Dietz:

So is Brandon Saad out for Thursday?
Quenneville: "We’ll see. We have a couple of more days to assess that, but it could happen."

Here's the thing about Schmaltz that scares me. Since he has been a fixture in the lineup he has had three glaring holes in his game. 1. Strength 2. FO's 3. Defensive awareness. He has a great stick and can steal pucks, bu positionally he is lack luster. The concerning thing is i dont see any improvement in these areas. Im not calling to trade him, but do we have another TT situation on our hands? Remember, when the hawks traded TT to unload Bickell's salary JJ had reported that the brass were a bit unhappy with his off ice work ethic and dedicating himself to get stronger. Schmaltz can fly and has great offensive ability, does he feel this is good enough and he doesnt have to become more complete? I dont think so, but it is just some early observation.
- nickmo2699

And how is TT doing now? Have some patience with Schmaltz. Sure he has flaws but he has something you can't teach. speed. He has always been more of a playmaker than a shooter. While he is nowhere near as talented as Kane,let's remember it took Kane 3-4 years to become more selfish with the puck.

Saad said he didn't know he'd be wearing white until he walked into the locker room before practice. Saad and Q did not talk beforehand, although they did meet prior to Saturday's game.

Brandon Saad: "I don't think anyone wants to be wearing white around here. But it is what it is and there's nothing you can do but keep trying to improve. It's their job to make the call to put the best team out there to win hockey games."

Maybe it’s just me but I’m detecting a bit of an attitude problem brewing.

Saad said he didn't know he'd be wearing white until he walked into the locker room before practice. Saad and Q did not talk beforehand, although they did meet prior to Saturday's game.

Brandon Saad: "I don't think anyone wants to be wearing white around here. But it is what it is and there's nothing you can do but keep trying to improve. It's their job to make the call to put the best team out there to win hockey games."

Maybe it’s just me but I’m detecting a bit of an attitude problem brewing.
- walleyeb1

I was just about to comment on the attitude. Beat me to it. Definitely something to look out for.

Toews: "It's good for all of us to know what's going on because if Saader can get his ice time taken away then so can a lot of guys, myself included. ... He's been really good on the puck for a number of games. ...

Joel Quenneville on Brandon Saad: “Whether it’s urgency, passion, coming up with more loose pucks in those areas is probably going to be the difference.” #Blackhawks

Joel Quenneville on Brandon Saad: “Whether it’s urgency, passion, coming up with more loose pucks in those areas is probably going to be the difference.” #Blackhawks
- walleyeb1

Did he say "#blackhawks"?
Haha, jk.
Thanks for all of the quotes, where are you getting them from?

Joel Quenneville on Brandon Saad: “Whether it’s urgency, passion, coming up with more loose pucks in those areas is probably going to be the difference.” #Blackhawks
- walleyeb1

That Q speak for still being p&ssed about losing that game in Minnie and seeing Suter steal the puck from #20.

Thank God that season where we were 50% on the pk is behind us in the first 20 games or something like that. The Mike Kitchen days. I wonder if that was part of him being fired?
- I Am The Breadman

I can't keep clear if he was the PK guy or the PP guy at the time. I think that duty changed, but no surprise that at least one head rolled after that season.

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I asked Q if he'd keep Anton Forsberg around a little extra just to make sure Crawford was OK, but he's pretty adamant against keeping three goalies. Forsberg likely to hit waivers this week.
- breadbag

I thought Forsberg was being dealt for Malkin or Duchene?????

Dietz:

So is Brandon Saad out for Thursday?
Quenneville: "We’ll see. We have a couple of more days to assess that, but it could happen."
- walleyeb1

At least we didn’t give up much to get Saad back on the team. Only one of the best wingers in the league...

I can't keep clear if he was the PK guy or the PP guy at the time. I think that duty changed, but no surprise that at least one head rolled after that season.
- breadbag

Per Wikipedia, kitchen was defense and penalty kill.
Dineen is power play? What is Granato? He was the eye in the sky, but I've seen during the games he's behind the bench and have done a couple of those before 3rd period interviews with Pat and Eddie. I just don't know anymore.

