Duff - how does Kunitz hit the ice immedietly after the giveaway goal? If Saad had done that we might not see him for games. Kane must be losing his mind with Schmaltz simply refusing to shoot. He is still at ZERO goals just like Saad. Also Fortin seems to have no finishing ability whatsoever. Kane coulda/shoulda had 5 points if he was playing with players with a clue. On Kane’s line the LW and C spots have exactly ZERO goals - ZERO! For the Season! Playing with Kane!
- Z3Hawk

Ya that a real head shaker

I wanted to be fancy and say something along the line of Crawford::fly like an eagle.insteadvibwull simly broach the subject which I figured could and ostensible bly Tema ns rather high probability: Crawford dies, indeed, fly from the couple as he gets traded at the trade deadline.

Why would you trade the guy you need to help keep the team in readiable contention most games? And keep fans in the stands?

You never want to be hung ho to trade too players, rrn with Corey's issues. But tralitu is that the team is beginning to transition y a younger squad and Corey has value. You could practically guess hceoykdcteturn, triumphantly I that he performs well .Then Stan dusts off scenarios he had outlined months ago and has conversation with his scouts about yhghise draft class ahead evrn 76hree years.

You figure Nashville needs a proven warrior whom will not choke in net? Even Einnipegmay like the assurance from a solid punch in net. The Crawford contract has not much time left. The contract can be have away for some extra practice pucks if salary cap is an issue next summer for a Blackhawks trade partner

The message is always clear for contenders: just win now, baby.

Baby step, indeed, to he something of value NOW for CC. You can hypothesize we would be left with but a fair presence in net. So what move your chips at trade deadlne. I am just saying, Crawford gone should not take us by surprise.

Ya gotta think Knutiz Manning and Ward to some extend were signed to appease Ch Q .So they are most likely immune to benching or Press box duty ,Playing Ward and his .879 SV % every game before Crow came back was absurd . Should have at the very least see what we had in Frosberg for 1 game he earned it . All be it Saad has not been good but so have others .Saad treatment smells the same as most of Stan acquisitions .
- oldduffman

The disconnect between Q and the front office can not be allowed to continue

Does it help you sleep better at night making things up??

I mean seriously - you keep beating this dead horse, and there is NOTHING to it.

Joel Quenneville picks the best 20 - to his and his coaching staff's eyes - and believe me - they know a LOT more about players than you ever will.

If there was such a "disconnect" between coach and G.M., you can bet upper management would intervene - and one or the other would be looking for work.

So enough with your tired nonsense - IT'S OLD!!!!!!!!!!

Duff - how does Kunitz hit the ice immedietly after the giveaway goal? If Saad had done that we might not see him for games. Kane must be losing his mind with Schmaltz simply refusing to shoot. He is still at ZERO goals just like Saad. Also Fortin seems to have no finishing ability whatsoever. Kane coulda/shoulda had 5 points if he was playing with players with a clue. On Kane’s line the LW and C spots have exactly ZERO goals - ZERO! For the Season! Playing with Kane!
- Z3Hawk

The early take on a few things:

If Saad and Schmaltz cannot pick it up, the Hawks have bottom three depth. Without those two scoring in the 20's, they have no scorers beyond their top three. Last night's game showed that if Toews, Kane, and Cat do not score they have almost zero chance of competing. AA can still get some putback goals in front of the net, but he is not a shooter and cannot snipe.

Keep in mind this game was the perfect setup for the outcome. Arizona's metrics coming into the game were decent--they have been outshooting other teams, controlling the puck, etc. Their shooting percentage was 1.7% coming in--obviously something that was not going to keep up.

The best case scenario is for the Hawks to compete for a wildcard. They are not a top three team in that division. If they get a wildcard, then let the fun begin.

Otherwise, if they are not a playoff team, hope that CC returns to somewhat near his old self, and some team needs him for the playoffs. He would be worth either a 1st round pick or an elite prospect.

Yeah, I know it, great episode. Cliff and Peterson kill me. Up there with the Thanksgiving episode.

Just watched the episode on Netflix for old laugh's sake. As funny as it is, it is just as sad.
- I Am The Breadman

Cliff on Jeopardy was a classic too.

well lets first see if they can get a win in regulation so far 0-6...

- bogiedoc

Under the pre-OT rules, they’d be 0-1-5=5 points in 6 games.

Probably a good enough percentage to make the playoffs in the old 4 of 6 make the postseason original-6 era.

