[quote=z1990z]And he is back..... :Thandie watch t fuc
And watch the Blowmans pull their Richards and watch this team sink into lower than a mediocre AHL team

Baloney.
It is both the coach and the GM doing only a fair to below average job retooling.

I like the direction Bowman took this summer. He made some poor decisions after the last Cup but prviously reassmbled a roster and won two Cups. He kept core together and won two Cups when everyone thought maybe the team wasn't tough enough. He has to draft well and make no mistakes with personnel. He would be on the clock if i was owner despite the Cup success.

But now I address this ongoing annual powerplay fiasco. That is partly on Bowman to get the right players and partly on Q to motivate players to perform differently on pp. No more always same old plays and strategy. The whole hockey world laughs at Keith still manning the pp. He is not suited at all for the pp job. Use Forsling, Oesterle all the time. Ruuta too. Even Kempny has a good shot.

Certainly Q has an impressive record. I happen to believe what other post have mentioned about how Q nearly blew strategy in Cup years. Also he is not best at coaching young kids. Teaching is not his strength. He might be ok at it if he so choose. But given opportunity he usually wants a veteran in the line up instead of a kid.

I already accepted we won't be in the playoffs for at last two years. Are you kidding with how Q employs his dmen. Now we wonder if Seabook will be a problem like he was earlier this season. His skating always was barely adequate. Wiz has told me I am wrong and his skating was ok in past yrs. Well in a game more trending to speed he is slowing down too much. I would not trade for a slow afoot has been even if you could take much of his cap hit

I digress. Thank you, Q, you've accomplished much here. Time to move on. It's not all on you, some on Bowman too. Let's stop letting players call the strategy always on the powerplay.
- jhawk59

Baloney.
The coach plays the talent he's given by the GM.

The problem(s) this team has are--an aging and slowing core and mismanagement of that GM in regard to trades and contracts.

Jagr is now available, Q must be begging Stan to sign him.

Jagr-Anisimov-Bouma
Franson-Seabrook

Old and slow, just like Q wants it.

So here is a question who is more to blame for the decline of the blackhawks since their last cup in 15: Bowman and daddy has done some nice things filling in around the edges injecting the youth into the lineup but bad drafts bad trades and bad contracts out weigh the good by a country mile next coach Q winnest coach in nhl history master of pushing the right buttons at the right time handling personalities players coach but has is voice and methods run its course and has he loss the locker room ruining young players by not teaching but punishing instead kempney TT leddy etc.. just some examples.

So which is to blame the most and who should go CoachQ or the Bomans or both on the offseason because i in my opinion don't see this team making the playoffs and if they do it would another 1st round exit.

So here is a question who is more to blame for the decline of the blackhawks since their last cup in 15: Bowman and daddy has done some nice things filling in around the edges injecting the youth into the lineup but bad drafts bad trades and bad contracts out weigh the good by a country mile next coach Q winnest coach in nhl history master of pushing the right buttons at the right time handling personalities players coach but has is voice and methods run its course and has he loss the locker room ruining young players by not teaching but punishing instead kempney TT leddy etc.. just some examples.

So which is to blame the most and who should go CoachQ or the Bomans or both on the offseason because i in my opinion don't see this team making the playoffs and if they do it would another 1st round exit.
- Scott1977

How about at least a smidgen of blame for all of the players who haven’t played nearly as well as they did in 2015 - Toews, Saad, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook - who, BTW, were brought in by th3 great Dale Tallon?

Want to fire Q? Unload Bowman? Sure - maybe it’s time - coaches wear out their welcome, Q likely won’t be a good leader for a rebuild, Bowman could be like Jerry Krause - able to fill in around stars to rebuild after 2010 into the three-year rum of 2013-15 but not able to do the rebuild....

It’s just possible that this team isn’t that good anymore, some due to age and wear and tear, some due to bad player moves and contracts given, some due to a coach unable to react to the reality of the 2018 team and league....

Who’s to blame most? Maybe us, for unreal expectations.

How about at least a smidgen of blame for all of the players who haven’t played nearly as well as they did in 2015 - Toews, Saad, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook - who, BTW, were brought in by th3 great Dale Tallon?

Want to fire Q? Unload Bowman? Sure - maybe it’s time - coaches wear out their welcome, Q likely won’t be a good leader for a rebuild, Bowman could be like Jerry Krause - able to fill in around stars to rebuild after 2010 into the three-year rum of 2013-15 but not able to do the rebuild....

It’s just possible that this team isn’t that good anymore, some due to age and wear and rear, some due to bad player moves and contracts given, some due to a coach unable to react to the reality of the 2018 team and league....

