New lines tonight and DBC has been kicked down to the 3rd line with Wingels and Bouma????? WTH Q

One of most consistent scoring threats of late and he gets bumped down to play with Wingels and Bouma. Okie Dokie
- z1990z

That.. makes no sense. However, Crow is taking shots in practice.

New lines tonight and DBC has been kicked down to the 3rd line with Wingels and Bouma????? WTH Q

One of most consistent scoring threats of late and he gets bumped down to play with Wingels and Bouma. Okie Dokie
- z1990z

Part of the tank plan?
You know if we lose these back-to-backs and the Oilers/Panthers play a 3-point game, we make a nice move towards a more favorable draft position.

Part of the tank plan?
You know if we lose these back-to-backs and the Oilers/Panthers play a 3-point game, we make a nice move towards a more favorable draft position.
- 67hawks

Nope.

Bouma and Wingels have some playmaking chops and will be able to create some space with physical play. Let ADB run the show on that line. Should be cool to watch.

Like most of the 90s? Maybe google that before posting. Hawks made the playoffs from 90-97. Most of the 90s. Now the first decade of the 2000s is a different story. Thanks for confirming you know very little about hockey!
- bhawks2241

During the 90's losses were much more palatable than this team's losses. Those teams exhibited some passion with a hard fore check. They also had players who could bang some heads and not be outhit every game.

New lines tonight and DBC has been kicked down to the 3rd line with Wingels and Bouma????? WTH Q

One of most consistent scoring threats of late and he gets bumped down to play with Wingels and Bouma. Okie Dokie
- z1990z

Agreed...... Just more lunacy by Q..........just like any talk of moving him in any deal.
We have a 20 year old that will score 30+ goals a year for the next 10 years so let's package him for a dman ??? This team can not score goals for all the reasons mentioned over the past months regarding the CORE stars of this team. Trading him would be a HUGE mistake !!

Kind of odd.

However, Bouma had a great game on Saturday.
- Hank3Henshaw

He keeps playing like that and he might get Stan a 5th rounder vs. a 6th rounder at the deadline.

This has been the major question on my mind regarding the coaches. Are the PP woes and lack of development on defense on Dineen and Ulf? Or are they actually good at developing players, drawing up strategy, etc. but they get vetoed by Q either right away or after a game or so of trying something new before reverting back to his own ways?

Management needs to get a pulse on that and make coaching decisions based on what they learn. Maybe they're already doing this? IMHO, there needs to be coaching changes whether that's Q or the assistants.

Btw, Don Granato was behind the bench during the last game. Was Dineen not there? Granato simply filling in for perhaps an ill Dineen or is there something brewing similar to the Q-Savard situation?
- AEL_Fox

Interesting I didn’t even notice that,curious to see what tonight’s game brings.

Lot of negativity here, fellas.

I know things are bleak, but I like the idea of ADB with Wingels and Bouma. Super skilled guy with a couple of guys who (despite what you think) have skill, but also play physical and go to the net. I think the idea is for them to create space for ADB and clean up his rebounds.

Here's my bold statement:

Hawks win tonight against, somehow manage to beat Vegas and then get on a roll.

Believe it, boys!

At this point, they are not making the playoffs. So I would like to see some shape of the future take place.

If they believe Schmaltz is a C, then leave him there.

If they have plans to have Hartman next year, play him.

Let the younger players play and build some more chemistry and gain as much experience as possible.

I see that the Icehogs have signed Henrik Samuelsson (Ulf's son) to a PTO. Big forward and a former first round pick.
I wonder if this is a Hawks back door look at a potential winger with a bit of snarl to his game.
- 67hawks

Big kid and had success in the WHL, as well as his 1st year in the AHL.

He's really faded since then, so not sure what's up but maybe being close to dad, he could be a bit of a reclamation project.

The first question the Hawks need to answer is this. Is Q the man to have behind the bench going forward? Lets see....

