Some bright points....

We have a new nucleus developing with DBCat, Duclair and Schmaltz. Something to build around.

The D core is 100% brutal. Its needs to be rebuilt. Seabs is done. Keith has zero impact anymore. Murphy has been ok. Osty is an O zone guy only and has little effect protecting his own net. When this season comes to a merciful end... move Q. Find a young HC to come in hit the re-start button and start making moves to help out the D.

And then there is 19 and 20!?!?!? What in the hell is wrong with them?? Of all the so called STARS on this team, only one (88) seems to have any game change effect anymore. Have to be sellers at this point. Need cap room and picks to rebuild. Cannot ignore that anymore.

The true Captain for this team is no longer playing. 81 has been missed.

Glass looks spectacular at times because he’s rarely in position- Crawford wins that game last night

I sense a huge Hockey trade in the off season to get out from under Seabrook’s salary and one of the 10.5’s

Of all the things that went wrong last night the dagger was the Murphy turnover. Honestly I'm glad these games are competitive but realistically you have 2 rookie goalies, Hodge podge of defenseman trying to win NHL games and a ton of young forwards, this does not equal a winning formula

Glass looks spectacular at times because he’s rarely in position- Crawford wins that game last night

I sense a huge Hockey trade in the off season to get out from under Seabrook’s salary and one of the 10.5’s
- Colbyboy

Only way to move Seabs would be to package him with our 1st round pick. Who the heck would take him?

I know he doesn’t hit a lot but when was the last time he hit anyone?!!! It’s really easy for opposing d men to hold the puck along the boards and make clean exits when they know they won’t be hit. I’m not talking goon hockey but my lord the top 6 aside from tiny DCat doesn’t never lays a hit. Charmin soft.
- bhawks2241

Some scorer in Calgary credited the Hawks with 16 hits in the game. I can't recall more than 2 that were used at a time when it would have been useful.

They have to be near the absolute bottom of the league in hits, faceoff %, shots allowed per game and we know just how bad the PP is most of the time. That superfecta sends a team to the golf course on April 15.

Of all the things that went wrong last night the dagger was the Murphy turnover. Honestly I'm glad these games are competitive but realistically you have 2 rookie goalies, Hodge podge of defenseman trying to win NHL games and a ton of young forwards, this does not equal a winning formula
- BetweenTheDots

This team has no sense of urgency. No fight. No will to do what ever it takes. Lifeless group out there. All of the key signs of a HC that has lost his team. Its more then Q I know, but the first move I make in April is to secure a new HC.

I know he doesn’t hit a lot but when was the last time he hit anyone?!!! It’s really easy for opposing d men to hold the puck along the boards and make clean exits when they know they won’t be hit. I’m not talking goon hockey but my lord the top 6 aside from tiny DCat doesn’t never lays a hit. Charmin soft.
- bhawks2241

toews like saad has never been hit/check type of players...they mentioned last night that saad has 15 hits IN 52 games ADB has more than that....that was very surprising...

the hawks have left their goalies to flap in the breeze all year: all three of them have done credible jobs keeping the hawks in games...even Q mentioned that about glass last night as unorthodox and technically deficient he is...he battles for every shot.

2-4-2 and one of those win required a stand on head performance from forsberg vs the preds or their 1-5-2...even last night the flames had 3-4 grade A chances because of poor possession and turnovers...they easily could have lost that game in regulation...anyway 6 points of 16 over these last 8 games...wow..so much for "playoff" push hockey

Q luvs to preach defense first...preach all ya want this team for all the reasons many here have set forth creates to many unforced errors and their goalies can't bail'em out all the time

Only way to move Seabs would be to package him with our 1st round pick. Who the heck would take him?
- z1990z

And you would still have to retain some salary along with that pick.

Glass looks spectacular at times because he’s rarely in position- Crawford wins that game last night

I sense a huge Hockey trade in the off season to get out from under Seabrook’s salary and one of the 10.5’s
- Colbyboy

Agree that you win that game with Crawford, but there are so many more problems than that. It looks like a long couple of years.

Some bright points....

We have a new nucleus developing with DBCat, Duclair and Schmaltz. Something to build around.

The D core is 100% brutal. Its needs to be rebuilt. Seabs is done. Keith has zero impact anymore. Murphy has been ok. Osty is an O zone guy only and has little effect protecting his own net. When this season comes to a merciful end... move Q. Find a young HC to come in hit the re-start button and start making moves to help out the D.

And then there is 19 and 20!?!?!? What in the hell is wrong with them?? Of all the so called STARS on this team, only one (88) seems to have any game change effect anymore. Have to be sellers at this point. Need cap room and picks to rebuild. Cannot ignore that anymore.

The true Captain for this team is no longer playing. 81 has been missed.
- z1990z

Problem with that is how do you pay them?

This team has no sense of urgency. No fight. No will to do what ever it takes. Lifeless group out there. All of the key signs of a HC that has lost his team. Its more then Q I know, but the first move I make in April is to secure a new HC.
- z1990z

I don't believe that to be entirely true. What I'm seeing is more of lack of experience is costing this team games. Such a fast pace game and that split second mistake is all it takes for the puck to end up in the back of your net.