Who’s to blame most? Maybe us, for unreal expectations.
- StLBravesFan

I didn't forget the players just wanted to start with management first and yes the players are also to blame but players decline in all sports and productivity goes down as players get older just natural. And no i don't blame fans for having high expectation thats just being a die hard and loyal fan to a team you love.

How about at least a smidgen of blame for all of the players who haven’t played nearly as well as they did in 2015 - Toews, Saad, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook - who, BTW, were brought in by th3 great Dale Tallon?

Want to fire Q? Unload Bowman? Sure - maybe it’s time - coaches wear out their welcome, Q likely won’t be a good leader for a rebuild, Bowman could be like Jerry Krause - able to fill in around stars to rebuild after 2010 into the three-year rum of 2013-15 but not able to do the rebuild....

It’s just possible that this team isn’t that good anymore, some due to age and wear and rear, some due to bad player moves and contracts given, some due to a coach unable to react to the reality of the 2018 team and league....

Who’s to blame most? Maybe us, for unreal expectations.
- StLBravesFan

It's what I need now to watch them

Ryan Hartman is good to play tomorrow vs Edmonton. Anton Forsberg will start in net.

Blackhawks practice lines and D-pairs:

Saad-Toews-Hinostroza
Hartman-Schmaltz-Kane
Sharp-Kampf-DeBrincat
Bouma-Wingels-Panik

Keith-Oesterle
Murphy-Seabrook
Forsling-Rutta
Kempny-Franson
- walleyeb1

Looks like Rutta back in too; that's good.
Hayden took some fists to his face last night. I wonder if that has anything to do with him not on the top four lines in practice today. Maybe he needed some recovery time?

Ultimately i hope Panik refinds his form and plays 3rd line RW, i think he can be a great 3rd liner, and AA can be one of the leagues better 3Cs. DeBrincat one of the leagues better rookies. All in all we have the POTENTIAL to put together a great 3rd line and all around great forward lineup:

Saad-Toews-Hinostroza
Hartman-Schmaltz-Kane
DeBrincat-Anisimov-Panik
Sharp-Wingles-Hayden
Bouma/Kampf

So, the area we eventually choose to upgrade with our cap space might end up being the blueline after all.

Baloney.
The coach plays the talent he's given by the GM.

The problem(s) this team has are--an aging and slowing core and mismanagement of that GM in regard to trades and contracts.
- tompo1015

I think this last point by you is obviously true. I still hold to what I said as well. Good coach gets more out of his players. When Q benches players, sometimes he could try another approach instead of wait half a season before (for example) Panic changes course. Would it hurt to encourage and meet one on one?

My tone I know is of a frustrated fan over Q. I could have used a different writing approach. Let me do this: would you care to expound upon the blame game for the inept power play which has been a problem for years?

How about at least a smidgen of blame for all of the players who haven’t played nearly as well as they did in 2015 - Toews, Saad, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook - who, BTW, were brought in by th3 great Dale Tallon?

Want to fire Q? Unload Bowman? Sure - maybe it’s time - coaches wear out their welcome, Q likely won’t be a good leader for a rebuild, Bowman could be like Jerry Krause - able to fill in around stars to rebuild after 2010 into the three-year rum of 2013-15 but not able to do the rebuild....

It’s just possible that this team isn’t that good anymore, some due to age and wear and tear, some due to bad player moves and contracts given, some due to a coach unable to react to the reality of the 2018 team and league....

Who’s to blame most? Maybe us, for unreal expectations.
- StLBravesFan

Now this I say is a good summation.. Blame can go all around. I especially commend your thoughts on Q. Moreover, I feel that McDonough would give a pass to Stan first and would agree I may be time for Joel to move along. He is not to blame for the roster as it stands today and I would not expect many to pull more out of them....a good coach maybe a few more wins but not Q and his ways.

I didn't forget the players just wanted to start with management first and yes the players are also to blame but players decline in all sports and productivity goes down as players get older just natural. And no i don't blame fans for having high expectation thats just being a die hard and loyal fan to a team you love.
- Scott1977

Probaby Bowman gambled to try at least for a deep Cup run and did not anticipate the quick drop in level of play from both Toews and Seabrook. Maybe he thought Toes would overcome injuries?

All I have to say is why did we trade Hjalmarsson. Sure l got tired of him icing the puck and playing on his off side, but Murphy is maybe 2/3 as good. Two deals that just didn't make sense to me Denault and Nik
- BetweenTheDots

He was only player with the right combo of performance/contract/cap to actually get something in return.

How about at least a smidgen of blame for all of the players who haven’t played nearly as well as they did in 2015 - Toews, Saad, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook - who, BTW, were brought in by th3 great Dale Tallon?