-Awful power play. Check
-Unprepared to start games. Check
-Coddling veterans with PP time who don't produce. Check
-Limited practice time during the season when your team is coming apart. Check
-Your big time players (19, 2, 7, 20) fall apart. Check
-Continually blowing up lines and destroying any/all chemistry for the team. Check
-Failing to alter your schemes to get the best out of your team. Check


When your team is this bad across the board, you have to look at the HC and his assistants. This summer we find out if we have a big boy GM who can make the correct decisions on how to fix this. Stan?! Go ask your team captains. Have you tuned out your HC? Q had great success in St. Louis and later Colorado, yet they decided to move on from him. It might be that time here in Chicago.
- z1990z

I'm on board. Want me to go tell him to clean out his locker?

Think Q's a great coach but some new direction might be the ticket.

I don't mean to be one of those guys who corrects a blog writer, but this is the 3rd meeting between these teams this year with the Hawks winning both. We lost to Philadelphia in a shootout last game 4-3, we haven't played Boston in months...

As one of the few Yotes fans on here, I was ecstatic when we traded Murphy and that terrible contract. He is nothing more than a 3rd pairing D and to get out from under it was nice, as was getting Hammer. Now that he is healthy, he's been very solid on the back end and I can see him being a catalyst for us to re-sign OEL. I've respected what the Hawks have done now for 9 plus years, but man Bowman needs to go. The Seabrooke contract, the AA contract, giving Panik what he did, trading Panarin. It seems to me that there might be a power struggle this off season with Bowman versus Q. And quite honestly, I would fire Tocchet in a heart beat (as would most other teams) if Q became available. Just seems that a new GM is needed from here in the desert.

Should be a fun game tonight. Sold my tickets, as I can always make a profit from these games. I will say though, I genuinely enjoy Hawks fans at games. They are the most respectful fans I have come across in the arena as a season ticket holder.
- gmiel1980

Fixed - thanks for the heads up.

Thanks for stopping by. I always love hearing from an outside perspective.

What did you think of the Panik for Duclair swap?

The Hawks will not forward until they get rid of Toews or Seabrooks contract, Almost 17 mil on 2 players, with little production. I loved both of them when they were difference makers, now they are marginal at best with 17 mil locked up.

This has been the major question on my mind regarding the coaches. Are the PP woes and lack of development on defense on Dineen and Ulf? Or are they actually good at developing players, drawing up strategy, etc. but they get vetoed by Q either right away or after a game or so of trying something new before reverting back to his own ways?

Management needs to get a pulse on that and make coaching decisions based on what they learn. Maybe they're already doing this? IMHO, there needs to be coaching changes whether that's Q or the assistants.

Btw, Don Granato was behind the bench during the last game. Was Dineen not there? Granato simply filling in for perhaps an ill Dineen or is there something brewing similar to the Q-Savard situation?
- AEL_Fox

Noted that as well.

I am not 100% sure on the dynamic between Joel and his 3 associate coaches, but I found that to be an interesting timing to have Don standing with those guys.

https://www.yahoo.com/spo...ing-sudden-052415647.html

About time the hockey media starts calling out the most overpaid player in the NHL for the 2017/18 season.

"Remember the stat mentioned above about that five-year run where Toews was in the top-20 in points per game (he was 17th) and Corsi percentage (where he was third)? Well, since the start of the 2015-16 season, Toews is 52nd in points per game and 70th in Corsi percentage.

Still good. Still that of a top-line player. But hardly what you expect from a player making more than $10 million per season. And that is the problem the Blackhawks are facing. When you pay someone that much money and commit that much of your salary cap space to a player, you are expecting them — and need them — to be great.

Toews has been a huge part of what was one of the most successful eras in the history of the Blackhawks franchise. But his current salary and current level of production is a big reason they are struggling right now."

Lot of negativity here, fellas.

I know things are bleak, but I like the idea of ADB with Wingels and Bouma. Super skilled guy with a couple of guys who (despite what you think) have skill, but also play physical and go to the net. I think the idea is for them to create space for ADB and clean up his rebounds.

Here's my bold statement:

Hawks win tonight against, somehow manage to beat Vegas and then get on a roll.

Believe it, boys!
- Hank3Henshaw

Wingels has L3 skill but Bouma doesn't bring much to the table. I hope you're right about tomorrow, because I'll be at the game!

