Skinner was available and he is tearing it up in buffalo, JVR would be a nice fit alongside Toews over saad who has regressed DE HAAN nice pick up . St Louis acquires Bozak and ROR for a steal . You have bodekker, Duchene..

You had JT who Toronto acquired. Now he might be a cap stretch but after getting smoked 4 and out then missing the playoffs , with no honest depth in Rockford and a core whom time is ticking away before your eyes.


Stan has never been one to make a big splash it's always tinkering around the edges.

The only person to blame is Stan for his handling of contracts and salaries which he tied his own hands. So he made the mistake he needed to figure out how to rectify it. Manning nd Davidson should not have been signed . You have nice depth in Rockford defenseman wise to bring up .
- Taylorst1

I am beginning to wonder how much of this is StanBo and how much is McDonut?

OMFG......

CC is NOT the problem. The crapshow in front of him is the problem.

Do you actually watch these games? Have you ever played goalie. let alone hockey? This team is TERRIBLE and getting worse. Trying to hang it on the goalie is a way to deny the root cause of the problem - LACK OF TALENT.

No goalie in the history of the NHL could bail out this team - unless they can score goals too. And honestly, Ward has been playing pretty solidly too.

The list of not good enoughs and never gonna bes is growing, not shrinking, and there are no answers in Rockford, or they would have been here already.

Schmaltz - find a buyer
Saad - find a buyer
Murphy - find a buyer
Hayden, Kampf, Kruger, Martinsen, Gustafsson, Manning, Ruuta, Johnson - entire bottom six platoon and entire 3-? D corps all AHL at best.

I do think Q did his due diligence and the best of what's around was generally on the game time roster most nights. The cupboard is bare and its beans and rice until they can find the next batch of cattle. Q's work has exposed the true nature of the pipeline, and that is squarely on whomever makes those decisions.

I suspect SB and McD did not appreciate being indirectly called out for their personnel decisions (especially the regression of Schmaltz and Saad) and put it on Q to make NHL players out of those who are not. He didn't perform magic, so he is gone.

I still have a feeling that Colliton is here in part because no one else wanted to be here now. And he too shall fail for the same reason Q did - not enough talent.

This team owes CC, not the other way around.
- Return of the Roar

Nope, never played goalie, and not blaming this on Crow. The talent in front of him is to blame.

But, after looking like the Crow of old his first few games back, the fact is, his numbers are slipping and, to me, when I DO WATCH THESE GAMES, his reflexes and reaction times seem slower and he seems to be not himself in the interviews.

Just my opinion and in no way anything on my part but worry for him IF his symptoms have returned in any way.

I think your reaching on the medical assessment, at least hope your wrong for Cro's sake.
- riozzo

I hope I am and that it's down only to the poor play in front of him or just regular performance ups and downs in a season. I really do.

Colliton explains his thinking on the new lines / pairings:

https://twitter.com/NHLBl...tatus/1062072664649396224

Interesting perspective, and I can see the following rationale:

1. Take away the dependency on and deference to the vets that the the young guys have. See if they will play more on instinct instead of overthinking.

2. Figure out which young guys have the skills and heart to make it on their own. Use that in determining which should be swapped out for those waiting in the wings.

Never say never....


- EnzoD

Funny that is awesome if Toronto is desperate enough and if babchock has anything input on the matter maybe but just don't see it happening.

It is not good news but I think sadly on a wider front. Crow simply does not seem right. Not tracking puck either side to side or quickly on the stick of players breaking in. Losing his net and angles. In post-game interview just didn’t seem himself either. Oh I despise Malkin.
- Z3Hawk

So on top of being a lawyer like you say, you're a brain specialist and a therapist too? You have no idea what's going on with Crawford but run your mouth like it's fact. Maybe he pissed about coaching change and playing on a dog poop team?

Colliton explains his thinking on the new lines / pairings:

https://twitter.com/NHLBl...tatus/1062072664649396224

Interesting perspective, and I can see the following rationale:

1. Take away the dependency on and deference to the vets that the the young guys have. See if they will play more on instinct instead of overthinking.

2. Figure out which young guys have the skills and heart to make it on their own. Use that in determining which should be swapped out for those waiting in the wings.
- pdx2ord

Interesting presser!

I am beginning to wonder how much of this is StanBo and how much is McDonut?
- riozzo

I'd say it's a coin toss between dumb and dummer... Stan whole argument throughout his time here has been the salary cap and it has limited his ability to go out and land big ticket players and some of his tweaks worked , but his internal players contracts he over paid and locked up guys for ridiculous terms and when each season ended instead of letting bottom 6 guys walk he opened the check book in turn he traded away Tevo all because he overpaid Bickell.

So on top of being a lawyer like you say, you're a brain specialist and a therapist too? You have no idea what's going on with Crawford but run your mouth like it's fact. Maybe he pissed about coaching change and playing on a dog poop team?
- GPHawksfan

It wouldn't surprise me if both Crawford and Ward are both pissed off at this poop show of a supporting cast around them who can't play or defend and leave these 2 goalies out to dry.

