Let it blow up

Let the team suck, lose, get embarrassed nightly. It needs to happen.

Every Hawks fan needs to start getting used to the idea of losing now so that we can eventually win in the years to come.

The higher the draft pick, the better. Same goes for next year(we'll most likely still be an awful team next year too).

There's no point in worrying about the old core, the old identity, etc....most of those guys(including if possible Kane and Toews) should be getting traded if possible, for additional top draft picks and cap relief.

Also, another positive that will come with the losing is Bowman getting fired. And a new GM will take over.

All these major changes need to happen. We need to move on in the front office, like we've moved on with the head coach. And we need to(despite how hard it might be) forget about the Kane/Toews/Keith/Seabrook core. Its time to move on, and start from scratch.

Trying to figure out how to please these guys, or get the locker room to gel, or sustain some sort of positive/winning attitude is POINTLESS. There is no worse place to be in team sports than mediocre/below average. If you're gonna miss the playoffs, you MUST look for ways to draft as high as possible(AKA tank). Its gonna suck for a few years.....

....but just imagine hypothetically drafting in the top 5 this year and next....and trading big contracts/core pieces for more draft picks....and combining all that young talent with DeBrincat, Schmaltz, and our current group of young, up and coming defenseman. THAT is the line of thinking we need to have, that's what we need to be looking forward to. That is the formula to rebuilding an eventual Cup contender. The only way to get there, unfortunately, is to suffer first. Lose A LOT of games. Its gotta happen.
- SimpleJack

I don’t think it needed to happen before the Q firing but I do now. The only way out is through - through the pain of a real rebuild. The press conference Tuesday was complete BS. This configuration of the team isn’t going anywhere but down.

I don’t think it needed to happen before the Q firing but I do now. The only way out is through - through the pain of a real rebuild. The press conference Tuesday was complete BS. This configuration of the team isn’t going anywhere but down.
- matt_ahrens

I know it sucks, because we were such a great team with pride and a winning attitude.

But nothing stays the same forever, and when the time comes its important to commit to rebuilding in one, full throttle thrust....(meaning clean house with coach, GM, old core, etc.)....instead of being wishy washy and placing the team just outside of the playoffs in no mans land, unable to content yet unable to draft game changing talent. Where did we find Toews and Kane? Where did Toronto find Matthews? Penguins and Crosby? Edmonton and McDavid? These are talents that you're gonna find drafting top 3, or at least top 5. Not 15-20. It must be done.

Some news unrelated to Q or Colliton - 2018 4th Round draft pick Philipp Kurashev, playing for Quebec in the QMJHL scored a goal and 2 assists tonight and has now moved into the top-10 in scoring with 26 points in 21 games. I really liked him in rookie camp. He's a good skater, got decent size at 6'1" / 190lbs, plays physical, and has good offensive skills.

Some mistakes?

SOME!?!?!?!

How can you defend him at this point...honestly?

The Kane/Toews contracts

The Seabrook contract

Bickell contract, and subsequent loss of Teravainen

The Leddy trade

The Hammer trade

The Sharp trade

The Saad trade

The Danault trade

The Panarin trade

The loss of role guys like Hartman, Hinstroza(to get rid of Hossa's contract only to not use the cap space and/or do little with it), Panik, Duclair, etc.

Rundblad(enough said)

Timonen(enough said)

Kunitz signing, overpaying Kruger and bringing him back, Ward signing, letting Raanta go .....it goes on and on and on and on and on and on.

What were his good moves?

How in gods name this guy has a job still is beyond me.

He systematically destroyed our roster, slowly, methodically, and without mercy. He tortured and ravaged us. The pain. The anguish. Its been BRUTAL what he's done to this team. My god there's no other words for it.

And yet you wanna brush it aside and act like it was mainly the head coaches fault!?!?!?!



