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

The Crawford in Colliton ear remarks is worth to keep a running tab upon. Not a very smooth or proper grammaticly but you get the point i am making. I do not think players will ever revolt, maybe just not enthusiastic play the system how Collitom instructs. The bigger the star, the more the player COULD get away with.

But players know they do not want to cross a line and have Bowman pissed off. So no i do not think Colliton would ever loose the room. And if Bowman manages to get rid of Gus and find a partner for Keith, the imperfect Colliton system will not be such a big deal.

And to be perfectly honest, Keith and Gus issues - ok, blunders in particular - would cause problems no matter whom the coach or system used.[url]

Foreshadowing?

Charlie Roumeliotis‏Verified account @CRoumeliotis · 2h2 hours ago

Kirby Dach is taking a few spins on the top line with Jonathan Toews, alternating with Caggiula and DeBrincat. #Blackhawks
- Chunk

Interesting, eh?

Can they have him up indefinitely before starting the 9-game trial?
- tvetter

As I understand it, yes (although that would be waste for him). I'm sure I will be corrected if wrong.

As I understand it, yes (although that would be waste for him). I'm sure I will be corrected if wrong.
- Chunk

I would think it would be much better for Dach to go back to juniors (and hopefully dominate), then for him to sit around all year.

Foreshadowing?

Charlie Roumeliotis‏Verified account @CRoumeliotis · 2h2 hours ago

Kirby Dach is taking a few spins on the top line with Jonathan Toews, alternating with Caggiula and DeBrincat. #Blackhawks
- Chunk

Actually I wouldn't mind Dach playing on Toews' line as an easier transition into the NHL than also having the defensive responsibilities of playing center. He will play center at some point but I don't see the harm in starting him on the wing. Plus, there is Colliton's bromance with Kampf and the Saad-Kampf-Kubalik line looked pretty good before they got split up.

Cat-Toews-Dach
Shaw-Strome-Kane
Saad-Kampf-Kubalik
Caggiula-Carpenter-Perlini

Actually I wouldn't mind Dach playing on Toews' line as an easier transition into the NHL than also having the defensive responsibilities of playing center. He will play center at some point but I don't see the harm in starting him on the wing. Plus, there is Colliton's bromance with Kampf and the Saad-Kampf-Kubalik line looked pretty good before they got split up.

Cat-Toews-Dach
Shaw-Strome-Kane
Saad-Kampf-Kubalik
Caggiula-Carpenter-Perlini
- EbonyRaptor

Curse you and your good ideas! Although I still think Perlini on the 4th is a waste for him and the team.

Here are the lineups at practice today...

Alex DeBrincat — Jonathan Toews — Drake Caggiula

Andrew Shaw — Dylan Strome — Patrick Kane

Brandon Saad — David Kampf — Dominik Kubalik

Zack Smith — Ryan Carpenter — Brendan Perlini/Alex Nylander

Duncan Keith — Connor Murphy

Olli Maatta — Brent Seabrook

Slater Koekkoek/Calvin de Haan — Erik Gustafsson

most everyone should be happy the all star 3rd line stays together for now...

my guess perlini starts but neither he nor nylander are not going to much help on the 4th line...

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Colliton on if he regrets breaking up dominant Kubalik-Kampf-Saad line last night (they were reunited in practice today):
"Well, it didn't work. We didn't win the game. You can always go down and open a different door."

2:37 PM - Oct 11, 2019

continue bashing away...

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Colliton on if he regrets breaking up dominant Kubalik-Kampf-Saad line last night (they were reunited in practice today):
"Well, it didn't work. We didn't win the game. You can always go down and open a different door."

2:37 PM - Oct 11, 2019

continue bashing away...
- bogiedoc

For that I won't bash, I had a boss that said i will never yell at you for an error of co-mission, but i will yell at you for an error of omission

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Colliton on if he regrets breaking up dominant Kubalik-Kampf-Saad line last night (they were reunited in practice today):
"Well, it didn't work. We didn't win the game. You can always go down and open a different door."

2:37 PM - Oct 11, 2019

continue bashing away...
- bogiedoc

Would have been nice to have two points last night. They could have come in handy in the first week of April. Points are as valuable now as they are during the stretch run. Can't give them away now just because a coach is still
learning on job.

For that I won't bash, I had a boss that said i will never yell at you for an error of co-mission, but i will yell at you for an error of omission
- LAHawk

i like that...

Maybe Elbows can explain it to me! Anyway, what have you done with Paulie?
- mohel

Wasn't he reported?

Wasn't he reported?
- I Am The Breadman

Dunno.

Maybe Elbows can explain it to me! Anyway, what have you done with Paulie?
- mohel

Oh, Pauli...won’t see him no more....

Wasn't he reported?
- I Am The Breadman

For what? I am a saint.

For what? I am a saint.
- Elbows15

Easy there lunchbox, I think they were talking about the other guy (Paulie).

Hey guys, haven't had a chance to read what you all thought yet, but I'll share my analysis from last night's debacle:

This was on JC. Team effort disappeared after the first. Bad penalties. Four leads surrendered. Etc. He doesn't have this team ready to play winning hockey. But beyond that, he conceded the benefit of matchups to the visiting coach. He broke up a dominant line to put Kubalik on Toews' line, where he suddenly disappeared. He skated Nylander with Kampf, which is not where 92 belongs in a lineup . . . if he has a roster spot he needs to play top six with other highly skilled players. JC continues to rely on Kampf who right now does not look like a solid NHLer.

I stayed quiet last season, because frankly I knew little about JC or his system. Having been patient, I am now squarely in the anti-JC point of view.

For what? I am a saint.
- Elbows15

The (frank) you are

I think Enzo posted something about reporting RuPaulr.

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.
- EbonyRaptor

How much time has it taken Edmonton, a team with nearly as bad a defensive record as us, adapt to a new system and see some results?

I think something is rotten in Denmark.

Easy there lunchbox, I think they were talking about the other guy (Paulie).
- Chunk

Oh, (frank) that guy.

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
- PatShart

I agree with the criticism of Colliton. I think he is in over his head.

But those that keep pining for Marc Crawford....the guy was run out of the league a decade ago. We might as well pine for Mike Keenan. It reminds me of everyone who wants the backup quarterback to be the starter in most NFL cities. Be careful what you wish for.

I think what we need is a deck clearing of epic proportions. What I am not sure is what the right timing is to do that. I think they will wait until the offseason out of respect for Bowman's 3 Cups and to widen the field of candidates to take his place.

The (frank) you are

I think Enzo posted something about reporting RuPaulr.
- I Am The Breadman

What a snitch. And yet, Enzo goes in other threads trolling. Grow up.

Well, strange as it is. ain't had a ban since Deputy Fife took a hike to Mt. Pilot.

Dunno.
- mohel

Most accurate comment you have ever made.

Told you guys I was ready for a full on rebuild.

Please launch these bums into the sun. Gus, Special K, Smith and Carpenter.

Its hurts my heart watching Smith and Carpenter try to handle the puck. They have rendered Caligula useless. Gus and Special K being on the ice together other than at practice is an affront to every hockey fan except TG.

Except when Maatta gave up inside position to the guy in front of the net. 2nd period, either goal 3 or 4.
- scottak

What NHL defenseman #1-6 on any team never makes any mistakes? I'll give you a hint. There aren't any.