For 10 years I have read why McDonough is bad for the Hawks. I really don't understand why some posters think this way? I get why some believe Bowman should be replaced but why do somew people feel McDonough needs to be fired?
- paulr

its been rumored he gets involved in hockey Decision's and he has a huge ego. it was rumored he pushed to get Seabs signed to his 20 mil overpayment.

Funny being that’s his natural position. Which also begs the question, where is the center that’s supposed to be in the high slot???
- walleyeb1

It may be his natural position, but I do not see him playing center in the NHL.

The center that is supposed to be there is often right next to Hayden in the high slot or scrambling to cover Hayden's man at the point or a long the boards. Once one man leaves his position, the other 4 have to adjust. Sometimes it is required, but often it is a lack of discipline.

If the Dmen and wingers just held their position instead of chasing the puck the defense as a whole would greatly improve.

The centers (Toews, AA, Kruger, Kampf and more recently Strome) do a decent job of defending when they do not have to cover for defenders or wingers that have abandoned their position to chase the puck.

I think what the Hawks need to do is simple on the surface and very, very difficult to actually execute.

(1) They need to terminate Bowman.
(2) They need to move McD to be in charge of all non-hockey categories. This may be difficult to do because of this ego and perception that this is a demotion. If he doesn’t accept it, move on with out him by bringing in a new marketing/business person.
(3) This one’s the hardest and I don’t believe that Rocky can pull it off without help. He must hire a new head of hockey operations who would be responsible for all facets of the on-ice product. The candidates must come in and articulate vision and their plans for how to get there. (I keep hearing how bright coaches and GMs in other sports come in with knowledge of the teams heritage, current strengths and weakness, articulated visions of where they want the team to be and how they will get them there. ). Hockey sounds like they just rehire someone because they did something decent once.

Once the hawks have the chief hockey guy ( clever unintended pun) in place, it then becomes his job to hire the right gm (who hires the right coach) to begin implementing the chief’s vision. There should be some form of public communication about what they plan to do, how they plan to get there, and what the expectations are along the way.

I know the trend in today’s nhl is faster and smaller players. I’m sure the hawks need some of this, but it doesn’t seem like they know who and what they need. It seems to me they are operating without a well-thoughtout plan and are constantly reacting to events instead of controlling who they are and what they want to become.

They have a fair amount of prospects tearing up the juniors and NCAA so there isnt an absence of skill there.

They'll be bad this year. Not gonna get better. I hope there are some things to build on to keep JC around but. Win the lottery or at least get a top 5 pick and they now have a log jam of talented defenders banging on the NHL door.

You have Young Henri a year ahead of the other guys and Seabrook and Keith to help steady Bovqist and Beaudin. A fitter Strome who can skate closer to 20 mins before getting gassed and Delia ready to take Crawfords job for cheap.

Boqvist is going to be a steal at 8 and breathe a whole lot of life into the franchise. Top that with a lottery pick and they go from being medicore to next years Avalanche. Its gonna be fun when its not this season anymore lol.
- fattybeef

I actually see this as a big problem at a pivotal point in Boqvist's trajectory. His junior coach (who sees him every day) thinks he is best suited as a forward, but the Hawk management who drafted him want him to potentially be a square peg in a round hole because they drafted him to be Keith 2.0 plus offense.

I think what the Hawks need to do is simple on the surface and very, very difficult to actually execute.

(1) They need to terminate Bowman.
(2) They need to move McD to be in charge of all non-hockey categories. This may be difficult to do because of this ego and perception that this is a demotion. If he doesn’t accept it, move on with out him by bringing in a new marketing/business person.
(3) This one’s the hardest and I don’t believe that Rocky can pull it off without help. He must hire a new head of hockey operations who would be responsible for all facets of the on-ice product. The candidates must come in and articulate vision and their plans for how to get there. (I keep hearing how bright coaches and GMs in other sports come in with knowledge of the teams heritage, current strengths and weakness, articulated visions of where they want the team to be and how they will get them there. ). Hockey sounds like they just rehire someone because they did something decent once.

Once the hawks have the chief hockey guy ( clever unintended pun) in place, it then becomes his job to hire the right gm (who hires the right coach) to begin implementing the chief’s vision. There should be some form of public communication about what they plan to do, how they plan to get there, and what the expectations are along the way.

I know the trend in today’s nhl is faster and smaller players. I’m sure the hawks need some of this, but it doesn’t seem like they know who and what they need. It seems to me they are operating without a well-thoughtout plan and are constantly reacting to events instead of controlling who they are and what they want to become.
- Spec41971

Who currently in the organization would you trust to select the new front office hierarchy? More importantly, if you launch everyone, who would find the new crew to run the show?