Nice write up Justin, personally, I would like to see them as everybody calls it tank like crazy, obviously they are going to put their best foot forward and give it an effort out there, because some of the young kids will be playing for jobs next year, also organizationally they will be watching it who they can keep and move forward with and who they can use as trade bait, with that being said I will consider it a successful summer if Stan Bowman does one thing, find a way to move up into the top three or four, and hope Keith Tkachuk’s kid lands right in his lap. This is were McDonough and Rocky have to stick their nose in and tell him if this kid is available you WILL take him! Also someone needs to tell Rocky and McDonough about this kid, because I have said this in the past that Rocky is not his dad and probably knows a limited amount of the draft pipeline out there. I think McDonough though, probably although depending on his hockey people is also watching this very intently And probably knows a little bit more than we think when it comes to hockey personnel.I just worry that Bowman will blow that pic, and draft some small euros Smurf or some kid with Chicago and Illinois roots as he’s known to in the past. Other than John Hayden, I think Hartman and Hino are serviceable but also could be used as trade bait. There is only one Chris Chelios in the world. Then after they draft Brady Tkachuk now hone in on a young defenseman to Add.That would be my opinion on what should be done for the summer. So hopefully between now and the 26th he start selling off pieces and get some high pics.

Wingels has L3 skill but Bouma doesn't bring much to the table. I hope you're right about tomorrow, because I'll be at the game!
- JRoenick97

I think Bouma has some L3 skill. I'm excited to see this line if it happens. Just for fun, I'll even predict they have two goals tonight

Here's what I want to know...why isn't Hayden up? Big man, skill, plays physical. They need that.

Hawks will not win until they unload Toews, Seabrook or Anisimov, 23 mil on 3 slow players with little production. All of Bowman's moves are around the edges which will not make any major differences. The young kids are not the problem it is the core veterans. Somebody needs to go to shake this team up.

I think Bouma has some L3 skill. I'm excited to see this line if it happens. Just for fun, I'll even predict they have two goals tonight

Here's what I want to know...why isn't Hayden up? Big man, skill, plays physical. They need that.
- Hank3Henshaw

Line 3 in the AHL?

Hawks will not win until they unload Toews, Seabrook or Anisimov, 23 mil on 3 slow players with little production. All of Bowman's moves are around the edges which will not make any major differences. The young kids are not the problem it is the core veterans. Somebody needs to go to shake this team up.
- tomanderson61

I have no problem with Anisimov. When he's healthy, he's a good/reliable guy.

I doubt it based on 1) his negative reaction to the way the trade was handled, and 2) his repeated statements about wanting to "play his game" and make a name for himself apart from Kane.

But, anything's possible.
- pdx2ord

With Chicago he was:

30+47=77
31+43=74

With CBJ he's on pace for:

22+44=66

Are you sure he wouldn't want back with Kane?

With Chicago he was:

30+47=77
31+43=74

With CBJ he's on pace for:

22+44=66

Are you sure he wouldn't want back with Kane?
- StLBravesFan

He's been playing with a rookie Center in Dubois (who I would love to acquire) and a rotation of RWs, but I'm sure that $$$$ will be the biggest factor in his UFA decision. I'm not sure CBJ will have $8 mil to give him, and the Hawks likely won't either. He's been a treat to watch in CBJ just like in CHI. Top offensive talent in the world with the puck on his stick, just playing with less effective finishers in CBJ compared to Kaner.

That.. makes no sense. However, Crow is taking shots in practice.
- JRoenick97

My only thought is that Q is taking the opportunity to try to kick start the offense ona "weaker" team. I haven't seen the lines, but i assume Saad is up with Toews and Duclair? If Saad could get going that would be a pretty good mental boost. It would actually be pretty significant if he could find his confidence again.

The biggest shame of this whole thing is that this team is actually probably pretty decent and still would scare the poop outta others teams if they were to get hot all of a sudden. Its just they've been absolutely ice cold. And stupid. Really stupid. Bad pass selection is killing this team right now.

Now then, off with these rose coloured glasses.

At this point, they are not making the playoffs. So I would like to see some shape of the future take place.

If they believe Schmaltz is a C, then leave him there.

If they have plans to have Hartman next year, play him.

Let the younger players play and build some more chemistry and gain as much experience as possible.
- Justin Lowe

At this point I’d start giving regulars games off. Let Keith and Seabrook rotate off days.

Give Toews and Kane alternating days off, play the young guns.