Pulling the goalie with almost 3 minutes left?
- tvetter

Quenville did it all the time, just saying

Pessimism porn...love it!!!

I get some of the negativity, it is what it is...though, kind of like you (I think) am trying to look at the bigger picture and that this may be a necessary rock bottom moment, or means to an end if you will.

It looks like the team is drafting well and identifying other teams “busts” or “one man’s trash” as possible treasure (Nylander, Strome).

I think if they keep doing that, they will be back in the mix before too long.
- HawkintheD

There is an addictive quality to it.

Shining a little beam of sunshine - I thought Boqvist played pretty well - only one game but other than not scoring on that OT chance he had I think it went about as well as a first NHL game could have gone. He and Dach don't look overwhelmed by the moment in the least. Hopefully Dach's minutes increase and Boqvist gets more games.

Dach has 3 points in 7 games playing 11:30 a game. For a team that cannot score, makes sense to play him more? Not if you are JC I guess. Boqvist did ok, could definitely use a season in the AHL though. Gonna be a long season unless they find some structure, this dump and chase game for the new NHL is embarrassing!!

Quenville did it all the time, just saying
- 6628

Didn't Roy start the trend in Colorado a few years back when he pulled the goalie with like 5 minutes left.

Dach has 3 points in 7 games playing 11:30 a game. For a team that cannot score, makes sense to play him more? Not if you are JC I guess. Boqvist did ok, could definitely use a season in the AHL though. Gonna be a long season unless they find some structure, this dump and chase game for the new NHL is embarrassing!!
- ChicagoHope

Wondering if this is more a management thing than a JC thing.

Wondering if they determined his progress and development would be better served by staying in the NHL, but they have him on a minutes restriction as not to kill him.

I think they know they aren't winning anything for a while.

Didn't Roy start the trend in Colorado a few years back when he pulled the goalie with like 5 minutes left.
- EbonyRaptor

Yes, but how'd that work out for Roy?

So they want to go back to old way of playing, the same way they have been playing which the rest of the NHL knows, and beats us. I'm getting tired of their excuses.

From everything I have been reading, the system JC employs is similar to Trots in NY, and virtually every team who are successful right now. So the problem isn't the system it's the veterans who don't want to play it.

We are never going to win another cup in the old system. period. The NHL has evolved.
- gifman

Yet Q has FLA on pace for 105 points, after only playing 5 of 14 at home.

Sure, JC was an excellent replacement for a HOF coach.

So they want to go back to old way of playing, the same way they have been playing which the rest of the NHL knows, and beats us. I'm getting tired of their excuses.

From everything I have been reading, the system JC employs is similar to Trots in NY, and virtually every team who are successful right now. So the problem isn't the system it's the veterans who don't want to play it.

We are never going to win another cup in the old system. period. The NHL has evolved.
- gifman

Exactly what i think. They have to try different things cuz they don't have the horses to do things the way they did. I said the other day if they can't utilize Kane to his and their advantage they can get a boat load for him. Problem is he will want to go to a upper tier team, and that team is going to draft late. A #1 center has to be part of the deal so Toews can slide down. No question Bowman is under the gun as much as JC.

Fewest wins in the league tied with Ottawa....Ottawa!!
We're last in the league boys and girls (or very close).
At what point does ownership say enough is enough?
It's time to officially rebuild. Has been for a while but it keeps getting worse and worse. Sad to see actually.
Get a good GM and a NHL experienced coach. Move away from Seabs, CC, Toews, Saad and Keith. Get what you can even if have to retain salary. It's the only way to move forward and establish a new core! This current formula just aint working no more. Has not a long time.
- Hawkster

Gut it, from top to bottom. The Core has worn out their welcome. Will always remember them for what they accomplished. Like the old song said, "I loved you yesterday, but yesterday's gone." They've collectively morphed into a group of whiners, pouters, and quitters because they're not enthralled perhaps by a new head coach? Tough Shyt! Play the best you can, or get the hell out of town.

Hawks have a busy November with 14 more games.

@ANA, @SJS, VAN, @PITT, TOR, @Vegas, @NSH, BUF, CAR, TBL, @DAL, DAL, COL, @COL.

They'll have played 26 games by then, almost 1/3 of the season. Can they get 14 points in the next 14 games? If so they'll have 23 points, on pace for around 69 points for the season.

