Sorry, I did forget him. I think he's probably a good jettison candidate. However, he'd be a fine 3rd pairing PP specialist on a decent team. Unfortunately we just can't shelter him enough to prevent tons of goals against. His defensive play is pretty bad. They last couple of games I've thought they should just put him at forward. He is good in the offensive zone and has some talented plays, but they need defensemen not more talented turnover machines.

His fancy stats looked outstanding heading into this season, but he doesn't pass the eye test now.
- ObeseOprah

Agreed. Either that or tell him to never go below the top of the face-off circle in the o-zone.

Have any of these players been on a cup winning team?
- powerenforcer

By that logic, you must be ecstatic with the Kunitz and Ward signings.

On Crawford's dipping numbers

https://chicago.suntimes....ype=cst_article&p=1494165

Watching him in the games and interviews of late, I suspect some of his post-concussion symptoms have returned, but only he could tell us that.
- pdx2ord

My first guess is that he needs to ease into the workload of old. Ward will probably need to play a bit more often for the time being.

So Stan fires the #2 most winning coach in NHL history and the owner of 3 cup rings in an effort to save his own skin and make it look like 'it was his fault'? You want changes - start by getting rid of the problem where it started. This team is done for this year and most likely for years to come. THANK YOU STAN for returning us to the early 2000's when the Hawks were at the bottom of the league.Because of you and you alone we will dwell there until you are gone. But the damage you have inflicted will endure.
- Garn.

Well said. A lot of people have some wishful thinking, and pie in the sky thoughts. It reminds me of the days with Pulford running this team his only thought was being cheap and ticket sales not putting a winning cohesive unit together.

Interesting ... in a bad way. Saad and Kruger injuries aren't helping.
- I Am The Breadman

Fortin is going to beat Anisimov and Hayden up the ice by 3 minutes. He'll play a game of sudoku, watch highlight clips of Stalberg breakaways that ended up missing the post by 10 feet, and by the time Anisimov drags his piano up the ice the puck will be headed the other way.

Keith for Nylander, a 1st, and a 4th.

Toronto needs D desperately and they are in no position to negotiate since Nylander isn't signed and won't sign with them.

Keith is a proven winner and he is a top 2 defender on most teams. He also has a pretty reasonable contract.

For once, the hawks have leverage and we have what Toronto wants/needs.
- RedRevenge

Whether Stanbo would trade Keith or whether #2 would waive to go is something we don't know.

But Toronto has another problem that Keith would solve for them - Jake 'I play defence like Erik Gustafsson' is UFA after this season and will be looking for a new contract in the $6-7 million range which the Leafs can't afford. The Hawks might take him back for the balance of the season and insist on a couple of Toronto's best minor league prospects of which they have quite a few.

My first guess is that he needs to ease into the workload of old. Ward will probably need to play a bit more often for the time being.
- 333inthe3rd

Yeah, that could definitely be it. Good news is that Ward is starting tonight.

With Stan at the helm, I can tell you what I think he'll do - which is move guys like Rutta and lower line forwards for limited return.

If it were me, I would try to move Anisimov and even entertain moving Schmaltz for the right price.

I don't think other bigger pieces get moved in-season IMO.
- Justin Lowe

Your spot on , however Ansimov, Keith, Seabrook, saad, murphy and schmaltz all need to be on the table in order to get instant cap relief and the best possible return for the future.

Tinkering around the edges is what has caused this poop show of a roster.

Another in what I'm sure will be a long series of "who is this guy?" articles about Colliton:

https://theathletic.com/6...re-he-arrived-in-chicago/

Johansson witnessed Mora’s players improve over that time, and he credited Colliton for their success.

“I’ve been around,” Johansson said. “I’ve been in Chicago with Darryl Sutter, I’ve been in Calgary with Dave King, Doug Risebrough, Terry Crisp, then I have some great Swedish coaches. But the way he acted, when he talks, you feel comfortable as a player. You’re not scared or frightened or anything. He believes when he’s telling everybody. Then it’s up to the boys to buy it or no. If you don’t buy it, you won’t play. If you buy it, you’ll be (successful). And he turned average players into great players.”

Have any of these players been on a cup winning team?
- powerenforcer

If you add Daley and Kempny for sure. But I would argue they were misused by Q so lets not blame Bowman for these 2 trades.

I fear Colliton was called up too soon to fail. They should have went with someone more experienced to finish this season.

