Last night was a glimpse of what the Hawks blueline could look like without Keith. I mean last night wasn't just about Keith being out obviously, but being outshot 41-15 I think speaks to his importance for puck possession.

You know what stat really jumps out to me...The Flames were tagged for 30 giveaways. Gaudreau 7 giveaways, Ryan had 5 and lots from their blueline. How did they give away the puck that much and we didn't bury them? It was an odd game last night.
- breadbag

very true...the hawks once again played 30-35 minutes and got beat...
having keith out meant the 5 remaining had to pick up his 24 minutes thats almost 5 minutes per guy = ugh... seabs had a very good game with his stick saving two goals... i could smell that 3rd period collapse coming with those 5 dmen playhing those minutes..

kings fired their coach...the hawks have won 3 in regulation out of 15; you have wonder if for those 3 OT wins if Q would be on the hot seat.

This was a rough road trip for this team.

Whether this team just is what it is or there's something that can be salvaged this season... management is not going to wait around to see.

Something is going to change here soon.
- Justin Lowe

I can't help but think that Stan and the Front Office figured that if the core played well, the rest of the team would be good enough to be competitive then add a piece or two and make a run. Well, the first part of that is happening but the second part isn't. I don't think that's a scenario for which they were prepared, which means they really didn't have a very good assessment of the rest of the roster.

Tank on ice

I think a small trade, something to help bottom 6 or even clean house on the d we have, even something for Forsberg could help improve. If this crap continues in a downward trend, then go for bigger changes. I don't have a crystal ball to say a small change or big change will work either, just generating discussion.
- I Am The Breadman

You can already see empty seats at the UC. Why prolong the agony? Make a big splash and go for real change. LA already fired their coach, so the pressure is off for McD.
Someone asked earlier if Crow would want to waive his NTC. One should ask, why would he want to continue to play behind this team? He is showing he is capable of stealing games.....With a good defense in front of him. He is playing well enough to be a Cup contender. why not ask him if he is willing to move to a team that is a goalie short (Toronto, Florida, Edmonton).

Who here has posted that Q is a genius? Even those of us who think he played an important part in winning three Cups and gaining two other Final Fours recognize his faults and question his ability to handle this flawed team in this changed league.

Since the Hawks began making the playoffs in 2009, there have been 6 (I think) coaches on 5 franchises who have won Cups in those 10 years. I guess there have been 100+ coaches in the league. If it were as easy as throwing talented players on the ice and letting them fend for themselves....

Tallon the great GM - perhaps he was the one who fell into a a pile of horsecrap and landed on a pony - he wound up with Toews at #3 overall and Kane at #1 - Hjalmarsson and Kruger were his other two picks to contribute to the Cups. He got Campbell because he was able to throw money at him - more money than other teams were willing to give up. Parrish, Beach, Aliu, Olson as other high picks as GM....

And what has he accomplished so far in Sunrise?

Lots of questions about whether or not Q and Stan can get the job done going forward - but please - let’s stop refusing to recognizing their past contributions.
- StLBravesFan

they are recognized very highly and paid well for there success...but sports is about winning as Q has said we are in the winning business: lombardi and sutter managed the kings to 3 str WC finals and 2 cups and they got canned after 3 bust years.

it can and should happen here...i don't see this team reaching 80 pts..and if they exceed that it will be because of #50 who is asked to do headstands every game..

You can already see empty seats at the UC. Why prolong the agony? Make a big splash and go for real change. LA already fired their coach, so the pressure is off for McD.
Someone asked earlier if Crow would want to waive his NTC. One should ask, why would he want to continue to play behind this team? He is showing he is capable of stealing games.....With a good defense in front of him. He is playing well enough to be a Cup contender. why not ask him if he is willing to move to a team that is a goalie short (Toronto, Florida, Edmonton).
- powerenforcer

I'm not saying those aren't good reasons, they are, I'm just too loyal to offer anything about what a gm should do. IF Crow or Toews or Kane or Keith or Seabs goes, that's the day I die. We lost Hammer and Panarin the same day, talk about big change ... and big bite in the keister.

Besides Crow, what are you thinking of big change? Who goes and who is the return?

Don't take this as snarky, I don't mean it like how it might sound. Why would Crow go to a cup contender team, they probably have their goalie already set, right? Or do you mean back-up or injury situation? 6 mil might be too pricy for that.

This team clearly BLOWS. The entire bottom 6 forwards are not worth a pot to piss in. This team has 3 legitimate top 6 guys , saad has had more inconsistency, schmaltz I'd trade him he isn't worth 6 or 7 million. Defense the only player whom has been a bright spot is the 19 yr old rookie Johki. Gustafson, rutta manning , Keith and Seabrook all need to be shown the door the amount of money tied up and the return on that amount is a joke.