At least we didn’t give up much to get Saad back on the team. Only one of the best wingers in the league...
- SimpleJack

Who in the wide wide world of sports was going to predict this???

With that being said, I really miss Panarin.

Dietz:

So is Brandon Saad out for Thursday?
Quenneville: "We’ll see. We have a couple of more days to assess that, but it could happen."
- walleyeb1

That's the kiss of death from Q. He's not seeing the ice on Thursday.

Saad said he didn't know he'd be wearing white until he walked into the locker room before practice. Saad and Q did not talk beforehand, although they did meet prior to Saturday's game.

Brandon Saad: "I don't think anyone wants to be wearing white around here. But it is what it is and there's nothing you can do but keep trying to improve. It's their job to make the call to put the best team out there to win hockey games."

Maybe it’s just me but I’m detecting a bit of an attitude problem brewing.
- walleyeb1

It could be even worse... apathy. There most certainly is something that he can do about it. He can engage and start skating again. I didn't think he had a bad game against the Blues, but he was coasting quite a bit during stretches.

I don’t think so, nothing to indicate that. I remember Q being asked what he needed to see out of Saad and the answer was “more”!
- walleyeb1

True, though not all injuries are physical.

True, though not all injuries are physical.
- sofaking3

There is a definite head problem with the mental side of the game.

Could Brandon Saad be a healthy scratch the same week Anton Forsberg is waived?

If so, Stan Bowman is looking really... really bad for the following:

June 23rd, 2017: CHI trade Panarin, Motte to CBJ for Saad, Forsberg.


#woof

Great article Justin. I completely agree about chemistry. If or when Crawford returns and hoping he can play at a elite level or close to it. Do the hawks risk putting Forsberg on waivers and losing him or do you see them dealing Forsberg?

I would have to wonder with forsling and murphy slated to come back and with Davidson who gets traded and id include rutta in that conversation ?


Would Stan possibly trade saad for a Duchene? Saad is not even close to any meaningful production?


Duchene could center Kane and schmaltz and I think that would be a fun line to watch.





Debrincant, toews and Dominick is actually a great line .

Could Brandon Saad be a healthy scratch the same week Anton Forsberg is waived?

If so, Stan Bowman is looking really... really bad for the following:

June 23rd, 2017: CHI trade Panarin, Motte to CBJ for Saad, Forsberg.


#woof
- Justin Lowe

Yep we really lost Motte for nothing!

Saad said he didn't know he'd be wearing white until he walked into the locker room before practice. Saad and Q did not talk beforehand, although they did meet prior to Saturday's game.

Brandon Saad: "I don't think anyone wants to be wearing white around here. But it is what it is and there's nothing you can do but keep trying to improve. It's their job to make the call to put the best team out there to win hockey games."

Maybe it’s just me but I’m detecting a bit of an attitude problem brewing.
- walleyeb1

I’m not saying you’re wrong, who of us could know for sure, but I see nothing specific to that quoted statement to make me think he has an attitude problem.

There is a definite head problem with the mental side of the game.
- I Am The Breadman

The game is 90 per cent mental. The other half is physical.......Yogi Berra

Yep we really lost Motte for nothing!
- Popsghostly

that really HURTS..Motte had tons of upside

And how is TT doing now? Have some patience with Schmaltz. Sure he has flaws but he has something you can't teach. speed. He has always been more of a playmaker than a shooter. While he is nowhere near as talented as Kane,let's remember it took Kane 3-4 years to become more selfish with the puck.
- Elbows15

He's doing well in a market with less depth and less spotlight. Carolina doesn't have a single nationally televised game. I liked TT as a player, but I wasn't comparing them by skillset side by side, but more so the off ice mystery.

On Saad, notice in all his responses, he doesnt say anything about, "I have to bring my game" or "Or I have to be a factor." He responds saying, I have to continue doing what I am doing and improve everyday. Sounds like a disconnect and some misunderstanding to me.

On a different Note: Cubs have new hitting coach in Anthony Iapoce