Want to fire Q? Unload Bowman? Sure - maybe it’s time - coaches wear out their welcome, Q likely won’t be a good leader for a rebuild, Bowman could be like Jerry Krause - able to fill in around stars to rebuild after 2010 into the three-year rum of 2013-15 but not able to do the rebuild....

It’s just possible that this team isn’t that good anymore, some due to age and wear and tear, some due to bad player moves and contracts given, some due to a coach unable to react to the reality of the 2018 team and league....

Who’s to blame most? Maybe us, for unreal expectations.
- StLBravesFan

I just watched a great fight in the Ducks / Flames game between Josh Manson and Sam Bennett. These guys were throwing haymakers, its a game with a lot of passion and physical play and some dirty sh$t too.

Ever see that in a Chicago game - somebody on the Hawks getting thoroughly pissed off and wanting to engage the other team physically? The only one I can recall is Hayden and Foligno. Otherwise they want to play pretty hockey.

This team isn't that good anymore, they are average at best. And ever since Shaw left, there just is no edge. Its a vanilla hockey team that scares nobody.

How about at least a smidgen of blame for all of the players who haven’t played nearly as well as they did in 2015 - Toews, Saad, Sharp, Keith, Seabrook - who, BTW, were brought in by th3 great Dale Tallon?

Want to fire Q? Unload Bowman? Sure - maybe it’s time - coaches wear out their welcome, Q likely won’t be a good leader for a rebuild, Bowman could be like Jerry Krause - able to fill in around stars to rebuild after 2010 into the three-year rum of 2013-15 but not able to do the rebuild....

It’s just possible that this team isn’t that good anymore, some due to age and wear and tear, some due to bad player moves and contracts given, some due to a coach unable to react to the reality of the 2018 team and league....

Who’s to blame most? Maybe us, for unreal expectations.
- StLBravesFan

ring that bell...

tell me a team that didn't get to the top 3x in 6 years; deep playoff runs in 5 of 7 years and didn't drop off over the next 3-6 years: its called aging, its called unreal amount player transitions because of the cap; its called players getting paid for WHAT THEY DID; its called drafting late where finding and developing jewels is really difficult...its called the cycle of life in microcosm

sure as fans we want greatness every year for entertainment time and $$$..but its not possible unless your the 2001 - 2018 NE patriots or the oilers of the 80's

I just watched a great fight in the Ducks / Flames game between Josh Manson and Sam Bennett. These guys were throwing haymakers, its a game with a lot of passion and physical play and some dirty sh$t too.

Ever see that in a Chicago game - somebody on the Hawks getting thoroughly pissed off and wanting to engage the other team physically? The only one I can recall is Hayden and Foligno. Otherwise they want to play pretty hockey.

This team isn't that good anymore, they are average at best. And ever since Shaw left, there just is no edge. Its a vanilla hockey team that scares nobody.
- RickJ

Saw that too. Right after a Mike Smith special..gets touched on the leg, throws it out, and falls on his ass. I can't root for the Ducks, but I sure would like to see Smith chased!

He was only player with the right combo of performance/contract/cap to actually get something in return.
- bogiedoc

I think this was a good trade, even if Dauphin doesn't amount to anything.

ring that bell...

tell me a team that didn't get to the top 3x in 6 years; deep playoff runs in 5 of 7 years and didn't drop off over the next 3-6 years: its called aging, its called unreal amount player transitions because of the cap; its called players getting paid for WHAT THEY DID; its called drafting late where finding and developing jewels is really difficult...its called the cycle of life in microcosm

sure as fans we want greatness every year for entertainment time and $$$..but its not possible unless your the 2001 - 2018 NE patriots or the oilers of the 80's
- bogiedoc

great post!

Saw that too. Right after a Mike Smith special..gets touched on the leg, throws it out, and falls on his ass. I can't root for the Ducks, but I sure would like to see Smith chased!
- tvetter

Heavy game being played at high speed. 2 teams that don't like each other and big standings points at stake.

Heavy game being played at high speed. 2 teams that don't like each other and big standings points at stake.
- RickJ

Fun game to watch!

ring that bell...

tell me a team that didn't get to the top 3x in 6 years; deep playoff runs in 5 of 7 years and didn't drop off over the next 3-6 years: its called aging, its called unreal amount player transitions because of the cap; its called players getting paid for WHAT THEY DID; its called drafting late where finding and developing jewels is really difficult...its called the cycle of life in microcosm

sure as fans we want greatness every year for entertainment time and $$$..but its not possible unless your the 2001 - 2018 NE patriots or the oilers of the 80's
- bogiedoc

This.

I will have thoughts on this transition tomorrow.

For now, here are some thoughts for today's game: http://www.hockeybuzz.com...rnoon-for-a-Win/253/90137