Disconcerting fact from last nite #83:

The Hawks took the lead 4 times last nite - and quickly gave it back - PK fails, own goal off of Murphy - no matter.

Four leads and they couldn’t get back to the room with a lead at the end of either of the first two periods.

It won't be long before the Rockford shuttle starts up with regular service to W.Madison St.
- RickJ

Paging Dylan Sikura. Your table is ready.
Sikura to the rescue.
I'm sure that's the answer.

Trying to put things in perspective - the first point is that despite the optimism for the 2019/20 season - it was always going to be a reloading year while we wait for the future d-corps to mature and come online with Boqvist, Beaudin and Mitchell. The same may true for the 2020/21 season. Maatta and deHaan are improvements over Dahlstrom and Rutta but they are still only stopgap measures.

The next point to put into perspective is that almost half the team is different this season and that turnover of players means it takes time to coalesce into a efficient unit and that process was hampered by the disruption of the Europe trip.

The last point is the coach is trying to implement a new system which under the best of circumstances would still be a work in progress even if there wasn't player turnover and training camp disruption. The players have to be instinctual in how they play the new system and that takes time.

I'll join the mob storming the gate when I think Stan and Colliton have the team on the wrong path - but it's far too early to make that conclusion. The team is flawed but it seemed pretty clear to me they played better last night then the first game and that is enough for me at this point to have patience.

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Sikura to the rescue.
I'm sure that's the answer.
- savvyone-1

Nyet! Zack Smith is the answer!

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I'm sure that's the answer.
- savvyone-1

If the question - Smith, Carpenter, Nylander - perhaps he is the answer.

Or at least maybe someone who understands the question.

Paging Dylan Sikura. Your table is ready.
Sikura to the rescue.
I'm sure that's the answer.
- savvyone-1

He's not the answer, but a good option. Rockford looks good & is a lot deeper than recent years.

When did the Captain forget how to skate? He has been knocked down more times in the first two games than he has in the last twelve years. He and Kane look like they would rather be elsewhere. It is sad to see the heroes from the Cup teams are starting to look old and disinterested. Maybe it's time to make a really bold move and say goodbye to some of the core guys that helped us win 3 Cups. I don't care if it is only two games, anybody can give a freakin' effort and some guys on this team are not right now. Tough to watch this crap right now!!

Paging Dylan Sikura. Your table is ready.
Sikura to the rescue.
I'm sure that's the answer.
- savvyone-1

Yep, there's no room for a very good defensive forward on the roster. The team is loaded with them.

I am afraid father time and his knee injury (never was the same after it), has made Keith no better than a #4 defenseman on a good team. And after 2 games you can argue that Matta has played more like a #1 defenseman than Keith.

When did the Captain forget how to skate? He has been knocked down more times in the first two games than he has in the last twelve years. He and Kane look like they would rather be elsewhere. It is sad to see the heroes from the Cup teams are starting to look old and disinterested. Maybe it's time to make a really bold move and say goodbye to some of the core guys that helped us win 3 Cups. I don't care if it is only two games, anybody can give a freakin' effort and some guys on this team are not right now. Tough to watch this crap right now!!
- ChicagoHope

I think you are onto something there. Among the core. Not sure it's disinterest or complacency or a resignation that the Cup era of their careers is over.

Hawks won 56% of the faceoffs. How could they lose?

Solid points. I read last night that Kampf was terrible. I also read - I think by the same poster - that Colliton was an idiot for breaking up the best line of the night. I agree with you - the line was solid. I'd be curious to hear the reason he split it up.
- mohel

It would be interesting to hear his logic.

Onto tomorrow night's game:

The Jets defense has looked as bad as the Hawks. They were able to steal a win last night thanks to Hellebuyck standing on his head until the 4-on-4 in the 3rd. It could be a very wild affair tomorrow night.

I think you are onto something there. Among the core. Not sure it's disinterest or complacency or a resignation that the Cup era of their careers is over.
- mohel

In addition to the things you mentioned, also could be they don't buy into Colliton's system, or just don't respect him as a coach and are just going through the motions.

