definitely getting more out of that group of guys than what most expected.
- walleyeb1

That pure stats guy in Florida that blew out Gallant looks a bit dumber than he already did. That Vegas team from top to bottom plays with a hard on. Amazing to watch. What a story.

Posted after notice of new blog:



That's what is troubling about the lack of info coming from the team and what we are seeing too often on the ice.

With their investment in him on and off the ice, you have to believe that the FO knows what is going on with Toews in reality (and if they don't, shame on the Captain for not coming clean with what is going on physically or in his head). So, if it is, in fact, a degenerative physical condition, why would they have believed and sold the idea that having one of his all-star caliber wingers back would change his game? Why send away a true rising star and fan favorite on the team?

You have to think they believed he could and would turn it around, so what does that leave us with as possible root causes?

Regardless, if not chronic or degenerative, why not sit him until he repairs? It's like driving a Maserati slowly around your neighborhood so people will ooh and ahh, while you know you should not drive it at all because the engine light is flashing.
- pdx2ord

Yes to all of this.

They got Saad for him assuming it would improve his play. It didn't.

Something must be going on.

Does the organization know what it is? FO? Q? Coaches? Team doctor? Toews himself?

This is the #1 issue facing this team right now and its outcome will determine what path to choose going forward.

I can come up with scenarios about how he got to this place - Maybe he was injured and needed to lay off the weight training in order to heal (as JJ alluded to.) So he did and his back got better, but he's now weaker. Or maybe he isn't fully recovered. Maybe - MAYBE - what he really needs is more time training and less time playing. Can that justify a stint on LTIR? Not sure.

But something needs to change with his situation soon. Otherwise, he's at risk of getting injured even worse.

The last thing this team needs is its best center going on IR, that might be keeping him playing in the short term, but for the long term, better to bite the bullet now and see if he can get better.

This is true, and I’m not sure that’s the answer, but with a modicum of talent a good head coach should be able to win in this league.

Sometimes it’s not necessarily even good as much as a fresh pair of eyes. A willingness to look at things objectively and say hey this isn’t working time to figure out something different.

Just look to Vegas to see what can be done with a bunch of misfit players. They’re definitely getting more out of that group of guys than what most expected.
- walleyeb1

For me, it's not NOT WINNING that is most troublesome. It is NOT COMPETING.

Like many of you, I have played a number of sports in my time (baseball, basketball and of course, hockey) at various levels. One thing rings true (to me anyway) -- there is something seriously wrong inside that locker room.

Having been on teams that have had losing records, it is one thing to lose and quite another not to compete, to look like garbage doing so, to see lackadaisical play, uninspired effort, lack of preparation and training and continuing to repeat the same old stuff that doesn't work time and again, thinking that this NEXT TIME it will work (looking right at you Q with your horrific PP -- yes, let's keep the same personnel and the same stilted scheme to enter the zone because after it not working for forever, it surely will work THIS time).

Maybe, just maybe the guys see Toews at $10.5M not pulling his weight (or even close to it). They see Seabs at $6.8M for forever a former shell of himself while other guys making $1M or less (Kempny for example) pressboxed. They see Duncan Keith at over $5M per trotted out game after game after game on PP after PP after PP even though 1/2 way through 2017/18 season he has yet to score a goal and cannot seem to find the net nor figure out how to help with zone entries.

They see a Brandon Saad at $6M per never take a seat but Richard Panik at $2.8M does. They've both been quite ineffective, yet Q decides he is going to keep #20 in the lineup while pressboxing #14.

I gotta say that a BIG part of the problem with this club is the huge disparity in both pay AND treatment of players. Starting with Captain Float.

For me, it's not NOT WINNING that is most troublesome. It is NOT COMPETING.

Like many of you, I have played a number of sports in my time (baseball, basketball and of course, hockey) at various levels. One thing rings true (to me anyway) -- there is something seriously wrong inside that locker room.

Having been on teams that have had losing records, it is one thing to lose and quite another not to compete, to look like garbage doing so, to see lackadaisical play, uninspired effort, lack of preparation and training and continuing to repeat the same old stuff that doesn't work time and again, thinking that this NEXT TIME it will work (looking right at you Q with your horrific PP -- yes, let's keep the same personnel and the same stilted scheme to enter the zone because after it not working for forever, it surely will work THIS time).

Maybe, just maybe the guys see Toews at $10.5M not pulling his weight (or even close to it). They see Seabs at $6.8M for forever a former shell of himself while other guys making $1M or less (Kempny for example) pressboxed. They see Duncan Keith at over $5M per trotted out game after game after game on PP after PP after PP even though 1/2 way through 2017/18 season he has yet to score a goal and cannot seem to find the net nor figure out how to help with zone entries.