Brian Sandalow
@BrianSandalow

Q says tonight was the first game that reminded him of last season. #Blackhawks

Yup
- pdx2ord

That is the perfect statement

The idiotic “System” is to blame. Insane pinching. Jukiharju so out of position it makes you want to scream. He was deep up ice and the Hawks didn’t have the puck. 2 on 1 - goal against. This is how crazy this defensive “System” is. The D-Men pinch when the Hawks do NOT have possession of the puck. Any defensive system must be defence first with only when it makes sense.
- Z3Hawk

Are you sure about that, it could just be the hockey players we have are dumb. It's compounded by the fact our forwards can't win a board battle.

Does it help you sleep better at night making things up??

I mean seriously - you keep beating this dead horse, and there is NOTHING to it.

Joel Quenneville picks the best 20 - to his and his coaching staff's eyes - and believe me - they know a LOT more about players than you ever will.

If there was such a "disconnect" between coach and G.M., you can bet upper management would intervene - and one or the other would be looking for work.

So enough with your tired nonsense - IT'S OLD!!!!!!!!!!
- dahawks8819

You do NOT believe that there is a disconnect between Bowman and Q? You are in total denial because there is an OBVIOUS disconnect in the present that has been there for years. If a GM brings in players the Coach does not want and moves out players the Coach wants that is the definition of disconnect.

The early take on a few things:

If Saad and Schmaltz cannot pick it up, the Hawks have bottom three depth. Without those two scoring in the 20's, they have no scorers beyond their top three. Last night's game showed that if Toews, Kane, and Cat do not score they have almost zero chance of competing. AA can still get some putback goals in front of the net, but he is not a shooter and cannot snipe.

Keep in mind this game was the perfect setup for the outcome. Arizona's metrics coming into the game were decent--they have been outshooting other teams, controlling the puck, etc. Their shooting percentage was 1.7% coming in--obviously something that was not going to keep up.

The best case scenario is for the Hawks to compete for a wildcard. They are not a top three team in that division. If they get a wildcard, then let the fun begin.

Otherwise, if they are not a playoff team, hope that CC returns to somewhat near his old self, and some team needs him for the playoffs. He would be worth either a 1st round pick or an elite prospect.
- RaleighHawk

Right now we are wasting Kane’s greatness. I reach a point where I say forget balance and use the NUCLEAR OPTION - Kane, Toews, DeBrincat. They may score so much will be fine. We once did this with Kane, Toews, Sharp. At least there would be line-mates for Kane who could finish. The one thing I do know is it is simply unacceptable to waste Kane’s playmaking skills like was seen last night. As I have previously stated on Kane’s line the LW and C spots have exactly ZERO goals this year.

Are you sure about that, it could just be the hockey players we have are dumb. It's compounded by the fact our forwards can't win a board battle.
- BetweenTheDots

Dots the Hawks pinch wildly. The Hawks give up more odd-man breaks in a few games than other teams give up in a month. The D will appear dumb until a DEFENCE FIRST system is in place where penetrations into the opponent’s end only happens when it is safe to do so.

I've seen enough from Manning too. Please give Davidson a shot - he can't possibly be worse than Manning. Or if Q is in love with Manning - then sit Rutta who sucks almost as bad as Manning. At least Gustafsson is proving some offense to offset his shoddy defense. I don't know if Forsling is the answer because the last time we saw him he wasn't all that good either - but hopefully he's better than Manning and Rutta.
- EbonyRaptor

I’ll take your Manning and raise you a Rutta. Hard to imagine someone being worst than Rutta.

At home, with Crow returning after a year long injury....Kunitz finally a scratch after that play??

Hawks have no scoring on lines 3+4 and the only guy who can score on line 2 is Kane. As they say, Water will find its level...

Edit: AND Q’s 10 yr anniversary
- EnzoD

Enzo Q actually put Kunitz right back on the ice - unbelievable!

Enzo Q actually put Kunitz right back on the ice - unbelievable!
- Z3Hawk

Lets hope the Cody Franson option is available and Stanbo uses it on Kunitz and Rutta - pay them their NHL salary to be good leaders on a young Rockford team.

Right now we are wasting Kane’s greatness. I reach a point where I say forget balance and use the NUCLEAR OPTION - Kane, Toews, DeBrincat. They may score so much will be fine. We once did this with Kane, Toews, Sharp. At least there would be line-mates for Kane who could finish. The one thing I do know is it is simply unacceptable to waste Kane’s playmaking skills like was seen last night. As I have previously stated on Kane’s line the LW and C spots have exactly ZERO goals this year.
- Z3Hawk

Need to try it

Lets hope the Cody Franson option is available and Stanbo uses it on Kunitz and Rutta - pay them their NHL salary to be good leaders on a young Rockford team.
- RickJ

What made me shake my head about Kunitz was this - we had Sharp last year who seemed to still have speed and touch around the net and Q made him a scapegoat. Rather than having Sharp around for his leadership (3 Cups) and also his chipping in, Q basically forces him to retire. This should have signalled a movement to youth you’d think. Then the Hawks sign Kunitz which makes NO sense.