Maybe the team will eventually gel like they did the 2nd half last year, but also like last season, it may be a matter of too little too late.

Well, Doughty was a lot more kind than Rinne

Ben Pope
@BenPopeCST
Doughty on the Blackhawks: "When I look across, I see 3-time Stanley Cup champions... Those are some guys that not only do I love playing against, but also some guys I look up to their game. So, it never feels like a bottom-of-the-standings matchup when we play these guys.”
- pdx2ord

Everyone loves playing them because they don't get hit and can go to the net and set up shop. Rarely is there a hawks D man between the opponent and the goalie. Once upon a time the hawks were so good it didn't matter. All the little things get magnified now.

Im more worried about our primary goal scorer isn't the same player. Cat can't keep a puck on his stick, can't make a pass, and can't snap it home like he used to. I think the training he did in the off season has really affected his feel for the puck on his stick. I heard Saad uses the same guy and wondering if that's why the puck is allergic to his stick as well.

So many plays have died this year on Cats stick
- BetweenTheDots

Scary thing is that I think DBC (like Saad and Murphy and others) spent most of their summer, outside of the one week Belfry camp with Kane, training with the Hawks own Goodman.

Yet Q has FLA on pace for 105 points, after only playing 5 of 14 at home.

Sure, JC was an excellent replacement for a HOF coach.
- scottak

Well, if your hall of fame coach couldn't get it done the last few years then who is? I credit management for taking a risk and trying something out of the box. But no matter what moving forward better fundamentals have to be a priority.

I really don’t think there buying into JC system.All ourVets look frustrated as hell.Everybody on this board and others want to get rid Seabrook and Toews.Lets look at the the fact that the guys who had really good years last year are having a slow start this year.Toews,Gus, Strome,Kane,the Cat.Our defence was suppose to be better,but it’s not working at all.Look how we are getting outshot every game or close to it.This System does not work.

Tyler,
Is there any chance you could put a blog together that really dives into exactly what JC's "system" is all about? I am trying to find some element of structure but last night and most games so far, the defensive scheme/structure of the Hawks looks like a Chinese Fire Drill. Thanks.

Tyler,
Is there any chance you could put a blog together that really dives into exactly what JC's "system" is all about? I am trying to find some element of structure but last night and most games so far, the defensive scheme/structure of the Hawks looks like a Chinese Fire Drill. Thanks.
- FourOrr

That would be very helpful to read. May be hard to figure out if JC won't talk and the players aren't able to execute it, however.

This talk of gutting the CORE should should stop. There Is no core except Kane. To me the core is who was left after the 2010 cup. Kane Toews, Hossa, Sharp, Keith, Seabs, Hammer. Keith is not the player he was nor should anyone expect him to be. Seabs and Toews well that's been talked about and not sure either one can be moved.
Maybe I'm too optimistic but I thought this team would be better, this forward group should have no trouble scoring . I just don't think JC system is gonna work and if he can't adapt he needs to go.

Scary thing is that I think DBC (like Saad and Murphy and others) spent most of their summer, outside of the one week Belfry camp with Kane, training with the Hawks own Goodman.
- pdx2ord

It's only a one week camp, oh poop. So the rest of the time they trained with Goodman and I'd only see tweets of players in the weight room?

It's only a one week camp, oh poop. So the rest of the time they trained with Goodman and I'd only see tweets of players in the weight room?
- BetweenTheDots

No way of knowing for sure, of course. Last summer, DBC trained with Brian Keane and Kane on the ice. Maybe he did again. I remember Toews (and Kane for that matter) saying that too much focus on bulking up had negatively impacted his game. Maybe that's what has happened with both DBC and Strome. Or, they could have both grown a bit and are adjusting to their new frames.

Perspective:

Saturday’s win was the final game played this decade between two teams that combined for half of its Stanley Cups. With the win, Los Angeles went 15-17-1 against Chicago this decade and split the 2013 and 2014 Western Conference Finals. The first game between these teams this decade was a 3-2 Blackhawks overtime win at United Center on March 10, 2010 in which four players who are currently active participated: Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Jonathan Quick, Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook.