Stan and coach Q should be fired along with Ulf and dinean the same day . This team is probably worse than last year.

They can't muster any sustainable offensive zone play with any threat , the power play and penalty kill Brutal.


That stupid pushem back is a joke,

Rocky wirtz if he had any common sense after watching this teams play and losses piling up he would fire Stan and coach Q immediately.

very true...the hawks once again played 30-35 minutes and got beat...
having keith out meant the 5 remaining had to pick up his 24 minutes thats almost 5 minutes per guy = ugh... seabs had a very good game with his stick saving two goals... i could smell that 3rd period collapse coming with those 5 dmen playhing those minutes..

kings fired their coach...the hawks have won 3 in regulation out of 15; you have wonder if for those 3 OT wins if Q would be on the hot seat.
- bogiedoc

I am totally with you. There was a time when Q would have called a time out in the 3rd (before the Flames scored their 3rd goal) to 1) give the Hawks d and forwards a breather (especially after Q's blunder on the 5 min major) and 2) get them riled up to play and compete. I just sense Q feels he can't do much with what he has to work with and just isn't up to the task. I would hope that is not the case but he sure didn't show much anger or emotion in the presser to make me think otherwise. In any case, as constructed this team is going no where with no secondary scoring and continued collapses in the 3rd when they have a lead. Time for change is now.

This team clearly BLOWS. The entire bottom 6 forwards are not worth a pot to piss in. This team has 3 legitimate top 6 guys , saad has had more inconsistency, schmaltz I'd trade him he isn't worth 6 or 7 million. Defense the only player whom has been a bright spot is the 19 yr old rookie Johki. Gustafson, rutta manning , Keith and Seabrook all need to be shown the door the amount of money tied up and the return on that amount is a joke.


Stan and coach Q should be fired along with Ulf and dinean the same day . This team is probably worse than last year.

They can't muster any sustainable offensive zone play with any threat , the power play and penalty kill Brutal.


That stupid pushem back is a joke,

Rocky wirtz if he had any common sense after watching this teams play and losses piling up he would fire Stan and coach Q immediately.
- Taylorst1

The Crown approves of this message.

I'm not saying those aren't good reasons, they are, I'm just too loyal to offer anything about what a gm should do. IF Crow or Toews or Kane or Keith or Seabs goes, that's the day I die. We lost Hammer and Panarin the same day, talk about big change ... and big bite in the keister.

Besides Crow, what are you thinking of big change? Who goes and who is the return?

Don't take this as snarky, I don't mean it like how it might sound. Why would Crow go to a cup contender team, they probably have their goalie already set, right? Or do you mean back-up or injury situation? 6 mil might be too pricy for that.
- I Am The Breadman

Players come and go, I am a long-time fan. Gone are the days when 1 player stayed with a team his entire career (yes it happens, but far less then in the past). At some point, all of those players are going to be gone/Injured/Retired(or will just be too bad to play anymore). s a fan, you need to expect that. Even coaches do not last forever.
You have to think, that if a team near the top, at the TDL, feels their goaltending can improve with a Crow in goal over their current guy, you have to let them know that Crow is willing to be their guy. that is why Stan needs to do his job and improve the team, any way he can. (If not Stan then the next GM).

Players come and go, I am a long-time fan. Gone are the days when 1 player stayed with a team his entire career (yes it happens, but far less then in the past). At some point, all of those players are going to be gone/Injured/Retired(or will just be too bad to play anymore). s a fan, you need to expect that. Even coaches do not last forever.
You have to think, that if a team near the top, at the TDL, feels their goaltending can improve with a Crow in goal over their current guy, you have to let them know that Crow is willing to be their guy. that is why Stan needs to do his job and improve the team, any way he can. (If not Stan then the next GM).
- powerenforcer

Yeah, I know, I get that and what you say makes sense. I'm a spoiled fan, well I started in 06, but I'm not a stupid fan. I know that everyone comes and goes. I try to look logically for the future and keep a level amount of positive outlook in our crap season. The worst heartbreak, besides Panarin, was losing Sharp on my birthday. It's rare that a team wins 3 Cups in a short amount of time, could have been 4, and those players still be here. It just really depends on nmc/ntc clauses ... will they be waived?