Saad out again?? Any updates on his injury status?

Saad out again?? Any updates on his injury status?
- EnzoD

He didn't participate in morning skate and is still questionable for tonight.

He didn't participate in morning skate and is still questionable for tonight.
- BlackhawkMike

Just the guys' luck lately....finally starts to look like 2013-2015 Saad and he takes a puck in the face and injury to his "upper body"

Justin - good points. I have been calling for a while now for the very lines you talk about.

Schmaltz off-wing LW, Toews, Saad off-wing RW

DeBrincat off-wing LW, Anisimov, Kane off-wing RW

Toews as a shooter needs Schmaltz who is s passer. Kane needs a shooter who is naturally DeBrincat. Would rather have a faster, grittier, fore-checking Centre in place of Anisimov but you only can do what you can do. People forget that Kane once had chemistry with Shaw. Anisimov also hurts Kane as doesn’t win the draws. The other thing to do is flip-flop Toews and Anisimov. Many teams load up on the theory that the super-line will score enough itself to lead to many wins. C has played D - T - K together so far in spurts.

The Kahun in the top 6 experiment seems to be over for now. He has skill and speed and with less pressure on a lower line he will do fine. Needs to start finding the net a bit - only 1 goal.

C has to start truly seeing what is going on with the D. Can’t have blinders on for any player. Gus has been absolutely atrocious with Rutta only slightly better. Gus by himself gave away the Carolina game and for this he was AWARDED the most ice time.

One thing that hasn’t been discussed much is the disconnect between many fans believing it was time for Q to leave and C being hired. The two issues are not connected. I for one thought it was time for a change. However, was C the best choice to replace him? C can’t just talk of tweaking. Need a truly new approach and immedietely. Implimenting new systems is one thing. However to trot out the same or similar D pairs and lines is not acceptable. To talk about playing pressing hockey and then to not have a very strong forecheck is not acceptable. To continue to have the same tired, passive PK is not acceptable. To continue to have Schmaltz mess up the first PP is not acceptable. As Edzo says need Anisimov for net front presence - he was very effective last year and had many PP goals. Fair or not the clock is running.
- Z3Hawk

Just because you like players playing on their off wing, doesnt mean the people who actually play the game, like being on their off wing

I've know players that feel completely lost on their off wing and/or have a terrible time in their own zone/along the boards on their backhands/trying to receive outlets.

Keith for Nylander, a 1st, and a 4th.

Toronto needs D desperately and they are in no position to negotiate since Nylander isn't signed and won't sign with them.

Keith is a proven winner and he is a top 2 defender on most teams. He also has a pretty reasonable contract.

For once, the hawks have leverage and we have what Toronto wants/needs.
- RedRevenge

You're (frank)ing high if you think Keith gets you anything close to that.

I'm hoping to let go of the Q firing tomorrow or the day after that. But for now, an argument could be made that instead of firing Q after losing to the Blues in 7 or the Preds in 4, the team would have been better off firing Stan and hiring a GM who would work better with Q. I generally could understand what Stan was trying to do with his moves but clearly trading Panarin and/or Hammer was not something Q had bought into.

Right now the only reason McD is a problem is because he thinks Stan - or the combo of he and Stan - is the solution. Once he realizes he needs a hockey person to be responsible for the roster now and into the future - and then get out of the way - he'll be fine. He can run the organization and take care of the brand and marketing.

The front office and coaches need to get on the same page in terms of the planning horizon: how long will it reasonably take to get back into Cup contention and then act accordingly.
- matt_ahrens

Well said and in other words IMO this is an organIzational mess and it starts with Shovel Face sticking his nose into hockey decisions, the apparent reliance on ScottBow giving his son StanBow more rope than any other GM enjoys.

And as I thought going back a couple yrs this all falls to, and can only be fixed by, Rocky. Glass half full the firing of Q means they acknowledge a problem publicly and the following poor season they will have will further expose Stan and Shovel Face.

Nothing gets fixed until Rocky says I need to fix this not Shovel Face or StanBow. It's past hoping for or expecting that.

That said I again thank StanBow for doing no harm this offseason by tying up money in a JVR, Stastny, Neal, Vanek type instead bringing in known below average NHLers in Kunitz, Ward and Manning with little to no term/cap hit. Stan knew this roster was not getting much if anything done.

This will be important when Rocky brings in a new GM.