I'm liking Duclair in all this, he looks like a keeper.

Ranger fans are seething after their game with Nashville. Is there a dirtier team in the NHL than them and how do they get away with all of this?

so the final nails in the hawks coffin lie right ahead: 6 of 8 vs playoff contention teams where so far this year they are a combined 3-6-4...5 of those teams they have yet to beat.....the nails and hammer are all set...

I don't believe that to be entirely true. What I'm seeing is more of lack of experience is what's costing this team games. Such a fast pace game and that split second mistake is all it takes for the puck to end up in the back of your net.
- BetweenTheDots

Yeah, but, if it was that - how do you explain the lack of scoring (I know, you’re talking about the other side of the ice) from your experienced guys - Toews, Saad, Anisimov, Keith and Seabrook (only 3 goals between them), even Kane recently.

Ranger fans are seething after their game with Nashville. Is there a dirtier team in the NHL than them and how do they get away with all of this?
- 67hawks

i don't think the preds as a team are "dirty" but they know how to grab, hold and use their sticks without getting called...

i don't know what went down in the ranger game...

Broken record time

settle in for the start of a long rebuild process

-contracts that are too much and too long to move or buy out
-rated as being in the third worst poistion for cap space next year
-no elite prospects coming
- some nice young players but no future super stars
- not bad enough to get top 3 picks ....,.yet

Saad was brought in for what cost certainty , great now we have a 6 million 30 point player for 4 years , instead of a 70 point six million player for two.

I'm liking Duclair in all this, he looks like a keeper.
- BetweenTheDots

My eyes say he needs to make quicker decisions - or at least quicker moves - with the puck.

Too often he tries to make another move when passing or shooting the puck would be the play.

But I like his possibilities - speed, vision, hands - when he puts it together....

This team has no sense of urgency. No fight. No will to do what ever it takes. Lifeless group out there. All of the key signs of a HC that has lost his team. Its more then Q I know, but the first move I make in April is to secure a new HC.
- z1990z

Sheldon Keefe is the guy I would target as the new head coach.

I mentioned this abut a month ago. He did wonders with the Grey Hounds in the OHL and has done a fantastic job coach the Toronto Marlies over that last 3 seasons.

Each prospect the Leafs call up are ready to play at the NHL level. He has a great track record with young hockey players. If the Hawks don't get him I expect he will get a call from a team really soon for an interview.

Broken record time

settle in for the start of a long rebuild process

-contracts that are too much and too long to move or buy out
-rated as being in the third worst poistion for cap space next year
-no elite prospects coming
- some nice young players but no future super stars
- not bad enough to get top 3 picks ....,.yet

Saad was brought in for what cost certainty , great now we have a 6 million 30 point player for 4 years , instead of a 70 point six million player for two.
- HamiltonHawk

If Saad increases his point production by 5, we're getting the same amount of points!...

Seems like a good time to post this. The history of Blackhawk trades: http://www.nhltradetracke...team/Chicago_Blackhawks/1

Yeah, but, if it was that - how do you explain the lack of scoring (I know, you’re talking about the other side of the ice) from your experienced guys - Toews, Saad, Anisimov, Keith and Seabrook (only 3 goals between them), even Kane recently.
- StLBravesFan

Lack of Sustained offensive zone pressure minus net front presence= inability to score, the beginning of this season I said they are going to have to score in transition unfortunately I'm right, which is exactly why they have issues on the power play, no net front presence

Btw in previous years 3 goals won a lot of games for the Blackhawks between 2009 and 2017

My eyes say he needs to make quicker decisions - or at least quicker moves - with the puck.

Too often he tries to make another move when passing or shooting the puck would be the play.

But I like his possibilities - speed, vision, hands - when he puts it together....
- StLBravesFan

Fair enough, but I see enough raw talent that he can be a top 6 forward.

Sheldon Keefe is the guy I would target as the new head coach.

I mentioned this abut a month ago. He did wonders with the Grey Hounds in the OHL and has done a fantastic job coach the Toronto Marlies over that last 3 seasons.

Each prospect the Leafs call up are ready to play at the NHL level. He has a great track record with young hockey players. If the Hawks don't get him I expect he will get a call from a team really soon for an interview.
- scott.jackson

Great choice. There's lots of player names to mention, but Justin Holl is a good one. Comes up for 2 games in an emergency and scores 2 goals for the Leafs.

Hawks took him 54th overall in the draft (ahead of Stephen Johns). Ted Dent and company do absolutely nothing with him and Bowman moves him out.

But it won't be Sheldon Keefe - if they make a move it will be one of the Granatos. Just because.

Great choice. There's lots of player names to mention, but Justin Holl is a good one. Comes up for 2 games in an emergency and scores 2 goals for the Leafs.

Hawks took him 54th overall in the draft (ahead of Stephen Johns). Ted Dent and company do absolutely nothing with him and Bowman moves him out.

But it won't be Sheldon Keefe - if they make a move it will be one of the Granatos. Just because.
- RickJ

Just because it's good marketing?