I liked Vinny and his engine, but he was kind of expendable. Glad he's doing well for himself in AZ.

Hawks have some really nice speedy guys in Fortin and Johnson.

Have to look forward, not backwards.
- Hank3Henshaw

Totally agree, hope for his continued success. He just happened to be the price to get Hossa off our books, which has helped in the cap space we have accrued, and we got Mackenzie Entwistle, who could pan out to be a special player. Probably butchered the spelling on his name.

Mike Keenan available?

Totally agree, hope for his continued success. He just happened to be the price to get Hossa off our books, which has helped in the cap space we have accrued, and we got Mackenzie Entwistle, who could pan out to be a special player. Probably butchered the spelling on his name.
- I Am The Breadman

from what i saw last year....Osterle was nothing special or even to describe as lots of upside. Good for Hinny!!! if stan is still here, Vinny will be back, its Stans MO

Mike Keenan available?


- BlackhawkMike

i think Keenan would be an upgrade over Konroyd

i think Keenan would be an upgrade over Konroyd
- glennjpawlak22

Ben Stein is an upgrade over Stevie K. He can even hand out money during the intermissions.

Agree with you on Oesterle.

Okay NHL GM, since you're the expert, with average reading skills, how bout contributing to the discussion as to what it would take for the Hawks to acquire him back?
- nickmo2699

Why do you morons continue with this narrative??

PANARIN IS NOT COMING BACK!!!!!!

That ship sailed when they realized he is a racist and thinks the WC is more important than the NHL playoffs.

Just try to think about this - they knew what they had - while they had him. If management considered only his regular season play - don't you think he would still be here???

There are reasons why he is gone - and salary was not one of them.

So please stop with this B.S. - pro hockey is not NHL19 - personalities and attitudes matter.

I liked Vinny and his engine, but he was kind of expendable. Glad he's doing well for himself in AZ.

Hawks have some really nice speedy guys in Fortin and Johnson.

Have to look forward, not backwards.
- Hank3Henshaw

While I agree in principle I’m afraid at this point the recent past appears to look better than the near term future.

While I agree in principle I’m afraid at this point the recent past appears to look better than the near term future.
- walleyeb1

ToewsdNKanefusd says there will be a Stanley Cup parade in 2021. Mark your calendar.

So the narrative today is the same old same old Fire this guy and that guy. Ok arm chair GM's who do you replace Stan with?

So the narrative today is the same old same old Fire this guy and that guy. Ok arm chair GM's who do you replace Stan with?
- SaskHawkFan

If looking internally, go with Norm Maciver. Very intelligent hockey guy. Take it with a grain of salt, but I remember a blog or two ago someone posted a rumor that Maciver is considered the brighest person in the room yet Stan doesn't listen to him.

Couple that rumor with one from the summer around the draft that Stan isn't on the same page with Mark Kelley and the rest of the scouting staff. If both rumors are true, then I would make sure a new GM listens to all advice to make the best decisions possible.

External candidates? Not sure.

So the narrative today is the same old same old Fire this guy and that guy. Ok arm chair GM's who do you replace Stan with?
- SaskHawkFan

Wayne Gretzky

So the narrative today is the same old same old Fire this guy and that guy. Ok arm chair GM's who do you replace Stan with?
- SaskHawkFan

If Q is the one to go, I would do a total reboot of the entire coaching staff since Dineen and Ulf are both his guys (at least Dineen is, I'm pretty sure Ulf is too). My gut is that Dineen and Ulf are part of the problem if special teams and team defense are so lousy. Can't all be on Q.

If anyone is to be retained, I would think it would be Granato but only in an interim role until a permanent head coach is hired.

If looking internally, go with Norm Maciver. Very intelligent hockey guy. Take it with a grain of salt, but I remember a blog or two ago someone posted a rumor that Maciver is considered the brighest person in the room yet Stan doesn't listen to him.

Couple that rumor with one from the summer around the draft that Stan isn't on the same page with Mark Kelley and the rest of the scouting staff. If both rumors are true, then I would make sure a new GM listens to all advice to make the best decisions possible.

External candidates? Not sure.
- AEL_Fox

I like the idea of Maciver taking over, try internally first and see if that works.

if its true that Stan doesn't listen to his scouts why bother having them? Ive been a wait and see kinda of guy but i think its time to make some moves.

So the narrative today is the same old same old Fire this guy and that guy. Ok arm chair GM's who do you replace Stan with?
- SaskHawkFan

Lombardi Chelios Mac giver etc..

Lombardi Chelios Maciveretc..
- Scott1977

Lombardi Chelios Mac giver etc..
- Scott1977

Go with Maciver either as a permanent or interim GM with Chelios as an assistant or associate GM. Maciver has at least been in a position to be groomed as an NHL GM whether in Chicago or elsewhere.

Has Chelios expressed interest in being a GM? If so, he needs to gain some experience first unless he got some in Detroit. Didn't really follow his career after he retired.

So the narrative today is the same old same old Fire this guy and that guy. Ok arm chair GM's who do you replace Stan with?
- SaskHawkFan

I don't think this has anything to do with a narrative. The Hawks are playing bad hockey, with the same problems they have had for the last 2+years.

PP near the worst in the league
PK near the worst in the league
Giving up way too many great opportunities
Playing too much perimeter hockey in the o-zone

Are you suggesting that we just keep plowing forward with the same staff and hope it gets better (serious question)? How long do you do that with the same results before you say "a change needs to be made"?

I'm finally in the group that says we should change out Q and Stan. They have each done things (or not done things) to worsen the problem. Stan's moves the last two offseasons have been quite negative. Yes there are some finds, but between the contracts he has given out and the returns on the trades, it is pretty clear that he is not doing his job all that well.

