I am a little surprised about the Q basing. You don't become the 2nd most wins in NHL history and winning 3 Stanley Cups by being a bad coach. However, I think it is time for some fresh blood behind the bench. Q has been sending a message to Bowman for sometime that he can't win with the players they have, and honestly, I don't care who is coaching this year, they are not a good team. The big questions is, who it most at fault, the coach, or the person that put the team together. I personally would rather see Stan gone before Q, and i wouldn't really mind if they were both gone by next year. The biggest problem I see is Quenneville and Bowman do not work well together. Bowman should be finding players that work best for Q's system, and Q should work with Bowman to let him know doesn't fit so they can find someone that does.

A good example of this is the Daley trade with the Stars. Daley didn't fit Q's system for whatever reason, and this was evident on day 1. I am sure Q knew this before the trade was even made. So why force a trade that doesn't work for the team, in hopes of a miracle. It shouldn't be so hard to find players that work around what the coach wants to do. Of course, Q should be good enough to adapt his system when he needs to (powerplay anyone?).

After that rant, I think I'm ready for a total overhaul.
- spudrock512

It is important to research Coach’s histories and not just look at where they sit on the Wins List and deem them coaching geniuses. Scotty Bowman had a certain special genius but it wasn’t necessarily coaching. His special genius was knowing exactly WHERE to coach. Bowman coached many of the most dominant teams and dominant players in NHL history - and he won, what a shock. Q has been the same - he has always had great teams to coach that invariably didn’t meet expectations but still won a lot. Fans forget that when he had to actually coach in Colorado he was run out of town after just one year. Given the teams that he has had in Chicago I suggest that he has under-achieved with only 3 Cup wins. Way too many First Round exits and other disappointments largely caused by Q’s stubbornness. Even in the seasons where the Hawks won Cups I begged for Q to get out of the players’ way.

Those who are big Q fans act as if the Hawks would not have won 3 Cups without him as Coach which is ludicrous. With a different Coach they might have won 4 or 5. Q should have been fired long ago. He has lost the Core completely.

Hypothetical for those here lamenting the demise of our Hawks.

Say the Hawks were in a position to draft Brady Tkachuk and our best buds the St. Louis Blues would like to draft a legacy and they offered Colton Parayko for the Hawks 1st draft pick would you do it?
- Rota's Rooter

No, (frank) them.

Parayko is a great player, but (frank) the blues

No, (frank) them.

Parayko is a great player, but (frank) the blues
- BlazinMike

As much as I love Parayko, we need young talent on ELC, not established guys due for a big payday.

The team was awesome and we fans were so lucky. It was like a reward for watching the many bad seasons before.
- breadbag

They looked like - on the ice - hey, we can’t lose, whatever we have to do will get done - tie Nashville short handed with 7 seconds left, suck it up after a terrible game 7 referee call and win in OT, replace your 1st string goalie in game 1 against Nashville and have his replacement TCB, come back from down 1-2 or 2-3 in a couple of series....

Now they look like - how do we get out of this, what can we do to turn it around.

Cant wait for tonight. We have Vegas right where we want them.

It is important to research Coach’s histories and not just look at where they sit on the Wins List and deem them coaching geniuses. Scotty Bowman had a certain special genius but it wasn’t necessarily coaching. His special genius was knowing exactly WHERE to coach. Bowman coached many of the most dominant teams and dominant players in NHL history - and he won, what a shock. Q has been the same - he has always had great teams to coach that invariably didn’t meet expectations but still won a lot. Fans forget that when he had to actually coach in Colorado he was run out of town after just one year. Given the teams that he has had in Chicago I suggest that he has under-achieved with only 3 Cup wins. Way too many First Round exits and other disappointments largely caused by Q’s stubbornness. Even in the seasons where the Hawks won Cups I begged for Q to get out of the players’ way.