Look....you can kiss the playoffs goodbye. We're not gonna "turn it around" gimme a break. No other way to put it, we're finished. And your best bet is to root for as many losses as possible, see my other post.
- SimpleJack

Wow tell us how you really feel .Guess you have it all figured out hey .Never said he was perfect .
Towes Kane contact look better by the day ,player signing now for more who have proven or won anything .
Seabrook ,can't have it both ways . As trading Hammer has been blasted as would Seebs at the time . The Hammer deal would and still could look good . Coach Q had not taken out his anger on Murphy ,and given him a chance .
Bickel who knew the man would become ill You TT would still be being dragged through the mud here like he was when he was here
All your Sunday morning GM is great ,but really there were reasons ans circumstances for most .every deal .
The signing This year of Kuntiz Manning and Ward look to me to be Q guy's ,so Stan gave Q what he wanted . And he hung himself . Q has been a cancer on this team for the past 3 years .
Stan worse move was giving Q that big contract ..
Enjoy your glass 1/2 empty ..

Good God Almighty ... is it finally Thursday?

Good God Almighty ... is it finally Thursday?
- I Am The Breadman

Yes. Yes it is.

I wonder if JC got any sleep last night.

Yes. Yes it is.

I wonder if JC got any sleep last night.
- Justin Lowe

He "seems" like a calm, cool, and collected guy. He probably spent some time puking before going to bed, maybe even into today before the game haha. I really want to know what Olczyck thinks about this move, I think he will subtly make jabs tonight.

Some mistakes?

SOME!?!?!?!

How can you defend him at this point...honestly?

The Kane/Toews contracts

The Seabrook contract

Bickell contract, and subsequent loss of Teravainen

The Leddy trade

The Hammer trade

The Sharp trade

The Saad trade

The Danault trade

The Panarin trade

The loss of role guys like Hartman, Hinstroza(to get rid of Hossa's contract only to not use the cap space and/or do little with it), Panik, Duclair, etc.

Rundblad(enough said)

Timonen(enough said)

Kunitz signing, overpaying Kruger and bringing him back, Ward signing, letting Raanta go .....it goes on and on and on and on and on and on.

What were his good moves?

How in gods name this guy has a job still is beyond me.

He systematically destroyed our roster, slowly, methodically, and without mercy. He tortured and ravaged us. The pain. The anguish. Its been BRUTAL what he's done to this team. My god there's no other words for it.

And yet you wanna brush it aside and act like it was mainly the head coaches fault!?!?!?!



Look....you can kiss the playoffs goodbye. We're not gonna "turn it around" gimme a break. No other way to put it, we're finished. And your best bet is to root for as many losses as possible, see my other post.
- SimpleJack

I hope you don't own a gun or live in a highrise.

I hope you don't own a gun or live in a highrise.
- paulr

"A gun rack ... a gun rack. Shyeah right. I don't even own a gun, let alone many guns that would necessitate an entire rack." -Wayne's World

"A gun rack ... a gun rack. Shyeah right. I don't even own a gun, let alone many guns that would necessitate an entire rack." -Wayne's World
- I Am The Breadman

Schwinnngggg

Schwinnngggg
- paulr

Hahahaha

Good God Almighty ... is it finally Thursday?
- I Am The Breadman

Another day - another mass killing by a gunman.

Boyle intimated in the latest Blackhawks Talk podcast that the team also considered/talked to two proven, but unnamed, NHL coaches who happen to be unemployed right now. Trotz? Sutter?
- pdx2ord

Trotz isn't unemployed, he's the head coach of the Islanders.

Trotz isn't unemployed, he's the head coach of the Islanders.
- Jance

And he has them playing well after losing Tavares for nothing.

Wow tell us how you really feel .Guess you have it all figured out hey .Never said he was perfect .
Towes Kane contact look better by the day ,player signing now for more who have proven or won anything .
Seabrook ,can't have it both ways . As trading Hammer has been blasted as would Seebs at the time . The Hammer deal would and still could look good . Coach Q had not taken out his anger on Murphy ,and given him a chance .
Bickel who knew the man would become ill You TT would still be being dragged through the mud here like he was when he was here
All your Sunday morning GM is great ,but really there were reasons ans circumstances for most .every deal .
The signing This year of Kuntiz Manning and Ward look to me to be Q guy's ,so Stan gave Q what he wanted . And he hung himself . Q has been a cancer on this team for the past 3 years .
Stan worse move was giving Q that big contract ..
Enjoy your glass 1/2 empty ..
- oldduffman

Well said, seems we have many country club fans who have bought into Q system.