Yeah, I know, I get that and what you say makes sense. I'm a spoiled fan, well I started in 06, but I'm not a stupid fan. I try to look logically for the future and keep a level amount of positive outlook in our crap season. The worst heartbreak, besides Panarin, was losing Sharp on my birthday. It's rare that a team wins 3 Cups in a short amount of time, could have been 4, and those players still be here. It just really depends on nmc/ntc clauses ... will they be waived?
- I Am The Breadman

I understand you....I don't know what the correct thing to do is. In my mind though, it makes sense that if a big trade is made (or big change in coach/GM) then it will spark interest in a new way. We are all fed up with the way this team is playing, period. It doesn't matter who is at fault, if the team continues to play like this then the interest will die quickly. So, the hurt of losing a player or 2 will be outweighed by a new excitement.

I understand you....I don't know what the correct thing to do is. In my mind though, it makes sense that if a big trade is made (or big change in coach/GM) then it will spark interest in a new way. We are all fed up with the way this team is playing, period. It doesn't matter who is at fault, if the team continues to play like this then the interest will die quickly. So, the hurt of losing a player or 2 will be outweighed by a new excitement.
- powerenforcer

Yeah, 60 mins of great hockey is better than a period and a half ... if that haha. Most nights I feel like I lose my voice. Its better saying, what a great team than did you see that 1 great play or that player will be something big. Standouts during a crappy season are what I look for, but don't amount to a lot in the excitement scale.

When it comes it will sting. I know. Coach/gm, I will get over that faster. I'm more excited in who we have in Rock and who we still have yet to sign. We don't have a Kane or Toews developing anywhere, but d and goalie might be something to be excited about.

hey the good news is they have 20 games left combined: preds, aves, stars, jets

hey the good news is they have 20 games left combined: preds, aves, stars, jets


- bogiedoc

Maybe 10 points total out of those games?

I won’t bother trying to guess what will change but I agree that something will change if this keeps up. It might not be a big move, but I expect something.

- recall Sikura?
- small trade?
- big trade?
- fire Q?
- fire Stan?
- DarthKane

If they make any moves this soon - or this season - I hope that (a) they understand that it is unlikely that any of your moves above with turn this team into a Cup contender this year, so that (b) they keep the long term in mind when making any moves.

They need to have a good understanding of where their young players will slot next year and the year after, where the remaining holes are likely to be, and what moves need to be made to fill those holes.

Don’t do something for today that will not help the future, or will actually hurt.

Whether it’s playets, coaches, or front office - keep (what I hope is) the goal of future Cup contention in mind.

Clean house of coaches and mgmt....Draft in the top 3, Boquist, Mitchell, and the 2019 pick all make the team. Sign Anders Lee and Joel Edmunson. Schmaltz bridge deal. Trade Manning. Trade Gustafson. Trade Murphy.

Joki-Keith
Boquist-Seabs
Mitchell-Edmunson

You can already see empty seats at the UC. Why prolong the agony? Make a big splash and go for real change. LA already fired their coach, so the pressure is off for McD.
Someone asked earlier if Crow would want to waive his NTC. One should ask, why would he want to continue to play behind this team? He is showing he is capable of stealing games.....With a good defense in front of him. He is playing well enough to be a Cup contender. why not ask him if he is willing to move to a team that is a goalie short (Toronto, Florida, Edmonton).
- powerenforcer

Because his girlfriend (the mother of his child) and her entire family are from Chicago. and the last thing Crow, after finally recovering from his concussion, needs is the additional stress of cutting ties after 15 years with the Hawks to go to a new city and team.

If they make any moves this soon - or this season - I hope that (a) they understand that it is unlikely that any of your moves above with turn this team into a Cup contender this year, so that (b) they keep the long term in mind when making any moves.

They need to have a good understanding of where their young players will slot next year and the year after, where the remaining holes are likely to be, and what moves need to be made to fill those holes.

Don’t do something for today that will not help the future, or will actually hurt.

Whether it’s playets, coaches, or front office - keep (what I hope is) the goal of future Cup contention in mind.
- StLBravesFan

Yes, exactly. The next year or two might not exactly be "the long term" but it does seem like the championship window has been extended for the five core guys - 2, 7, 19, 50, & 88 - with their bounce back starts to the season. There are too many holes to fill for this year, but if they do make some trades, I hope it the core stays and whatever comes back in the trade can help in the next couple of years. Joki and ADB seem like keepers.

I don't really mind many of the higher paid guys on the team with term like Saad, Murphy, or Anisimov - Manning could go though - but if they can bring back guys that can improve the team over the next couple of years, i'd be ok with trading any of them. They'll have to figure out what they have with Schmaltz. If Rutta and Ward aren't in the long term plans, they might want to trade them for something this season.

For what it's worth, I'm not so sure firing Q is the way to go, not with the core playing well. He has proven that he can win championships with a championship roster, that is not an easy to find trait in a coach. I wouldn't give it up so easily. I doubt another coach could get much more out of this team over the past few years.