Those who are big Q fans act as if the Hawks would not have won 3 Cups without him as Coach which is ludicrous. With a different Coach they might have won 4 or 5. Q should have been fired long ago. He has lost the Core completely.
- Z3Hawk

Really? If coaching wasn't important then its the players that are struggling to score on the power play. It's players struggling to play defense or is it the mind set, when the Hawks won all those games and championships they did it in spite of Q, and now that they are losing its all Q's fault? Sorry you can't have it both ways that for a lack of a better word is bull poop.

The irony is Bowmans fired Savard and brought in Q, why? Scotty knew Savard was in over his head, and the results speak for themselves, like it or not

Cant wait for tonight. We have Vegas right where we want them.


- z1990z

3-0 after 20 minutes. This team is a dumpster fire.

Coach Q would always juggle his line ups in the playoffs to find the best matchup to have an advantage over the opponent.

DeBoer was asked, in hindsight do you think you should of juggled your line ups in the Finals against the Pens. He said no, this is how we got to the Finals and I wasn't going to disrupt the line combos. Sure they might of still lost, but because he didn't make any adjustments the Pens became SC winners.

As much as I love Parayko, we need young talent on ELC, not established guys due for a big payday.
- Q-stache

He just re-upped this year for 5.5 for 5.

I think it would be a tough call (taking out the division rival aspect). Hawks certainly need an impact forward and impact defenseman.

Do you roll the dice on a draft pick that everyone projects as a stud? History shows that those don't always work out.

Or maybe get a possible Chris Pronger 2.0? He's 24, 6'6/230, signed for the next 5 years at a reasonable cost and has a habit of finishing his checks.

Fantasy land I know but, WWSBD (What Would Stan Bowman Do)?

3-0 after 20 minutes. This team is a dumpster fire.
- EnzoD

I see an 8-2 loss coming. Vegas pressures like no other team I have seen. Hawks will turn it over all night and our D and goal tenders wont have a chance.

I'll start out by saying, sorry for the long post, but I hope you will read...

When I was in high school, I was in Marching band. It was considered one of the best marching band programs in the country at the time. They had won 10 state championships in a row by the time I was joining as a freshman, but had yet to win a national championship. During this whole time that they were one of the best, they had the same band director. He was literally a drill sergeant. At times if a kid was making the same mistake 3 or 4 times in a row, he would come running up to them, his face all red, slinging his finger in front of their face and yelling at the top of his lungs right in their face. It was brutal sometimes, but he got the best out of everyone. My first year, the band finally won the national championship. You're probably thinking, and then one or two more the following years? But no, the director was old and had accomplished everything he had set out to accomplish. He became soft, and didn't have that same fire (definitely didn't run up screaming in kids faces as much). He was done. the following three years, we kept getting worse and worse, until finally in my senior year, we lost state for the first time in 13 or 14 years. You think he was upset? Nope, couldn't care less. 2 or 3 years after I graduated, he retired.

Why I bring this up you ask? Well, I think Q is going through the same thing. He has won cups and has second most wins out of all coaches. He knows he isn't catching Scotty for the most wins. I think he is like my old band director, has lost the fire, has nothing to prove or strive for anymore. Especially given the recent turnover of over half the team, he probably just doesn't feel its worth it to give it his all anymore. When is the last time we saw him get on top of the bench screaming at the refs or players? I don't think I've seen him even close to that even once this season.

This is why I think Q goes this summer, and the Hawks try to bring in someone like Tony Granato, someone that has something to prove, and strive for, and will have that fire to win. Look what Sullivan has done with Pittsburgh. IMO, the hawks think that a guy like Tony might do the same thing for this hawks team. I think this is the reason for bringing his brother Don on, not to be like "oh we hired your brother, so you should join us too", but just to put the hawks in his mind. I'm sure Don and Tony talk often, and I'm sure that since Don is an associate coach, they get talking about the hawks at times.

I don't know, I could be totally off base, but just my perspective on things, and of course all my opinion...so don't hate me for it!!

He just re-upped this year for 5.5 for 5.

I think it would be a tough call (taking out the division rival aspect). Hawks certainly need an impact forward and impact defenseman.

Do you roll the dice on a draft pick that everyone projects as a stud? History shows that those don't always work out.