Going to the game tonight, I wonder if they'll let me make a 'BYE STAN' sign.
- ObeseOprah

With the extra money he has this year and the need for some player upgrades, your sign should read “BUY Stan!”

It may be his natural position, but I do not see him playing center in the NHL.

The center that is supposed to be there is often right next to Hayden in the high slot or scrambling to cover Hayden's man at the point or a long the boards. Once one man leaves his position, the other 4 have to adjust. Sometimes it is required, but often it is a lack of discipline.

If the Dmen and wingers just held their position instead of chasing the puck the defense as a whole would greatly improve.

The centers (Toews, AA, Kruger, Kampf and more recently Strome) do a decent job of defending when they do not have to cover for defenders or wingers that have abandoned their position to chase the puck.
- -Doh-

I think you are right. I believe that once one guy drops the ball, the others have to compensate and it snowballs from there. Sometimes I think the vets are trying to do too much to over-compensate on coverage for the guys who are inexperienced, and then they are getting burned as well.

I actually see this as a big problem at a pivotal point in Boqvist's trajectory. His junior coach (who sees him every day) thinks he is best suited as a forward, but the Hawk management who drafted him want him to potentially be a square peg in a round hole because they drafted him to be Keith 2.0 plus offense.
- Return of the Roar

They said the same thing about Brent Burns and he does ok in the blue line. Not to continue to beat the Karlsson horse but same with him or Buff for that matter who could have been a perennial 35-40 goal power forward with his skill set and athletic ability.

I know the team’s play has been pretty poor lately, but I think we all need to step back and take a deep breath. This team is very capable of running off a one game winning streak any time now.

Interesting article from NBC Sports about Adam Boqvist's development as a Player.

https://www.nbcsports.com...ving-force-london-knights

Two most interesting parts from it...

The Blackhawks and the Knights have had discussions about moving Boqvist to FORWARD because of his high end offensive skill and the hole in his game currently being his defensive play BUT the Hawks want to keep him on the backend as they see him being a major difference maker for the Franchise there.

Also, even with his recent hot streak for them there is talk that he could possibly use another year in the OHL to develop his strength and defensive play. Brian Campbell has been working with him and several other Hawks D prospects as well to help develop them.

I would hope that he hits up Joki and trains with him to make the same kind of strides he did this past offseason to possibly make the jump next with a strong training camp.
- Savetheembers33

He'll put on 15 pounds of muscle and keep growing, he's barely 18. I think most of us gained 20-30 pounds between 17-20 ages.

I'm really hoping they don't start trying him at forward, that could mess with his head and really start getting fans riled up as 'he can't hack at D, what a wasted pick!'

They said the same thing about Brent Burns and he does ok in the blue line. Not to continue to beat the Karlsson horse but same with him or Buff for that matter who could have been a perennial 35-40 goal power forward with his skill set and athletic ability.
- fattybeef

No question, but the difference is that in both cases the teams you mention deferred to the choice of the player on where they wanted to play. Maybe Boqvist doesn't want to be a defenseman.....

Fortin is where he belongs right now.

I hope AA is ok. We need him to pick up some trade value before the deadline. (Yes I know he has a NTC.)

See ya Rutta/Manning/Davidson (one or all 3).

Saad - Toews - Kahun
ADB - Strome - Kane
Perlini -Kampf - Sikura
Martinsen - Kruger - Hayden

Keith - Joki
Gus - Murphy
Dahstrom - Seabs

Crow
- -Doh-

And after his ELC is up next year he'll be playing in France. I doubt he'll ever see NHL ice again.

McD has increased the value of the franchise by tens of millions in a number of ways. I can see why Rocky would be reluctant to fire him. Of course a winning hockey team has been a huge factor.

McD has a voice and some influence in hockey personnel decisions. So does Rocky, Scotty, the coach, scouts, assistant GM's, etc.. But at the end of the day Stan makes the final call. That probably is true in almost every organization.

At the end of the day McD is not calling the shots regarding trades, signing and draft picks.

McD was not a hockey guy. But in business it is not unusual to bring in an executive with no experience in that industry. A CEO of a chemical company could be hired as a CEO of a wood business.

Who currently in the organization would you trust to select the new front office hierarchy? More importantly, if you launch everyone, who would find the new crew to run the show?
- Return of the Roar

Coach Q is still under contract right? Who better with all his connections and time in the league to bring in the "right people". Rocky just needs to grow the stones to do it.

Who currently in the organization would you trust to select the new front office hierarchy? More importantly, if you launch everyone, who would find the new crew to run the show?
- Return of the Roar

That’s the million dollar question. I wouldn’t trust anyone in house. I think rocky would have to assemble a very small team of hockey people (in a consultative basis) to help guide him through the selection process. Alternatively — and not my preferred choice — he could hire some withal pedigree to come in for two years to help set this up and then turn control over to his first hire.