FWIW, I read a comment on another blog that Colliton said he moved Kubalik to the 1st line to wake up Kane and Toews and get them going offensively. I don't know if that's true, but if Kane and Toews need to be awakened to play in front of the opening night crowd, it's going to be a long season.

It would be interesting to hear his logic.

Onto tomorrow night's game:

The Jets defense has looked as bad as the Hawks. They were able to steal a win last night thanks to Hellebuyck standing on his head until the 4-on-4 in the 3rd. It could be a very wild affair tomorrow night.
- Hawks_49

Bet the over.

Paging Dylan Sikura. Your table is ready.
Sikura to the rescue.
I'm sure that's the answer.
- savvyone-1

Sikura is also probably 4th in line at best to get called up.

In addition to the things you mentioned, also could be they don't buy into Colliton's system, or just don't respect him as a coach and are just going through the motions.
- boilermaker100

Could very well be, but I think this stuff started under Q. Lost game 7 to the Blues. Next year zero pushback against the Preds. To me that was not on Q, and it isn't on JC. Just a theory - I'm not in the room.

Yep, there's no room for a very good defensive forward on the roster. The team is loaded with them.
- mohel

He's one great AHLer Mo . . .

There was zero reason to switch lines after the first period

Putting Nylander on the top line in game 1, he scored a goal, then moved off that line after 1 period made zero sense

Last night, Kubilak and Saad had 9 shots in the first period alone and then they were split up to go silent the rest of the game?

Nylander had a few looks in the first, didnt shoot once so now he was off that line again. So he gets "held accountable " - not sure for exactly what - when there is zero system in place. He has good hands, good speed, good shot and is a young player that needs confidence. If they put him on this roster and with those 2, he has to play more than 1 period or a few shifts per game to see if he can build chemistry/confidence. He definitely has skill that can hell this team, but he will be ruined shortly here.

Q would get bashed for "not liking young players" - when he had cup contending teams and had expectations

This team isn't a playoff team with no expectations and JC wouldn't play Joki last year and now Nylander....but will put Gus, Dahlstrom (when here), Kampf and other slugs out there, no system in place, and wonder "what's wrong with Keith, Seabrook, etc"

Why is Zach Smith even in the lineup...and getting shifts in the 3rd in a tied/down game? No Perlini?

Hawks won 56% of the faceoffs. How could they lose?
- mohel

Crawford. And Gus was absolutely horrible too.

Saad was great in the first period. Anyone that watches his career knows when he had games where he is successful, he was doing everything he did in the first and you need to ride that. JC shut him down.

Ended the game with 12:53min if ice time

9th out of all forwards

16 seconds more than Zach Smith. Saad actually has less ES time than Smith

He's one great AHLer Mo . . .
- savvyone-1

He's also a better defensive forward than at least 10 guys on the roster now. But, we have the great Zack Smith, so who needs defensive forwards? Not you, I guess.

Saad was great in the first period. Anyone that watches his career knows when he had games where he is successful, he was doing everything he did in the first and you need to ride that. JC shut him down.

Ended the game with 12:53min if ice time

9th out of all forwards

16 seconds more than Zach Smith. Saad actually has less ES time than Smith
- PatShart

Again, the HC continues to do things that make the team worse.

He's also a better defensive forward than at least 10 guys on the roster now. But, we have the great Zack Smith, so who needs defensive forwards? Not you, I guess.
- mohel

Saad is a better defensive forward than Smith but played the same amount of time

I think Marc Crawford is just sitting back watching/waiting in the weeds. He knows that it's only a matter of time before the JC's Hawks have their 9-10 game losing streak and the vultures will be circling

He's also a better defensive forward than at least 10 guys on the roster now. But, we have the great Zack Smith, so who needs defensive forwards? Not you, I guess.
- mohel

Certainly not going to dispute that Mo. However, what we should be discussing is another Blowman fail, eh?