OMFG......

CC is NOT the problem. The crapshow in front of him is the problem.

Do you actually watch these games? Have you ever played goalie. let alone hockey? This team is TERRIBLE and getting worse. Trying to hang it on the goalie is a way to deny the root cause of the problem - LACK OF TALENT.

No goalie in the history of the NHL could bail out this team - unless they can score goals too. And honestly, Ward has been playing pretty solidly too.

The list of not good enoughs and never gonna bes is growing, not shrinking, and there are no answers in Rockford, or they would have been here already.

Schmaltz - find a buyer
Saad - find a buyer
Murphy - find a buyer
Hayden, Kampf, Kruger, Martinsen, Gustafsson, Manning, Ruuta, Johnson - entire bottom six platoon and entire 3-? D corps all AHL at best.

I do think Q did his due diligence and the best of what's around was generally on the game time roster most nights. The cupboard is bare and its beans and rice until they can find the next batch of cattle. Q's work has exposed the true nature of the pipeline, and that is squarely on whomever makes those decisions.

I suspect SB and McD did not appreciate being indirectly called out for their personnel decisions (especially the regression of Schmaltz and Saad) and put it on Q to make NHL players out of those who are not. He didn't perform magic, so he is gone.

I still have a feeling that Colliton is here in part because no one else wanted to be here now. And he too shall fail for the same reason Q did - not enough talent.

This team owes CC, not the other way around.
- Return of the Roar

Potential coaches left and right are turning down coaching an Original Six team in a world class city because they don't find the roster up to their standards. Right!!!!

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

That Anisimov line will get caved in. The Kunitz line has a combined 4 points, all assists. We better hope for an Avalanche level of top line, otherwise this game setup will not go well.

Jokiharju gets to babysit Gus tonight, hopefully one of them stays at the red line. Davidson-Rutta might make me change the channel, what a terrifying combo. I feel bad for Davidson trying to cut it while he gets the chance, but he and Rutta likely won't be in the NHL in 2 years.

Are there really no replacement-level D men available right now? Enstrom didn't get resigned, neither did Weircoch, Oduya, Paul Martin, and a handful of others.

I know that old and slow defensemen are a death sentence in today's game, but at least these guys know where to stay and swing their stick around with one hand like table hockey player. They need to do something, ANYTHING, about the Rutta/Davidson/Manning platoon from hell.

The underlying theme on this board from just about every poster reflects the fact that no healing has begun for the Blackhawks. Folks sense that it cannot even be raised up as part of the discussion because of the long suffering condition where things have continued to head slowly downhill and even the idea of hope cannot be in sight until the disease causing the trouble is finally eradicated. The more people who vote with the pocketbook the faster this might happen.

getting myself caught up- great writing Justin

Hard to argue with the lineup & waiting on Murphy to view what the Hawks have or don’t have. Talent!

I would move on from Kunitz and Kruger but I doubt Bowman’s ego would allow.
I don’t see how Kruger fits into this rebuild- even though I admire him as a person. He’s not a Difference maker & the PL is already a train wreck.

I see upside to Hayden so I wouldn’t move him & I would explore a Smaltz for Nylander trade-

After much thought the best way to move Seabs is with Keith- salary retained.
Kills me to see two of my all time Hawks traded but it goes with the territory-
I would also look to trade Crawford to a team like the Blues -

The underlying theme on this board from just about every poster reflects the fact that no healing has begun for the Blackhawks. Folks sense that it cannot even be raised up as part of the discussion because of the long suffering condition where things have continued to head slowly downhill and even the idea of hope cannot be in sight until the disease causing the trouble is finally eradicated. The more people who vote with the pocketbook the faster this might happen.
- Savoy

I use to have a lot of respect for Rocky Wirtz who seemed to want to shed this franchise of any bad blood or lack of commitment. Unfortunately I'm starting to change my opinion and I see him as this cancer Stan and MC D take a well running , buildt championship team and organization and just poorly manage it into the ground and blow smoke up the fans butts with dishonest comments in order to keep selling us a garbage product while trying to convince us this team is just remodeling. Then to add insuktmto injury a perennial hall of fame coach gets fired due to management inability to put a supporting cast of players on this team.

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

That Anisimov line will get caved in. The Kunitz line has a combined 4 points, all assists. We better hope for an Avalanche level of top line, otherwise this game setup will not go well.

Jokiharju gets to babysit Gus tonight, hopefully one of them stays at the red line. Davidson-Rutta might make me change the channel, what a terrifying combo. I feel bad for Davidson trying to cut it while he gets the chance, but he and Rutta likely won't be in the NHL in 2 years.

Are there really no replacement-level D men available right now? Enstrom didn't get resigned, neither did Weircoch, Oduya, Paul Martin, and a handful of others.

I know that old and slow defensemen are a death sentence in today's game, but at least these guys know where to stay and swing their stick around with one hand like table hockey player. They need to do something, ANYTHING, about the Rutta/Davidson/Manning platoon from hell.
- ObeseOprah

I know that I have seen Gus and Joki play together as a pair. Maybe for a pp opportunity or two, maybe just a 5-5 shift or two ... I'm leery of them together for a whole game. I should say, I'm leery about one of them the whole game.