Who currently in the organization would you trust to select the new front office hierarchy? More importantly, if you launch everyone, who would find the new crew to run the show?
- Return of the Roar

I can't stand McDonagh, but he would likely be able to select a new team president/GM to take over. They need someone with proven draft success, and someone who can manage a cap well without getting fleeced in trades.

Hextall has had bad press since his firing, but his retool of the Flyers the last 5 years has been impressive.

There's likely multiple assistant GMs of successful teams who are just in need of a shot.

I actually see this as a big problem at a pivotal point in Boqvist's trajectory. His junior coach (who sees him every day) thinks he is best suited as a forward, but the Hawk management who drafted him want him to potentially be a square peg in a round hole because they drafted him to be Keith 2.0 plus offense.
- Return of the Roar

Yeah, but who is this source and who says the coach in London sees it as more than just a discussion point? The Knights also gained a Dman a few weeks back in Evan Bouchard, to a pretty deep team, so maybe they figured they can move him to forward with his offensive skill. It could be a problem, or it could be nothing. The Knights are interested in winning too, not just what is best for a guy's development.

And after his ELC is up next year he'll be playing in France. I doubt he'll ever see NHL ice again.
- Rota's Rooter

He is a native of Canada. He could play in Europe, but he is not from there. He is only 21, so I am not ready to write him off just yet.

Winning has increased the value of the franchise by tens of millions in a number of ways. Of course a winning hockey team is the only factor.

McD has a voice and some influence in hockey personnel decisions, and this is not good.
- -Doh-

Corrected.

I know the team’s play has been pretty poor lately, but I think we all need to step back and take a deep breath. This team is very capable of running off a one game winning streak any time now.
- Spec41971

I'm confident that anytime now they will manage at least 5 minutes with a lead.

I was paying attention to the forwards in the defensive zone, and what jumped out to me was the fact that Strome and perlini don't seem to know where to be and what to do. They were skating all over the place, and not covering the point guys., To me, this says that Colliton doesn't know how to teach the forwards how to play defense. The only forwards playing any defense are the ones that learned under Q.
- ToewsdNKanefusd

The center (strome) is almost never supposed to be covering the point guys in the defensive zone. The center acts as a 3rd defensemen to help defend down low, while the wingers have responsibility for the two points.

McD has increased the value of the franchise by tens of millions in a number of ways. I can see why Rocky would be reluctant to fire him. Of course a winning hockey team has been a huge factor.

McD has a voice and some influence in hockey personnel decisions. So does Rocky, Scotty, the coach, scouts, assistant GM's, etc.. But at the end of the day Stan makes the final call. That probably is true in almost every organization.

At the end of the day McD is not calling the shots regarding trades, signing and draft picks.

McD was not a hockey guy. But in business it is not unusual to bring in an executive with no experience in that industry. A CEO of a chemical company could be hired as a CEO of a wood business.
- -Doh-

I think the culmination of the drafts 5 to 6 years before mcd got here is responsible for the vast majority of the fortune Rocky has made. I don’t care how brilliant mcd thinks he is or what rocky believes, it was the players that generated the money. Mcd walked into a situation where the players were ready to flourish and we same the 3 cups in 6 years results.

I would argue that any competent marketing guy could have accomplished almost as much. Did mcd add value? Sure he did. But it was the on-Ice talent that drove the rebirth, not mcd.

I think the culmination of the drafts 5 to 6 years before mcd got here is responsible for the vast majority of the fortune Rocky has made. I don’t care how brilliant mcd thinks he is or what rocky believes, it was the players that generated the money. Mcd walked into a situation where the players were ready to flourish and we same the 3 cups in 6 years results.

I would argue that any competent marketing guy could have accomplished almost as much. Did mcd add value? Sure he did. But it was the on-Ice talent that drove the rebirth, not mcd.
- Spec41971

A mic drop worthy post my frent.

Corrected.
- Return of the Roar

Do you remember the Hawks before McD. He created and increased revenue streams 10 fold. You can believe it is all and only about winning if you want to. I choose to believe it is more involved than just winning.

Do you remember the Hawks before McD. He created and increased revenue streams 10 fold. You can believe it is all and only about winning if you want to. I choose to believe it is more involved than just winning.
- -Doh-

Yes, back to 1969, so a lot of history and ups and downs. And every time the team was winning, the butts were in the seats buying booze and merchandise. Every time they started losing, the converse happened.

Takes money to make money, and it took the old man to die for the money to make money to be available.

The strategies McD employed were nothing most people weren't already clamoring for for decades - most notably televised home games - which were the true launchpad for exposure, and the new revenue streams that followed.

McD took over in 2007, announced TV games for 2008-09 season and voila. Any monkey could have seen what that would do.