Just because you like players playing on their off wing, doesnt mean the people who actually play the game, like being on their off wing

I've know players that feel completely lost on their off wing and/or have a terrible time in their own zone/along the boards on their backhands/trying to receive outlets.
- PatShart

I never said I like all players on their off-wings. I actually like D-Men all on their natural wings. I like forwards on their off-wings, especially top 6 forwards. Allows better shooting angles and attack angles.

Saad out again?? Any updates on his injury status?
- EnzoD

Blackhawks official:

MEDICAL UPDATE: Marcus Kruger (left leg injury) will not play in tonight’s game at Carolina.

Brandon Saad (right arm injury) will not participate in morning skate. His status for tonight’s game will be determined later today.

You're (frank)ing high if you think Keith gets you anything close to that.
- GPHawksfan

Yes, although I’d like to see Keith retire as a Blackhawk, he checks a lot of boxes for TOR. They are in their win now window, DK is an experienced award winning D that can give veteran leadership and upgrade the TOR D. He also has a history with Babcock through Team Canada.

Maybe nor this exact deal, but it makes sense for both teams.

You’d also get less, but TOR also makes sense as a landing spot for Seabrook for the same reasons.

Both might waive NTC for a run at the Cup this year.

You're (frank)ing high if you think Keith gets you anything close to that.
- GPHawksfan

You maybe right. However Toronto is pretty much on this sugar high all in mentality to win the cup this year. They are looking for a defensemen, now I understand Keith's age, but he can still play better than most guys out their and his leadership, experience, reasonable cap hit for a proven leader if Toronto is that hungry and sees value then Keith would fetch a good return.

Yes, although I’d like to see Keith retire as a Blackhawk, he checks a lot of boxes for TOR. They are in their win now window, DK is an experienced award winning D that can give veteran leadership and upgrade the TOR D. He also has a history with Babcock through Team Canada.

Maybe nor this exact deal, but it makes sense for both teams.

You’d also get less, but TOR also makes sense as a landing spot for Seabrook for the same reasons.

Both might waive NTC for a run at the Cup this year.
- scottak

They need right shot dmen so I'm not sure how this fits their need at all.

I just hope Stanley and McD are not serious about this team being a playoff team. I don't want Stanley to trade what little high end young players/prospects we have for some older players that may help this year to get us in the playoffs.
- HamiltonHawk

Not sure this matters, they are on record as publicly saying so having played their change the coach card. So if they suck from here on out, miss the playoffs they blame their new coach? Remember they claim they have a playoff roster.

They miss the playoffs and management spins some more in the mean time fewer and fewer tickets, beer, jerseys and boxes get sold, the press highlights the idiocy of Shovel Face and Stan's playoff roster proclamations and Rocky feels the heat in his wallet he gets pushed closer to fixing what he as an executive sees is the problem, and I assume he's smart enough to know it ain't Colliton.

Lazerus:

So team president John McDonough and general manager Stan Bowman did Colliton no favors by insisting this is a playoff team — with Colliton sitting right there, no less.

“I wouldn’t label it as a rebuilding,” McDonough said. “I would reference it more as a remodeling. You still have Hall of Fame players. My expectations are that this is a playoff team. And if you get in, anything can happen. So that is the phase that we are in right now. You never know whether to call it a rebuild or a remodel. We want to win. We want to re-win. We want our building filled and we want our fans to see an exciting brand of hockey. Sometimes, as painful as it is, you need a fresh start.”

But this isn’t a fresh start. This is the opposite. This is throwing a 33-year-old coach with one year of North American coaching experience into one of the most scrutinized markets in the league and telling him he has to win. Now. With a roster the second-winningest coach in league history wasn’t winning with.

A roster that has now lost seven straight games following Saturday’s 4-0 defeat in Philadelphia.

And yet…

“I believe in this roster,” McDonough said at that press conference, later adding, “We’ve had an incredible 10-year run. But that’s over. That’s behind us. We don’t care about that. We’re worried right now about the 2018-19 season.”

Blackhawks lineup
Schmaltz-Toews-Kane
Fortin-Anisimov-Hayden
DeBrincat-Kampf-Kahun
Kunitz-Johnson-Martinsen

Keith-Seabrook
Gustafsson-Jokiharju
Davidson-Rutta

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) November 12, 2018

- DarthKane

The lines got left in the blender overnight and it poured out kinda rotten...The top line should be good though.