Saad is out for tonight’s game.

Edit: Prediction: 6-2 Canes.

I use to have a lot of respect for Rocky Wirtz who seemed to want to shed this franchise of any bad blood or lack of commitment. Unfortunately I'm starting to change my opinion and I see him as this cancer Stan and MC D take a well running , buildt championship team and organization and just poorly manage it into the ground and blow smoke up the fans butts with dishonest comments in order to keep selling us a garbage product while trying to convince us this team is just remodeling. Then to add insuktmto injury a perennial hall of fame coach gets fired due to management inability to put a supporting cast of players on this team.
- Taylorst1

So it's Rocky's fault too? All the guy does is sign cheques to cover what the management of the team wants and asks for. He is clearly one of the better owners in the league.

Saad is out for tonight’s game.

Edit: Prediction: 6-2 Canes.
- DarthKane

Dammit to hell for the news regarding Saad.
I'll take your challenge and say the hawks win.
8 in a row will look horrible, 3 in a row for JC will look bad, I know he's still learning as a coach. I got a gut feeling they can pull this one out.
4-2 hawks.

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

That Anisimov line will get caved in. The Kunitz line has a combined 4 points, all assists. We better hope for an Avalanche level of top line, otherwise this game setup will not go well.

Jokiharju gets to babysit Gus tonight, hopefully one of them stays at the red line. Davidson-Rutta might make me change the channel, what a terrifying combo. I feel bad for Davidson trying to cut it while he gets the chance, but he and Rutta likely won't be in the NHL in 2 years.

Are there really no replacement-level D men available right now? Enstrom didn't get resigned, neither did Weircoch, Oduya, Paul Martin, and a handful of others.

I know that old and slow defensemen are a death sentence in today's game, but at least these guys know where to stay and swing their stick around with one hand like table hockey player. They need to do something, ANYTHING, about the Rutta/Davidson/Manning platoon from hell.
- ObeseOprah

The DeBrincat-Kampf-Kahun line could be interesting. The wingers played well with Toews, if they can play decently with Kampf that would be some solid help for the team’s depth.

The DeBrincat-Kampf-Kahun line could be interesting. The wingers played well with Toews, if they can play decently with Kampf that would be some solid help for the team’s depth.
- DarthKane

The NBCSN team had a good point - most of DBC's points last year were on lower lines against weaker D. Maybe this will be the spark he needs to get out of his slight slump.

So it's Rocky's fault too? All the guy does is sign cheques to cover what the management of the team wants and asks for. He is clearly one of the better owners in the league.
- RickJ

Rocky owns this team so the buck ultimately stops with him . He has 2 eyes and watched , like us fans and have seen the decline In this team over the past 3 years . We've also seen Keith, Seabrook, and toews all regress after getting their payday.

I'm sure Rocky is not oblivious to talent , since hockey has been a huge part of his entire life as well as first hand knowledge of a poor front office and a declining front office. So yeah he rakes in millions of dollars a year and his 2 priorities are bottom line results financially and winning which produces his financial bottom line.


Until he is willing to address the elephant in the room and fix it he is no better than Stan or MC D for allowing this to get out of hand.

Saad is out for tonight’s game.

Edit: Prediction: 6-2 Canes.
- DarthKane

. Prediction 7-1 Canes

With Hayden , anisomov and Fortin as your 2nd line it's gonna be a long night.

8 straight L’s?? Or do these guys have some competitive pride?

The truth does in fact hurt. I know. Anyone who has exchanged with me knows is not my intention to insult anyone.

I just find it so hard to understand why everyone does not see what the product is right now.

CC is covering for his teammates. Do you think it is helpful for him to call out the lack of forecheck which results in the additional pressure on a largely AHL defense? That is being professional at the expense of falling on one's own sword. Class act all the way.
- Return of the Roar

I agree 100%. Crow is not the problem. And for all of those speculating that Crow is again having symptoms from his concussion, if that was true, and even if the Hawks knowing that would continue to play him (which I highly, highly doubt), Crow himself, with a young child and girlfriend, and having suffered for 10 months, IMO certainly wouldn't continue to take the net if he wasn't feeling right.

Rocky owns this team so the buck ultimately stops with him . He has 2 eyes and watched , like us fans and have seen the decline In this team over the past 3 years . We've also seen Keith, Seabrook, and toews all regress after getting their payday.

I'm sure Rocky is not oblivious to talent , since hockey has been a huge part of his entire life as well as first hand knowledge of a poor front office and a declining front office. So yeah he rakes in millions of dollars a year and his 2 priorities are bottom line results financially and winning which produces his financial bottom line.


Until he is willing to address the elephant in the room and fix it he is no better than Stan or MC D for allowing this to get out of hand.
- Taylorst1

Guilty by association. By allowing the "powers that be" to continue this charade, he endorses it.