Bottom line is there are many other NHL coaches that have dealt with injuries and other adversity, but yet still found a way to keep their teams competitive. The Hawks for 3 years have looked disjointed on the ice. Whether is be core or roll players. They have been very inconsistent, shift to shift, period to period, game to game. That right there is why he was fired and should be fired.

If fans are waiting around for Stan to provide 15 olympic players again, then I don't know what to say. That was an anomaly. Almost like seeing a unicorn. Yet fans throw tantrums, throw up their hands and make excuses for players and coaches. That is entitlement and "country club".

It is going to be interesting to see how conflicted many fans become when this team starts playing more consistent and finds ways to win more games.

Another day - another mass killing by a gunman.
- StLBravesFan

Good to know you said you were done with that, and going to move forward past that to end it.

Seems odd to me to replace a HoF coach with a completely unproven guy.

Not dogging Colliton, but I was always under the impression you had to kind take your lumps and learn/get experience as an assistant and work your way up at the NHL level - from a coaching standpoint.

This guy might have the element of surprise, being that he’s fresh, has a different outlook, etc. But it’s just still odd to me.

I don’t know. I guess we’ll see. Curious as to the reception he gets from players. Again, if you start out as an assistant, you get to kind of know the team and build a relationship with the players. He’s working on one season with the Hogs...
- Hank3Henshaw

No. Just look and read at the dozens of coaches on this blog/thread/forum. Coaching an NHL team is knda easy.

Wow tell us how you really feel .Guess you have it all figured out hey .Never said he was perfect .
Towes Kane contact look better by the day ,player signing now for more who have proven or won anything .
Seabrook ,can't have it both ways . As trading Hammer has been blasted as would Seebs at the time . The Hammer deal would and still could look good . Coach Q had not taken out his anger on Murphy ,and given him a chance .
Bickel who knew the man would become ill You TT would still be being dragged through the mud here like he was when he was here
All your Sunday morning GM is great ,but really there were reasons ans circumstances for most .every deal .
The signing This year of Kuntiz Manning and Ward look to me to be Q guy's ,so Stan gave Q what he wanted . And he hung himself . Q has been a cancer on this team for the past 3 years .
Stan worse move was giving Q that big contract ..
Enjoy your glass 1/2 empty ..
- oldduffman

Reading through these pages, finally find something that makes sense about this whole thing.
Firing Q was the right thing to do and better sooner than later. Even the staunchest Q supporters would have been supporting this move as the team would inevitably have just continued spinning its wheels. Time to move on. I have regained interest in the team and have something to look forward to in upcoming games. And if a rebuild is in order then I look forward to that too. It was a good run.

Q's firing is still sinking in.

I can't stop thinking that this is a huge mistake, especially right now.

Young coaches with zero NHL coaching experience are brought in to work with and develop a young team with an eye towards championship contention a few years down the road, not to win a Cup this year, next year, or the year after that.

- matt_ahrens

I point you to exhibit A: Mike Sullivan

I know he actually coached a couple of years for the Boston Bruins, but that was in 2002-2004, so still a very unproven coach at the NHL level. Who went on to win a cup the same year he was named head coach, with a suspect Defense and a bunch of up and coming young guys with an aging core. Sound familiar??

I point you to exhibit A: Mike Sullivan

I know he actually coached a couple of years for the Boston Bruins, but that was in 2002-2004, so still a very unproven coach at the NHL level. Who went on to win a cup the same year he was named head coach, with a suspect Defense and a bunch of up and coming young guys with an aging core. Sound familiar??

- ToewsdNKanefusd

Sullivan won with a team that included a revitalized and healthy Sidney Crosby, Toews seems to be healthy and revitalized too.

