if bowman is telling the truth about the core being untouchable then he should be fired when you are that bad nobody should be untouchable. why on a 5 on 3 arnt 2 guys in front of the net. also can we get rid of foley.
- kmw4631

From another article in The Athletic following his meeting with the press:

Q: On why some of the core has struggled this season
A: Everyone wants to — it would make for a better story if you could just sort of latch on to one, oh, we uncovered the problem. And then we just go fix it. It’s a lot more complex than that. If it was just one thing, we would have addressed it months ago and be different. These are human beings and athletes, and it’s not always a linear progression year to year. We want it to be. You were at this level last year, so you should be either at this level or above this year. Why aren’t you? Nobody has the answer to that. It’s part of performance, which it doesn’t always go in a straight line. We’ve got to get more, and we’re working, trying to get more, and hopefully we can find the way to do that.

. . .and more on Saad specifically

Obviously it’s not going Brandon’s way. But he has done a lot of good things. But at the end of the day when you look at the results, they’re not where he would want them to be or where we would want them to be. I don’t have an answer for that. Trust me, we spent a lot of time trying to lock in on that answer, but it’s not one thing. That’s the hard part, is if it was just one thing that was sort of leading a player astray, you could correct that. But it’s a multitude of factors and we haven’t found the right answer yet.

Can read into those 1,000,000 ways

Double neat!
- walleyeb1

Two fingers of this:

Foley and Konroyd acting like hockey moms looking for silver linings and moral victories after being down 2-0 in the first. Bottom line is there is a lack of ability to finish, turnovers, and a worthless Powerplay. Same story, another night. I don't care how many SOG they had, very few grade A chances with net front presence.

A microcosm of the season. Blackhawks out play Wild for the first 20 minutes, BUT:

An AHL goalie allows the first goal on a shot taken from behind the goal line

2 HOFers can’t score during a 2 minute 5 on 3

The wing received for Panarin takes a lazy holding penalty in the offensive corner, which turns into a PP goal against

It’s like they’ve never played the game before. When is Hossa coming back?

From another article in The Athletic following his meeting with the press:

Q: On why some of the core has struggled this season
A: Everyone wants to — it would make for a better story if you could just sort of latch on to one, oh, we uncovered the problem. And then we just go fix it. It’s a lot more complex than that. If it was just one thing, we would have addressed it months ago and be different. These are human beings and athletes, and it’s not always a linear progression year to year. We want it to be. You were at this level last year, so you should be either at this level or above this year. Why aren’t you? Nobody has the answer to that. It’s part of performance, which it doesn’t always go in a straight line. We’ve got to get more, and we’re working, trying to get more, and hopefully we can find the way to do that.

. . .and more on Saad specifically

Obviously it’s not going Brandon’s way. But he has done a lot of good things. But at the end of the day when you look at the results, they’re not where he would want them to be or where we would want them to be. I don’t have an answer for that. Trust me, we spent a lot of time trying to lock in on that answer, but it’s not one thing. That’s the hard part, is if it was just one thing that was sort of leading a player astray, you could correct that. But it’s a multitude of factors and we haven’t found the right answer yet.

Can read into those 1,000,000 ways
- pdx2ord

Wonder if Bowman and Co. aren’t to keen on what Seabs and Toews did last offseason. Maybe the country club do what you want atmosphere will go away finally.

Wonder if Bowman and Co. aren’t to keen on what Seabs and Toews did last offseason. Maybe the country club do what you want atmosphere will go away finally.
- bhawks2241

I'd find the most fit guy in sports like Lebron and emulate him. The guy is a physical freak for his age, where 19 and 7 are clearly not.

Latest from McD
- gmurban

The new One Goal effort in full effect tonight . . .

I also don't understand on the 5 on 3, you have Toews and Keith out there, why wasn't it AA and anybody else, its getting harder and harder to defend Q when he trots these guys out there.

Toews doesn't have the strength to play in front of the goalie

See how easily he was pushed to the outside with the puck

I'd find the most fit guy in sports like Lebron and emulate him. The guy is a physical freak for his age, where 19 and 7 are clearly not.
- riozzo

Toews used to be a workout freak. Doesn’t look like he is anymore. Guys just don’t fall off a cliff unless there is some sort of chronic injury.

Look at 33 year old Staal. He had his knee destroyed in the worlds on a dirty dirty play. It took him a few years but he’s come back from it and having a big year for the Wild.

You need to work at your craft even more as you age. Not sure some of the core is putting in enough efffort. Sure doesn’t look like it based on their on ice play.

I also don't understand on the 5 on 3, you have Toews and Keith out there, why wasn't it AA and anybody else, its getting harder and harder to defend Q when he trots these guys out there.
- BetweenTheDots

Oesterle ????? Pinching in the O corner ??
Who's teaching that approach ??

Another 2 on 1, thanks Oesterle

Wow Keith actually got down on the ice to take the pass away

Cro has that one 10 out of 10 times. Keith forced the short to the short side

Toews used to be a workout freak. Doesn’t look like he is anymore. Guys just don’t fall off a cliff unless there is some sort of chronic injury.

Look at 33 year old Staal. He had his knee destroyed in the worlds on a dirty dirty play. It took him a few years but he’s come back from it and having a big year for the Wild.

You need to work at your craft even more as you age. Not sure some of the core is putting in enough efffort. Sure doesn’t look like it based on their on ice play.
- bhawks2241

Foley in denial about the Hawks grasping at straws for the "inexplicable" reason they're last in the division. Give me a break. Don't score enough, don't defend well enough, and poor goaltending without Crawford. It's not rocket science, this team is just not good.

I hope that Seabs gives up his #7 to Brady Tkachuk.

Wow they reported that Keith has been working on his shot, little to late, SCs have made this core fat and lazy

Foley and Konroyd acting like hockey moms looking for silver linings and moral victories after being down 2-0 in the first. Bottom line is there is a lack of ability to finish, turnovers, and a worthless Powerplay. Same story, another night. I don't care how many SOG they had, very few grade A chances with net front presence.
- EnzoD

Wow they reported that Keith has been working on his shot, little to late, SCs have made this core fat and lazy
- BetweenTheDots

lol about 15 years too late

We're so weak we can't generate anything between the dots on the power play, honestly they should do a Charmin commercial

for the amount of times Toews has to pick himself up off the ice he should be in great shape...

Foley in denial about the Hawks grasping at straws for the "inexplicable" reason they're last in the division. Give me a break. Don't score enough, don't defend well enough, and poor goaltending without Crawford. It's not rocket science, this team is just not good.
- EnzoD

Core sucks. No need to look any further. Toews on that PP what a joke. Can’t handle the puck and then just falls on his ass. He looks like a 9 year old on skates. It’s pathetic.

We're so weak we can't generate anything between the dots on the power play, honestly they should do a Charmin commercial
- BetweenTheDots

Brady Tzchuck would be the perfect addition of size, skill and snarl for this Top 6 forward group full of finesse. The defense, I have no idea where to start there....just awful after Keith.

Brady Tzchuck would be the perfect addition of size, skill and snarl for this Top 6 forward group full of finesse. The defense, I have no idea where to start there....just awful after Keith.
- EnzoD

Forsling had his bad moments but why isn’t he up here instead of Gustafsson? Osterle shine has worn off. He does nothing useful. Time for another crappy Hawks PP!!

Duclair gets the one golden chance to shoot inside the dots and he passes it, un (frank)ing believable

This team needs to hit the weight room