Or he may be. The team looks poorly organized and poorly motivated. He is also making tactical errors. If you have a line that’s killing it don’t (frank)ing break it up. That’s peewee poop.
- kwolf68

I gave a rationale for that change..you disagree that's fine but there are reasons for what he did...and its not just "peewee poop"

is what it "looks like" on him or the players...

What are the names of these forwards?
- mohel

Kubalik for now is a forward I'd have on the PK, Sikura is another one,

Toews wouldn't play PK since he magically can't block a shot anymore

Smith would have a seat, 6 and 7 would be my first pairing to see the ice

(frank)ing Murphy tries so hard but is always behind the play because he has no hockey IQ.

Can't wait for DeHaan to play, and can't wait for Gusto to go, he's so bad and the worst part about him, what Murphy has in compete, Gusto has none, it's so bad he must have a non compete clause in his contract.

You don’t break something to fix something else that’s broken.
- scottak

it happens all the time...sometimes with great success...

i think its hilarious that they were a bum weak 3rd line coming into the but after 2 shifts they are crowned allstars...cant break them 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

Was thinking about that and the backslide (to early last season) that we have seen...what has changed for JC and the team? They were lighting it up for the latter half of last season. The players seemed to be buying in and enjoying themselves, even if not successfully executing on D / PK.

Is Stan really letting JC have full control of line/pairing and playing time decisions? Nylander seems like the antithesis of a player that JC would like, but Stan has an obvious reason to give him a bigger role.

Is it the players being resigned to not winning the Cup (and if not that, why bother?) Mohel mentioned? That makes some sense.

I'd also say that, regardless of how they try to spin it, bringing in Marc Crawford was a vote of reduced confidence in JC by the FO. The players are not going to miss that. I do wonder how that dynamic is working behind the bench and in the room. Do the players have any question to whom they should be listening/responding? Wasn't he brought in for D and PK? What has he done (with Brookbank) to change those up?

When the camera pans the bench, Crawford is in JC's ear pretty regularly. Is the team seeing him challenge JC or telling him what to do regularly?

I know it's still very early, but those who were here for the Savvy-->Q swap may be expecting it to happen again.

it happens all the time...sometimes with great success...

i think its hilarious that they were a bum weak 3rd line coming into the but after 2 shifts they are crowned allstars...cant break them up...
- bogiedoc

You have to admit they were dominating, those 3 were a mismatch and instead of forcing SJ to make adjustments JC did them the favor of breaking them up.

it happens all the time...sometimes with great success...

i think its hilarious that they were a bum weak 3rd line coming into the but after 2 shifts they are crowned allstars...cant break them up...
- bogiedoc

Not only that, but Kampf is the center on that great line. And to the same posters.....Kampf sux. Makes sense, I guess.

Was thinking about that and the backslide (to early last season) that we have seen...what has changed for JC and the team? They were lighting it up for the latter half of last season. The players seemed to be buying in and enjoying themselves, even if not successfully executing on D / PK.

Is Stan really letting JC have full control of line/pairing and playing time decisions? Nylander seems like the antithesis of a player that JC would like, but Stan has an obvious reason to give him a bigger role.

Is it the players being resigned to not winning the Cup (and if not that, why bother?) Mohel mentioned? That makes some sense.

I'd also say that, regardless of how they try to spin it, bringing in Marc Crawford was a vote of reduced confidence in JC by the FO. The players are not going to miss that. I do wonder how that dynamic is working behind the bench and in the room. Do the players have any question to whom they should be listening/responding? Wasn't he brought in for D and PK? What has he done (with Brookbank) to change those up?

When the camera pans the bench, Crawford is in JC's ear pretty regularly. Is the team seeing him challenge JC or telling him what to do regularly?

I know it's still very early, but those who were here for the Savvy-->Q swap may be expecting it to happen again.
- pdx2ord

I think Keith suffers from if i don't make the play in the d zone no one else will and that's a huge problem, Gus is not worth the liability he brings in the dzone and then you got Koekkoek and Murphy, then eventually what happens is Koekkoek and Gus are paired together somehow and it's a total poop show.

Not only that, but Kampf is the center on that great line. And to the same posters.....Kampf sux. Makes sense, I guess.
- mohel

Well if Kampf's play was driving that line- why did it go to garbage when Kubilak was taken off? Shouldnt he have elevated Nylanders game?

Well if Kampf's play was driving that line- why did it go to garbage when Kubilak was taken off? Shouldnt he have elevated Nylanders game?
- PatShart

I know you don't like Kampf but he was going to the dirty areas keeping the puck alive and contributing to his line as was Saad and Kubalik, Nylander didn't contribute to the top line or the 3rd line.

If Nylander doesn't have the puck on his stick he has no idea what to do, he does try to backcheck but once in the ozone or d zone he just watches the puck

I know you don't like Kampf but he was going to the dirty areas keeping the puck alive and contributing to his line as was Saad and Kubalik, Nylander didn't contribute to the top line or the 3rd line.
- BetweenTheDots

Kampf is fine on the 4th line with about 10-11min a game

Zero reason he is getting more ice time than Saad

overall not a terrible game. the defense was about what i expected. win or lose this is going to be a fun team to watch. damn my 40 year old former classmate looked pretty darn good for San Jose.

Well if Kampf's play was driving that line- why did it go to garbage when Kubilak was taken off? Shouldnt he have elevated Nylanders game?
- PatShart

Kampf should be 4C in my book, but Stan traded the option to play 3C. But saying that his line is the best line on the team, despite the fact that he sux sounds kinda inconsistent from here. Like we're stretching to find stuff to confirm our narratives.