This team clearly BLOWS. The entire bottom 6 forwards are not worth a pot to piss in. This team has 3 legitimate top 6 guys , saad has had more inconsistency, schmaltz I'd trade him he isn't worth 6 or 7 million. Defense the only player whom has been a bright spot is the 19 yr old rookie Johki. Gustafson, rutta manning , Keith and Seabrook all need to be shown the door the amount of money tied up and the return on that amount is a joke.


Stan and coach Q should be fired along with Ulf and dinean the same day . This team is probably worse than last year.

They can't muster any sustainable offensive zone play with any threat , the power play and penalty kill Brutal.


That stupid pushem back is a joke,

Rocky wirtz if he had any common sense after watching this teams play and losses piling up he would fire Stan and coach Q immediately.
- Taylorst1

Well said

I wish more fans would wake up to these realizations as well...

Clean house of coaches and mgmt....Draft in the top 3, Boquist, Mitchell, and the 2019 pick all make the team. Sign Anders Lee and Joel Edmunson. Schmaltz bridge deal. Trade Manning. Trade Gustafson. Trade Murphy.

Joki-Keith
Boquist-Seabs
Mitchell-Edmunson
- EnzoD

Management is not my strong suit ... among a bunch of other things. Who is the best option to take over as gm and the best option for coach? If they are gone this season or next season, who do we want? I like Colliton, but I like him with the kids. Dineen, no, Ulf, no, Granato ... I don't know anything about him, but for interim it couldn't hurt? Q and Bowman have had successes and accomplishments not a lot can say in the nhl world, but them being replaced is unavoidable. Who helps us the most? I've said it before, and I hope it happens. Hossa behind the bench.

You can already see empty seats at the UC. Why prolong the agony? Make a big splash and go for real change. LA already fired their coach, so the pressure is off for McD.
Someone asked earlier if Crow would want to waive his NTC. One should ask, why would he want to continue to play behind this team? He is showing he is capable of stealing games.....With a good defense in front of him. He is playing well enough to be a Cup contender. why not ask him if he is willing to move to a team that is a goalie short (Toronto, Florida, Edmonton).
- powerenforcer

I have to think that before you start trading players, especially one’s like Crawford, you have to move out the the GM and coach. I mean do you really want Stan to start building something new at this point? I don’t think so.

I'm not saying those aren't good reasons, they are, I'm just too loyal to offer anything about what a gm should do. IF Crow or Toews or Kane or Keith or Seabs goes, that's the day I die. We lost Hammer and Panarin the same day, talk about big change ... and big bite in the keister.

Besides Crow, what are you thinking of big change? Who goes and who is the return?

Don't take this as snarky, I don't mean it like how it might sound. Why would Crow go to a cup contender team, they probably have their goalie already set, right? Or do you mean back-up or injury situation? 6 mil might be too pricy for that.
- I Am The Breadman

There just aren’t any player trades that are going to turn this team into a contender. It’d just be a futile effort in rearranging the deck chairs.

I think the best move is to show Bowman and Q the door. I’d let Dineen be a placeholder until you get a new GM and coach. Trading players before that just doesn’t make any sense. It’s kinda a$$ backwards.

There just aren’t any player trades that are going to turn this team into a contender. It’d just be a futile effort in rearranging the deck chairs.

I think the best move is to show Bowman and Q the door. I’d let Dineen be a placeholder until you get a new GM and coach. Trading players before that just doesn’t make any sense. It’s kinda a$$ backwards.
- walleyeb1

I would have agreed with you if 2, 7, 19, & 50 were playing at or below the level they did last year. But their play this year changed my thinking.

I have to think that before you start trading players, especially one’s like Crawford, you have to move out the the GM and coach. I mean do you really want Stan to start building something new at this point? I don’t think so.
- walleyeb1

I'm with you on this. With the core playing better and some good youngsters showing promise with a strong pipeline on at least defense and bottom 6 forwards, I would much rather a different GM build out the rest of the team from this starting base and a new coach (+ assistants) lead them both with the X's & O's and with development of the youth.

I know some don't think an NHL coach's job is to develop players (and there is an argument out there that Q isn't the best at developing players). I think that's partially true as, yes, there are other player personnel admin and coaches who work with the AHL squad and prospects in the NCAA, juniors, and Europe.

But there are still young players who will always be on the Hawks roster (actual number will vary year to year) and it's unrealistic to think they are 100% ready to excel with zero flaws. They will more often than not need to work on things.

Is Q the coach to do this? Maybe but I'm at the point where a new voice is needed and would rather see a new coaching staff lead the team in this new era just as I would rather see a new GM rebuild the team.