Right now we are wasting Kane’s greatness. I reach a point where I say forget balance and use the NUCLEAR OPTION - Kane, Toews, DeBrincat. They may score so much will be fine. We once did this with Kane, Toews, Sharp. At least there would be line-mates for Kane who could finish. The one thing I do know is it is simply unacceptable to waste Kane’s playmaking skills like was seen last night. As I have previously stated on Kane’s line the LW and C spots have exactly ZERO goals this year.
- Z3Hawk

WE aren’t wasting anything - the Hawks May be - but I wouldn’t put it that way.

Kane (like Toews, Keith, Seabrook and Crawford) - after 8 or so years of playing on Cup-worthy teams - are now part of an inevitable rebuild that hopefully, within another two / three years, will place them on a Chicago team that allows at least the first two of them to have a couple more years of high-level Cup-quality seasons.

Not many players go thru their careers continually playing for championships without a couple of seasons retooling for more runs.

And - of course - the cap and the Toews / Kane high cap-hit contracts helped put them in this position.

Need to try it
- RaleighHawk

I know breadbag is on board with the NUCLEAR OPTION being employed as he threw it out earlier.

You do NOT believe that there is a disconnect between Bowman and Q? You are in total denial because there is an OBVIOUS disconnect in the present that has been there for years. If a GM brings in players the Coach does not want and moves out players the Coach wants that is the definition of disconnect.
- Z3Hawk

I know for a fact there is not.

Don't you think if there was - and it had been going on for years - that something would have been done by now - one way or the other????

Seriously, you people need to stop creating false narratives and believing they are true. It is entertaining - I will give you that.

What made me shake my head about Kunitz was this - we had Sharp last year who seemed to still have speed and touch around the net and Q made him a scapegoat. Rather than having Sharp around for his leadership (3 Cups) and also his chipping in, Q basically forces him to retire. This should have signalled a movement to youth you’d think. Then the Hawks sign Kunitz which makes NO sense.
- Z3Hawk

With that signing Stanbo thought he was pulling a move like his father used to do with the Habs - have an old pro around who could add something in the dressing room and be a role player in limited minutes.

But Scotty never signed a 39 year old and always knew if the guy could still play. Stanbo apparently didn't bother checking out the 'can still play' part of it.

I know for a fact there is not.

Don't you think if there was - and it had been going on for years - that something would have been done by now - one way or the other????

Seriously, you people need to stop creating false narratives and believing they are true. It is entertaining - I will give you that.
- dahawks8819

I don't think there is a disconnect, but there is friction between the two, and we see it strained more often then not. This year we are in peaceful times. Trading hammer was a big punch to the gut and Q didn't hide his feelings he stormed out of the room as it was piled on a Panarin trade. Q is a tough man to please and I think he makes a lot of requests for players he wants, and when Bowman does, we see a lot more of those players. It's hard to get rid of those 2 faces, especially, for their contracts, their cups, and what they mean to the franchise.

I’ll take your Manning and raise you a Rutta. Hard to imagine someone being worst than Rutta.
- Z3Hawk

Kampf. Kampf is worthless. He wins my "why is he playing every game" award so far.

Was at the game last night, IMO their biggest problem was being unable to complete a pass. Too many passes in the O zone, always thinking they could thread it through 2 or 3 defense to get to their target. They never could.

Can someone post a link to the Hjalmarsson video tribute? Thx. Gotta see it. Such a cherished player from this cup run.

Can someone post a link to the Hjalmarsson video tribute? Thx. Gotta see it. Such a cherished player from this cup run.
- Cmonalready

I didn't see it either, but I think this is it. I like that they played rise against "Swing life away." A Chicago band, and that's who Crow saw when he screwed up his legs a few years back.

https://youtu.be/AJrndF8_bKw

Dots the Hawks pinch wildly. The Hawks give up more odd-man breaks in a few games than other teams give up in a month. The D will appear dumb until a DEFENCE FIRST system is in place where penetrations into the opponent’s end only happens when it is safe to do so.
- Z3Hawk

The only goal we scored was on one of those “wild pinches”, the problem is our forwards don’t respond appropriately to the pinch.