New Blackhawks lines today:

DeBrincat-Toews-Caggiula
Shaw-Strome-Kane
Saad-Kampf-Kubalik
Smith-Carpenter-Perlini

Why no Dach yet - how many practices does he have to have before slotting in at 3C or a try?

ETA: At least he put that 3rd line back together. Dach appears to have been in a regular jersey at practice. Maybe he will play.

You have to admit they were dominating, those 3 were a mismatch and instead of forcing SJ to make adjustments JC did them the favor of breaking them up.
- BetweenTheDots

you make a good point...broadly I am pushing back against reactionary BS pumping that goes on here after a bad game or two...he had a reason...

as I have stated kane and kubalick had some chances if they convert...well quess what JC is line making genious...

this team is improved and should get it together but still very flawed and this fire coach...JC sucks...really doesn't cut it for rationality or cogency

New Blackhawks lines today:

DeBrincat-Toews-Caggiula
Shaw-Strome-Kane
Saad-Kampf-Kubalik
Smith-Carpenter-Perlini

Why no Dach yet - how many practices does he have to have before slotting in at 3C or a try?
- pdx2ord

They are really protecting their investment

This “trying to implement a new system” argument is stale. Nobody is suggesting it was difficult to implement Colliton’s “system” in Sweden Tier 2. Are you suggesting NHL players are dumber?

- Z3Hawk

Oh, so now you're an expert on Colliton's tenure in Sweden too. Uh huh. Any argument that doesn't throw Colliton and Stan under the bus will never make it through your hate filter. Have a nice life.

I guess they figure Nylander can watch from the press box instead of on the ice

Kampf should be 4C in my book, but Stan traded the option to play 3C. But saying that his line is the best line on the team, despite the fact that he sux sounds kinda inconsistent from here. Like we're stretching to find stuff to confirm our narratives.
- mohel

It was the best line in this game. Hop it continues, but in this game, why break up the line that was driving the play. Maybe make San Jose make a shift as to who was matched up against them, leaving more room for the other lines.

It was the best line in this game. Hope ti continues, but in this game, why break up the line that was driving the play. Maybe make San Jose make a shift as to who was matched up against them, leaving more room for the other lines.
- LAHawk

I agree. My point is that it seems a bit strange to say Kampf is bad and he's centering the line playing the best on the team. How can both really be true at once?

you make a good point...broadly I am pushing back against reactionary BS pumping that goes on here after a bad game or two...he had a reason...

as I have stated kane and kubalick had some chances if they convert...well quess what JC is line making genious...

this team is improved and should get it together but still very flawed and this fire coach...JC sucks...really doesn't cut it for rationality or cogency
- bogiedoc

Fair enough, it's hard not to give up goals when you have defenseman like Koekkoek and Gusto on the ice and you compound that problem by having them paired with an aging dmen, and Murphy, anytime Gusto or Koekkoek are on the ice you need a really good defensive forward on the ice, and we are in short supply of those

They are really protecting their investment
- BetweenTheDots

Or - he is still feeling concussion effects, real or feared.

I’m sorry, how do you know Colliton is a ‘bright guy’? This is his 7th season as a HC, and he’s lost much more than he’s won.

Unless you have his SAT or IQ scores, I don’t think you can make a case for him having a clue about how to coach in the NHL.

This team was upgraded, and has the talent to at least compete for a WC. The empty suit behind the bench has shown he can even F up future HOFers.
- scottak

When Colliton was hired the media reported he was a bright guy. Some players called him that as well shortly after he became their coach.

His won lost record is not truly indicative of his coaching ability. The talent he had to mold and coach is a large determining factor. I am not saying that he is a good coach; i am saying that Colliton is not fairly critiqued by won loss record alone. Barry Trotz took many years to go far and actually won a Stanley Cup. No one ever accused him of being a bad coach.

There is a boatloaf of coaches throughout many professional leagues whom do not always compile a winning or a very good record each season.

It is only fair to read or hear what someone who is in authority says about Colliton's defensive system. I believe that there are red flags already pointed out but i want to see full implementation - which means each player buys in effort wise - and of course there is always a hurdle when a player has brain farts or does his own thing and hurts the team success. Gus and Keith do make more than a few blunders.

I may well wind up agreeing completely with you but i am not ready to throw Colliton under the bus right now.
Now on another subject about having enough world class players to be able to sneak into playoffs -

You are kidding if you think this blueline crew is good enough to rely upon insofar as making the playoffs. Only Seabrook and Maata is consistently playing descent. Toews is nowhere the player he once was. He avoids contact sometimes too. Kane should not be cheating on defensiveve responsibility. He does this a lot. Should do little or none.

Also consider Crawford (?) : he remains questionable given his health history. Although we do have Lehner. There is the disgruntled Keith whom may be ok - less blunders - if he gets a partner that works well in his pairing.

I personally believe the bottom six need to be really strong and a team cannot consistently loose more than it wins at the dot. And a team must be tough enough like the recent Blackhawk Cup winning teams were. The team this year has more mettle than since 2016 but still would get run over and pushed around by most teams in the playoffs.

Or - he is still feeling concussion effects, real or feared.
- StLBravesFan

Or they want him to practice with the team as long as possible before starting the 9 game clock.

Or - he is still feeling concussion effects, real or feared.
- StLBravesFan

If he was he would of never flown overseas? He did fly with the team right, not sure? He also wouldn't of been in the pregame ceremony, bright lights and loud sounds not good, remember how no one saw CC forever, like that