They see a Brandon Saad at $6M per never take a seat but Richard Panik at $2.8M does. They've both been quite ineffective, yet Q decides he is going to keep #20 in the lineup while pressboxing #14.

I gotta say that a BIG part of the problem with this club is the huge disparity in both pay AND treatment of players. Starting with Captain Float.
- savvyone-1

Hear hear well said and spot on!!!!

So I’ll also post again what I wrote at the end of the last blog:

Players still here (or brought back) from last Cup team - who is playing at a championship level.

Kane, Toews, Saad, Sharp, Crawford, Keith, Seabrook

Young players brought in this year or last year - who has (so far) proven themselves to be contributors to a championship-contending team:

Schmaltz, Hartman, deBrincat, Hinostroza, Hayden, Forsling, Rutta, Kempny (AdB bolded but still more potential than proven)

Vets brought in - who will be a contributor to a championship team:

Wingels (4th line), Bouma, Murphy, Oesterle, Panik, Anisimov

By my count - 6 that (based on performance so far) I can say yes, they would definitely be contributors to a championship team. Add Murphy if you want.

Lots of downhill slides, lots of Unprovens.

Can they build a team somehow around those 6/7 bolded (by me) players? Knowing that some of those needed to be brought in include top-6 centers and top-2 defensemen?
- StLBravesFan

Well, I think the mindset needs to change from "build around" to "include." Can the Blackhawks win another championship with some of the guys that are currently on the roster? Yes. But to do that, they are going to need to add top level talent to build around. Kane and Crawford can be part of what is built around. But the best of the rest of the roster looks like complimentary pieces right now. That could change is veterans find some sort of second life (Toews, Saad, Seabrook, Keith, etc.) or the youth develop (Schmaltz, Forsling, DeBrincat, etc.) It ain't happening this year though.

For me, it's not NOT WINNING that is most troublesome. It is NOT COMPETING.

Like many of you, I have played a number of sports in my time (baseball, basketball and of course, hockey) at various levels. One thing rings true (to me anyway) -- there is something seriously wrong inside that locker room.

Having been on teams that have had losing records, it is one thing to lose and quite another not to compete, to look like garbage doing so, to see lackadaisical play, uninspired effort, lack of preparation and training and continuing to repeat the same old stuff that doesn't work time and again, thinking that this NEXT TIME it will work (looking right at you Q with your horrific PP -- yes, let's keep the same personnel and the same stilted scheme to enter the zone because after it not working for forever, it surely will work THIS time).

Maybe, just maybe the guys see Toews at $10.5M not pulling his weight (or even close to it). They see Seabs at $6.8M for forever a former shell of himself while other guys making $1M or less (Kempny for example) pressboxed. They see Duncan Keith at over $5M per trotted out game after game after game on PP after PP after PP even though 1/2 way through 2017/18 season he has yet to score a goal and cannot seem to find the net nor figure out how to help with zone entries.

They see a Brandon Saad at $6M per never take a seat but Richard Panik at $2.8M does. They've both been quite ineffective, yet Q decides he is going to keep #20 in the lineup while pressboxing #14.

I gotta say that a BIG part of the problem with this club is the huge disparity in both pay AND treatment of players. Starting with Captain Float.
- savvyone-1

It's definitely starting to look like the team just isn't motivated. These guys have serious skill at hockey, they just aren't using it 100%. It looks like a culture or leadership issue.

For me, it's not NOT WINNING that is most troublesome. It is NOT COMPETING.

Like many of you, I have played a number of sports in my time (baseball, basketball and of course, hockey) at various levels. One thing rings true (to me anyway) -- there is something seriously wrong inside that locker room.

Having been on teams that have had losing records, it is one thing to lose and quite another not to compete, to look like garbage doing so, to see lackadaisical play, uninspired effort, lack of preparation and training and continuing to repeat the same old stuff that doesn't work time and again, thinking that this NEXT TIME it will work (looking right at you Q with your horrific PP -- yes, let's keep the same personnel and the same stilted scheme to enter the zone because after it not working for forever, it surely will work THIS time).

Maybe, just maybe the guys see Toews at $10.5M not pulling his weight (or even close to it). They see Seabs at $6.8M for forever a former shell of himself while other guys making $1M or less (Kempny for example) pressboxed. They see Duncan Keith at over $5M per trotted out game after game after game on PP after PP after PP even though 1/2 way through 2017/18 season he has yet to score a goal and cannot seem to find the net nor figure out how to help with zone entries.