Another interesting quote regarding a $11 mil. Dollar defenseman about systems:

Drew, he admitted that he’s still having trouble adapting to your system. A Norris Trophy-winning defenseman, he said he’s not satisfied, he said he’s on the ice for too many goals. Your thoughts on is he having issues adapting to what you want from him?] We all have issues. I have issues adapting to the players and figuring out their personalities. It’s not going to be easy. Change is hard, and it is for all of us. It’s human nature just to do what you’re comfortable with.

My thoughts are that the top brass should be honest with the fans and say they are rebuilding, not retooling. I think Bovquist for all his indecision showed better defensive awareness than Gus did. I would keep both up here and play and live with the inexperience and mistakes. Then go to those with the NMC and NTC and say this is the new reality, if you don’t want to be part of it, we will find you some other place to play.

I would not even care if the Hawks are perceived to get hosed in a deal, the past decade is gone, us fans are forever grateful.

Gus should be put on waivers, you are getting zero for him at the TDL, if he clears, let him go back to Sweden and play with Forsling.

Tyler,
Is there any chance you could put a blog together that really dives into exactly what JC's "system" is all about? I am trying to find some element of structure but last night and most games so far, the defensive scheme/structure of the Hawks looks like a Chinese Fire Drill. Thanks.
- FourOrr

A bit of funny from Dan R over on the The Athletic until we get the real deal from Tyler:

Colliton's System Explained!

It was a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma but I figured it out!

1. Try anything and everything to see what works.
2. When you find something that works, change or abandon it.
3. Blame everything on the players.
3a. Lack of Preparation (forget about who is responsible for preparing the players)
3b. Lack of Work Ethic (it's not about who picks the players or decides to play them)
3c. Lack of Performance (that means everyone else's but his)
4. Don't say anything that will show you don't know anything (talk in circles and ambiguities).
5. Hope for goalie wins.

My thoughts are that the top brass should be honest with the fans and say they are rebuilding, not retooling. I think Bovquist for all his indecision showed better defensive awareness than Gus did. I would keep both up here and play and live with the inexperience and mistakes. Then go to those with the NMC and NTC and say this is the new reality, if you don’t want to be part of it, we will find you some other place to play.

I would not even care if the Hawks are perceived to get hosed in a deal, the past decade is gone, us fans are forever grateful.

Gus should be put on waivers, you are getting zero for him at the TDL, if he clears, let him go back to Sweden and play with Forsling.
- LAHawk

Agreed, but I wonder if honesty is ever in McDonough's playbook. Regardless, by bringing up Boqvist, I think that they are signaling that they are going to favor youth and development over win now mode.

Also agree that they need to go to the old dogs and tell them what's up and give them the opportunity to request to be moved. And also tell them if they decide to stay, they'll need to accept their new roles, whatever they may be.

For those who are still interested, I finally watched last weekend's sweep of the Hogs by the Monsters where they lost a combined 12-1. Surprisingly, the team didn't play horribly both games and actually had plenty of scoring chances and momentum that they just couldn't capitalize on.

Yes, they could've played better here and there but many goals were unlucky bounces. Let's put it this way: even though the scores say otherwise, the Hogs have been competing start to finish and generating offensive momentum with sustained pressure (i.e. not just a bunch of one-n-dones).

7-1 loss to Monsters

Goal 1: puck redirected by a Monsters player fooling Delia
Goal 2: Delia lost his net for easy goal; Hogs defending as best they could with an open cage
Goal 3: puck deflected off of Carlsson's skate
Goal 4: Fortin turnover then resulting shot off of Delia's stick knob (depending on how the puck hit his stick, it could've gone wide or gone in the net)
Goal 5: Boqvist chased his man behind the net but McCoshen was not covering anyone and his back was to the rest of the play
Goal 6: puck redirected off of at least 2 Hog players and actually seemed like 3 players
Goal 7: Holm no where near the guy he shouldve been covering who created a screen for his teammate who scored the goal

5-0 loss to Monsters

Goal 1: Holm not covering anyone and let the winger skate uncontested down the right wing for a top-shelf snipe
Goal 2: Holm turnover then Carlsson accidentally knocks puck in the net with a valiant attempt to poke the puck wide
Goal 3: Tuulola blocking Tomkins' vision going for a block
Goal 4: nobody took the man behind the net easy pass to a streaking shooter
Goal 5: Tomkins screened on the PP by the great Marko Dano