Sullivan won with a team that included a revitalized and healthy Sidney Crosby, Toews seems to be healthy and revitalized too.
- paulr

He also had a GM who was willing to make big moves and changes. Sullivan preached a speedy game with a heavy forecheck, and noted the penguins were missing the speed aspect, so Rutherford went out and traded for Hagelin. He had also added Kessel in the off season.

Not saying it's not possible, but Bowman is gonna need to be willing to take risks and cut bait on bad investments, something he's show little appetite for doing in the past.

Some mistakes?

SOME!?!?!?!

How can you defend him at this point...honestly?

The Kane/Toews contracts

The Seabrook contract

Bickell contract, and subsequent loss of Teravainen

The Leddy trade

The Hammer trade

The Sharp trade

The Saad trade

The Danault trade

The Panarin trade

The loss of role guys like Hartman, Hinstroza(to get rid of Hossa's contract only to not use the cap space and/or do little with it), Panik, Duclair, etc.

Rundblad(enough said)

Timonen(enough said)

Kunitz signing, overpaying Kruger and bringing him back, Ward signing, letting Raanta go .....it goes on and on and on and on and on and on.

What were his good moves?

How in gods name this guy has a job still is beyond me.

He systematically destroyed our roster, slowly, methodically, and without mercy. He tortured and ravaged us. The pain. The anguish. Its been BRUTAL what he's done to this team. My god there's no other words for it.

And yet you wanna brush it aside and act like it was mainly the head coaches fault!?!?!?!



Look....you can kiss the playoffs goodbye. We're not gonna "turn it around" gimme a break. No other way to put it, we're finished. And your best bet is to root for as many losses as possible, see my other post.
- SimpleJack

I would also like to add that when Stan had to blow up the 09-10 team the returns were underwhelming. Yes, Stan's back was against the wall, but the team has nothing to show for Buff, Ladd, et. al. from that first sell off. Even the draft picks they acquired didn't pan out. I'm not very confident in this management group's ability to navigate a rebuild.

I think the team's amateur scouting and drafting has improved, but their pro scouting and ability to improve through trades is highly, highly suspect.

I point you to exhibit A: Mike Sullivan

I know he actually coached a couple of years for the Boston Bruins, but that was in 2002-2004, so still a very unproven coach at the NHL level. Who went on to win a cup the same year he was named head coach, with a suspect Defense and a bunch of up and coming young guys with an aging core. Sound familiar??

- ToewsdNKanefusd

Mike Sullivan is 50 years old now, which means he was 47 three years ago when he took over the Pens. You’re right that he was also HC of Boston in 2003 - 2005, when he was about Colliton’s age.

So, yes, I think Mike Sullivan is a good comparison. After Colliton is HC in Chicago for a couple of years, then an assistant for another dozen years or so, he’ll be ready to take over a talented club and lead them to a Cup or two.

If he can do that now with this team, hey, good on him! But like many new Blackhawk acquisitions over recent years, the front office is hoping a big gamble pays off and the stars align. They really don’t have a plan.

He also had a GM who was willing to make big moves and changes. Sullivan preached a speedy game with a heavy forecheck, and noted the penguins were missing the speed aspect, so Rutherford went out and traded for Hagelin. He had also added Kessel in the off season.

Not saying it's not possible, but Bowman is gonna need to be willing to take risks and cut bait on bad investments, something he's show little appetite for doing in the past.
- Jance

Might it be easier for Bowman to make successful moves now that he has his coaching staff onside?

Mike Sullivan is 50 years old now, which means he was 47 three years ago when he took over the Pens. You’re right that he was also HC of Boston in 2003 - 2005, when he was about Colliton’s age.

So, yes, I think Mike Sullivan is a good comparison. After Colliton is HC in Chicago for a couple of years, then an assistant for another dozen years or so, he’ll be ready to take over a talented club and lead them to a Cup or two.

If he can do that now with this team, hey, good on him! But like many new Blackhawk acquisitions over recent years, the front office is hoping a big gamble pays off and the stars align. They really don’t have a plan.
- matt_ahrens

Colliton's still needs talent around him. Will Stan make that happen this season? I'm excited to see what Colli can do, but Stand needs to make a deal sooner rather than later.