They see a Brandon Saad at $6M per never take a seat but Richard Panik at $2.8M does. They've both been quite ineffective, yet Q decides he is going to keep #20 in the lineup while pressboxing #14.

I gotta say that a BIG part of the problem with this club is the huge disparity in both pay AND treatment of players. Starting with Captain Float.
- savvyone-1

Sure, the guy is not playing to his salary, and is not the same player he was. But Capt. Float is still a bit cold. The guy was all world for a long time, a few cups bla bla bla, but he has a million miles on him. Not sure he deserves as rough a ride as he's getting. I agree if he's hurt they should rest him. Or maybe he just got old. I did and it's not so much fun sometimes. I would prefer to be a bit more respectful when criticizing. He deserves the respect as well as the grief.

Happy new year, Savvy.

Well, I think the mindset needs to change from "build around" to "include." Can the Blackhawks win another championship with some of the guys that are currently on the roster? Yes. But to do that, they are going to need to add top level talent to build around. Kane and Crawford can be part of what is built around. But the best of the rest of the roster looks like complimentary pieces right now. That could change is veterans find some sort of second life (Toews, Saad, Seabrook, Keith, etc.) or the youth develop (Schmaltz, Forsling, DeBrincat, etc.) It ain't happening this year though.
- matt_ahrens

Not necessarily directed at you to answer but for anyone who is interested. I think this line of commenting on this blog points at redefining the core. If that is the question, then who would you redefine as the core moving forward?

To make things interesting, assume a new CBA allows for 2 compiance buyouts. Who would those buyouts be and would they change your new core?

It's definitely starting to look like the team just isn't motivated. These guys have serious skill at hockey, they just aren't using it 100%. It looks like a culture or leadership issue.
- JRoenick97

I'm thinking the same thing as you and Savvy. The non compete level was a main culprit for the Round 1 sweep last spring and doesn't seem to have change much. Yes, the Hawks added some guys who are tough to play against, who push back, and who can play physical the entire game. Yet that's still not enough. Far from enough. Agree, a not-so-good culture and/or leadership issue are the problem.

I'm thinking the same thing as you and Savvy. The non compete level was a main culprit for the Round 1 sweep last spring and doesn't seem to have change much. Yes, the Hawks added some guys who are tough to play against, who push back, and who can play physical the entire game. Yet that's still not enough. Far from enough. Agree, a not-so-good culture and/or leadership issue are the problem.
- AEL_Fox

I think it's a lot more probable than guys who were/are top players at their positions just suddenly can't keep up anymore. At least 50% of this roster can and has been better at some point this season.

Sure, the guy is not playing to his salary, and is not the same player he was. But Capt. Float is still a bit cold. The guy was all world for a long time, a few cups bla bla bla, but he has a million miles on him. Not sure he deserves as rough a ride as he's getting. I agree if he's hurt they should rest him. Or maybe he just got old. I did and it's not so much fun sometimes. I would prefer to be a bit more respectful when criticizing. He deserves the respect as well as the grief.

Happy new year, Savvy.
- 6628

Happy New Year 66, back at ya!
I understand the comment about the "rough ride" with the Capt Float moniker. Yes, we all get old and it's a b!tch (1 guy on our team is riding around with a bunch of stents and another just had a quad open-heart bypass) -- Father Time catches up to all of us.

No, I think the Capt Float really refers to the salary, the endless comments from the club and team members that they've played more hockey than any human in the last 8 years and the fact that it just looks like the fire is gone from the guy.

I see #19 gliding around much more than ever, see very little fire (other than the fire from him complaining to the refs, he has gotten worse than Crybaby Cindy) and if he is hurt or has some other issue, he should simply go on LTIR. Never heard a word from Hossa on any issues, played as hard as he could for as long as he could and then did the right thing by not stringing the club along.

Simply think that the problem starts there (with #19 -- his play and lack of leadership). It all looks like it leads to a club divided. They are NOT playing for each other (as you know, that may be THE most important aspect of any good club) and this seems to be the biggest reason we see them struggling.

I think it's a lot more probable than guys who were/are top players at their positions just suddenly can't keep up anymore. At least 50% of this roster can and has been better at some point this season.
- JRoenick97

Yes, would agree. I liked your earlier post where you went player-by-player to rate whether they can be better, needs to be better, etc. This team has the talent and veteran experience to lead the youngsters, but something's not right and is a major roadblock to them playing they way they could or should.