Or maybe get a possible Chris Pronger 2.0? He's 24, 6'6/230, signed for the next 5 years at a reasonable cost and has a habit of finishing his checks.

Fantasy land I know but, WWSBD (What Would Stan Bowman Do)?
- Rota's Rooter

If the Hawks are drafting Top 5, you gotta take the draft pick this year. Franchise defenseman in Dahlin and Bouchard and Top Line forwards in Tzchuck and Svechnikov who are significantly younger and cheaper than Parayko.

Just a guess, but maybe to get a read on what he’s going to be able to do going forward. This could turn out to be something similar to Crosby 2010/11 - 2011/12 and they want to see if that’s the case.

Just watching Crawford’s interview the other day if I was him or his agent I’d tell the Blackhawks to go pound sand.

I think it was ridiculous for them to fly him out to the dessert BTW.
- walleyeb1[/quo


I would agree with you. I think they might be trying to test the waters, but again, putting this unrealistic expectation out there is just stupid. If anyone is paying attention, he doesn't seem 100%. How careless and shortsighted to even try to push him to play for a season that's basically over.

I'll start out by saying, sorry for the long post, but I hope you will read...

When I was in high school, I was in Marching band. It was considered one of the best marching band programs in the country at the time. They had won 10 state championships in a row by the time I was joining as a freshman, but had yet to win a national championship. During this whole time that they were one of the best, they had the same band director. He was literally a drill sergeant. At times if a kid was making the same mistake 3 or 4 times in a row, he would come running up to them, his face all red, slinging his finger in front of their face and yelling at the top of his lungs right in their face. It was brutal sometimes, but he got the best out of everyone. My first year, the band finally won the national championship. You're probably thinking, and then one or two more the following years? But no, the director was old and had accomplished everything he had set out to accomplish. He became soft, and didn't have that same fire (definitely didn't run up screaming in kids faces as much). He was done. the following three years, we kept getting worse and worse, until finally in my senior year, we lost state for the first time in 13 or 14 years. You think he was upset? Nope, couldn't care less. 2 or 3 years after I graduated, he retired.

Why I bring this up you ask? Well, I think Q is going through the same thing. He has won cups and has second most wins out of all coaches. He knows he isn't catching Scotty for the most wins. I think he is like my old band director, has lost the fire, has nothing to prove or strive for anymore. Especially given the recent turnover of over half the team, he probably just doesn't feel its worth it to give it his all anymore. When is the last time we saw him get on top of the bench screaming at the refs or players? I don't think I've seen him even close to that even once this season.

This is why I think Q goes this summer, and the Hawks try to bring in someone like Tony Granato, someone that has something to prove, and strive for, and will have that fire to win. Look what Sullivan has done with Pittsburgh. IMO, the hawks think that a guy like Tony might do the same thing for this hawks team. I think this is the reason for bringing his brother Don on, not to be like "oh we hired your brother, so you should join us too", but just to put the hawks in his mind. I'm sure Don and Tony talk often, and I'm sure that since Don is an associate coach, they get talking about the hawks at times.

I don't know, I could be totally off base, but just my perspective on things, and of course all my opinion...so don't hate me for it!!
- ToewsdNKanefusd

I certainly see your point but, you know how it sounded when your story started out.

I'll start out by saying, sorry for the long post, but I hope you will read...

When I was in high school, I was in Marching band. It was considered one of the best marching band programs in the country at the time. They had won 10 state championships in a row by the time I was joining as a freshman, but had yet to win a national championship. During this whole time that they were one of the best, they had the same band director. He was literally a drill sergeant. At times if a kid was making the same mistake 3 or 4 times in a row, he would come running up to them, his face all red, slinging his finger in front of their face and yelling at the top of his lungs right in their face. It was brutal sometimes, but he got the best out of everyone. My first year, the band finally won the national championship. You're probably thinking, and then one or two more the following years? But no, the director was old and had accomplished everything he had set out to accomplish. He became soft, and didn't have that same fire (definitely didn't run up screaming in kids faces as much). He was done. the following three years, we kept getting worse and worse, until finally in my senior year, we lost state for the first time in 13 or 14 years. You think he was upset? Nope, couldn't care less. 2 or 3 years after I graduated, he retired.