Q is a great coach, but if you see that you don't have the horses to run "your style" you either have to change out the players, change your style, or change your coach.

I really like what Kirk Muller teaches, and I honestly think Dave Tippett would be a decent choice. He has shown that he can be very productive with some decent players on the roster.

Damn it . I thought at the start Hawks would be a lottery team then I got optimistic that hey maybe they are going to be good Such a tough spot to be in. You don't want to waste these years of Kane , Toews, and Crawford but it may have to be full rebuild , which will take awhile. Hawks are considered to be one of the worst in terms of prospects.
I really really do not know what Stanley was trying to accomplish this past off season. Losing Hossa contract was great and then everything afterwards I don't understand.

I don't think this has anything to do with a narrative. The Hawks are playing bad hockey, with the same problems they have had for the last 2+years.

PP near the worst in the league
PK near the worst in the league
Giving up way too many great opportunities
Playing too much perimeter hockey in the o-zone

Are you suggesting that we just keep plowing forward with the same staff and hope it gets better (serious question)? How long do you do that with the same results before you say "a change needs to be made"?

I'm finally in the group that says we should change out Q and Stan. They have each done things (or not done things) to worsen the problem. Stan's moves the last two offseasons have been quite negative. Yes there are some finds, but between the contracts he has given out and the returns on the trades, it is pretty clear that he is not doing his job all that well.

Q is a great coach, but if you see that you don't have the horses to run "your style" you either have to change out the players, change your style, or change your coach.

I really like what Kirk Muller teaches, and I honestly think Dave Tippett would be a decent choice. He has shown that he can be very productive with some decent players on the roster.
- Chunk

Good post. I'm in the same camp as you. For the 1st bolded part, the Hawks have been at this crossroad at least twice before at the end of the previous two seasons and now just one fifth of the season in. You can't fire all of the players either.

For the 2nd bolded part, I haven't heard good things about Tippett. Many of his former players didn't like playing for him. Maybe Muller? Don't know much about him but never heard anything bad besides being inexperienced.

Damn it . I thought at the start Hawks would be a lottery team then I got optimistic that hey maybe they are going to be good Such a tough spot to be in. You don't want to waste these years of Kane , Toews, and Crawford but it may have to be full rebuild , which will take awhile. Hawks are considered to be one of the worst in terms of prospects.
I really really do not know what Stanley was trying to accomplish this past off season. Losing Hossa contract was great and then everything afterwards I don't understand.
- HamiltonHawk

Depending on how it's framed I would disagree about the Hawks prospect system. They're not A+ or top 10 but they're definitely improved quite a bit over the past 2-3 drafts. At least middle of the pack and trending upward.

Good post. I'm in the same camp as you. For the 1st bolded part, the Hawks have been at this crossroad at least twice before at the end of the previous two seasons and now just one fifth of the season in. You can't fire all of the players either.

For the 2nd bolded part, I haven't heard good things about Tippett. Many of his former players didn't like playing for him. Maybe Muller? Don't know much about him but never heard anything bad besides being inexperienced.
- AEL_Fox

Not arguing, but there are a lot of former players that don't like Q either. I think you will get that with every coach (successful or not). If players aren’t used the way they think they should, or get the ice time they think they deserve, you have “problems”

Not arguing, but there are a lot of former players that don't like Q either. I think you will get that with every coach (successful or not). If players aren’t used the way they think they should, or get the ice time they think they deserve, you have “problems”
- Chunk

Good point.

If Q is the one to go, I would do a total reboot of the entire coaching staff since Dineen and Ulf are both his guys (at least Dineen is, I'm pretty sure Ulf is too). My gut is that Dineen and Ulf are part of the problem if special teams and team defense are so lousy. Can't all be on Q.

If anyone is to be retained, I would think it would be Granato but only in an interim role until a permanent head coach is hired.
- AEL_Fox

All three (Q, Dineen, Ulf) buddies from Hartford IIRC. Granato has been taking the in game interviews. Wonder if he is doing the looking over the shoulder that Q did with Savvy. If Q and his crew go mid season does Granato take the reins? Also think Colliton is proving himself a very capable coach.

Good post. I'm in the same camp as you. For the 1st bolded part, the Hawks have been at this crossroad at least twice before at the end of the previous two seasons and now just one fifth of the season in. You can't fire all of the players either.

For the 2nd bolded part, I haven't heard good things about Tippett. Many of his former players didn't like playing for him. Maybe Muller? Don't know much about him but never heard anything bad besides being inexperienced.
- AEL_Fox

That’s my thinking for those who are in the “Q should be shown more respect given what he has accomplished" camp. He seems to have survived a playoff sweep at end of a season when they were the top WC team (and it was more how they lost than that they lost, IMO), followed by a no-playoffs year when other coaches would likely not have been given that leeway. I think that was the respect being shown. However, if this year resembles last, and no improvements to things like the PP are made, it’s time.

Duclair (Columbus) -8 points
Hartman (Nashville) -7 points
Both would be in the top 6 in Hawks stats.

Replaced by aging Kunitz -2 points
Nice asset management. No wonder this team is struggling!
- 67hawks

some context is important as usual..

Duclair played poorly in his time with the hawks (even he admitted it) then got hurt in a cheap shot and missed the the last 10 games. Hawks were not going to resign him...so good for him.

Hartman was done here: bad pens, mediocre performance and bad attitude (depending on who you want to believe); also he basically MIA with the preds and was a eating popcorn during the playoffs...ang again I now say good for him.

you can't cherry pick 13-14 games and say wow wish we still had him