Why I bring this up you ask? Well, I think Q is going through the same thing. He has won cups and has second most wins out of all coaches. He knows he isn't catching Scotty for the most wins. I think he is like my old band director, has lost the fire, has nothing to prove or strive for anymore. Especially given the recent turnover of over half the team, he probably just doesn't feel its worth it to give it his all anymore. When is the last time we saw him get on top of the bench screaming at the refs or players? I don't think I've seen him even close to that even once this season.

This is why I think Q goes this summer, and the Hawks try to bring in someone like Tony Granato, someone that has something to prove, and strive for, and will have that fire to win. Look what Sullivan has done with Pittsburgh. IMO, the hawks think that a guy like Tony might do the same thing for this hawks team. I think this is the reason for bringing his brother Don on, not to be like "oh we hired your brother, so you should join us too", but just to put the hawks in his mind. I'm sure Don and Tony talk often, and I'm sure that since Don is an associate coach, they get talking about the hawks at times.

I don't know, I could be totally off base, but just my perspective on things, and of course all my opinion...so don't hate me for it!!
- ToewsdNKanefusd

You lost me at marching band.

I see an 8-2 loss coming. Vegas pressures like no other team I have seen. Hawks will turn it over all night and our D and goal tenders wont have a chance.
- z1990z

Unfortunately I agree with you on this one.

Unfortunately I agree with you on this one.
- walleyeb1

I keep waiting for this team to get po'd and turn it around.

I certainly see your point but, you know how it sounded when your story started out.


- Rota's Rooter

I still cannot believe that Alyson Hanigan actually said that with a straight face.

Seriously though, you may be right about Q. Very insightful analogy.

I see an 8-2 loss coming. Vegas pressures like no other team I have seen. Hawks will turn it over all night and our D and goal tenders wont have a chance.
- z1990z

At least we score 2 this game

Asking for a friend. I have heard that Sikura might not sign with the Blackhawks. True or false?

Asking for a friend. I have heard that Sikura might not sign with the Blackhawks. True or false?
- Codes1087

Well one of my friends says he will another friend says he won't.

Well one of my friends says he will another friend says he won't.
- Rota's Rooter

I like those odds

Really? If coaching wasn't important then its the players that are struggling to score on the power play. It's players struggling to play defense or is it the mind set, when the Hawks won all those games and championships they did it in spite of Q, and now that they are losing its all Q's fault? Sorry you can't have it both ways that for a lack of a better word is bull poop.
- BetweenTheDots

Read what I wrote. History is history. Bowman coached great teams. Q has coached great teams. Both won lots of games coaching these great teams. Is that a surprise? The Hawks would have had success recently without Q being the Coach. He certainly wasn’t the added element that ensured success or was needed for success.

Unless you can say the only coach in the world that could have lead the Hawks to the Cup was Q then I call you on it. We both know that any number of coaches would have had equal or even better success. If you are being honest.

The Hawks have had incredible teams. It is interesting that this year’s team is not incredible. A corollary of this would be that great coaching would be needed to achieve results. Q has actually had to coach and it has been a disaster.

The Hawks actually had a horrible season another time Q actually had to coach. The Hawks needed to win their last game and couldn’t and had to rely on an upset by another team just to back into the play-offs. Based on Q’s coaching the Hawks should have missed the play-offs. However, even in the seasons where there has been success others and myself would beg for Q to stop meddling and to just let the players play.

In the play-offs Q has gotten out-coached many a time which can be seen in far too many First Round losses, not to mention other losses. For instance there is no possible way the Hawks should have lost to a less-talented Kings team in the Western Final. Q was insanely stubborn leading to the loss. The Western Final was basically for the Cup so there went Cup number 4.

Time for new blood, new ideas. Game after game we see the same tired systems that simply are not working.

I certainly see your point but, you know how it sounded when your story started out.


- Rota's Rooter

I did not think of that actually, but it totally fits...