Murphy, Maata, Seabrook (slow, slower, slowest), Keith (2019 version), de Haan, Gus (shudders) and a bunch of defensively challenged forwards- talk about pounding square pegs in round holes...The respectable goals against numbers are more a result of Lehner's Vezina caliber goaltending than good team defense, IMO.
- Davewn

Eventually if this group doesn’t get it together, they’ll ship out the vets later this season for picks/prospects and let the kids play. Lots if assets for contenders to acquire worst case scenario

Here's your chance, guys and gals, to ask JC exactly what the hell he thinks he's doing. Bet you won't have a lot of competition.

Chicago Blackhawks
@NHLBlackhawks

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Text BLACKHAWKS to 65047 for the chance to win a pregame meet and greet with Coach Colliton thanks to
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I think Real hockey fans want to see development not hope. That said it is a business and it is McD's job to sell tickets. One shortfall of Capitalism is it can be shortsighted to make a quick buck instead of thinking long term to make more bucks. I think it's better to spend time and money on R&D (aka development) and sacrifice the short term to give the team a better chance long term.
- paulr

Everyone is different and everyone's financial background is diverse so each season ticket holder will decide when/if they have had enough.

ITs very curious to me to Dach and Boqvist are both here and both likely to stay until year's end and both are arguably their best prospects or are in the conversation. Is that a nervous GM trying show that while the "veterans" aren't promising at least the kids are? Similar to what you in see baseball?

See how it plays out in the end but right now you would have a hard time selling me that Dach isn't 1 of their best 12 forwards night in and night out, and Boqvist wont be one of their best D men....

This team lacks a lot...and most glaring is overall speed.

Thanks and hope you are well.

You think JC is legit NHL coach or saddled with turds that he can't show what he could truly do with the right players OR some where in between?
- SteveRain

I think he is a coach with barely a year under his belt, and is coaching like it. Unfortunately, the NHL may not be the best place for OJT. I think we are all forgetting that the team was reasonably successful last year with him as coach. I really want to see where this team is at after Thanksgiving. Then we will know, for the most part, how the rest of the season will go.

Show me a good coach, I'll show you a good team. I'm not sure JC can be judged with this team who are very weak on the back end and where the best forwards on the team are on the downsides of their careers.
- paulr

Its easier to sell what you are saying with somethgn at the NHL level to back it up with, which JC doesn't have.

I am not saying he's 100% blame, but I don't see a helluva lot of improvement or the team ready to play. They look in between.

Hawks like to leak out to guys like Powers how they have some top secret league analytic system that they go by.....like Billy Beane, and I see very little to back that up with any sort of success.....they aren't finding hidden gems and maximizing return like moneyball. In fact you could argue their system is doing the exact opposite and hurting them by operating in insanity.

Here's your chance, guys and gals, to ask JC exactly what the hell he thinks he's doing. Bet you won't have a lot of competition.

Chicago Blackhawks
@NHLBlackhawks

Meet Chicago’s bench boss!

Text BLACKHAWKS to 65047 for the chance to win a pregame meet and greet with Coach Colliton thanks to
@CocaCola
. Visit your local Jewel-Osco for more information! #Blackhawks
- pdx2ord

I would be more than happy to pick his brain for a while about coaching and leadership, and then I would tell him to hang in there...Of course, I live out of town with no Jewel-Osco to be found...

Dach is physically probably ready for the NHL. Hell get caught a few times since he was the big kid but when prepared he shrugs guys off and wins battles. Better have him learn (on the assumption they let him learn and don't jerk him around) then just beat on kids.

Boqvist will at least be fun when he has the puck. Cant get worse.

Its a silly system to play, especially with the speed and skill available. Calling out veterans 5 games in is pretty desperate.

I think both the GM and coach are gonzo in the next 4-6 weeks. If both are here by Christmas it'll be a miracle.

Its easier to sell what you are saying with somethgn at the NHL level to back it up with, which JC doesn't have.

I am not saying he's 100% blame, but I don't see a helluva lot of improvement or the team ready to play. They look in between.

Hawks like to leak out to guys like Powers how they have some top secret league analytic system that they go by.....like Billy Beane, and I see very little to back that up with any sort of success.....they aren't finding hidden gems and maximizing return like moneyball. In fact you could argue their system is doing the exact opposite and hurting them by operating in insanity.
- SteveRain

And are analytics as predictive of success at team and individual level in NHL as they are in baseball? Is the analytics team getting too much input into the line decisions, etc.? The chaos on the ice smacks of too many cooks. And Keith's comments on thinking too much, white boarding every single scenario, rather than trusting the instincts of players who have made it to this level, were interesting.

Hey Rain Man,
I know what the problem is: Dunc's custom Bauer skate order was messed up again this year and it's thrown him and whole team for a loop!

Though you didn't ask me, I'll give you my 2 centavos on Colliton.
Not a legit NHL coach.
Evidence: Barry Trotz leading an Islanders team that had just lost Tavares and never replaced him with any equivalent talent. Took a team that played horrendous defense and molded them into the top GA/Jennings trophy team, got them into the playoffs and past the 1st round.

Trotz loses Lehner to the Hawks in FA, Isles sign the wife-beater and they are still amongst the top GA teams again this year. Look at their record thus far. Appears they will make the playoffs again based on early season results. How far they go will be the question but it's clear to me that Colliton does not have the respect, the attention and the capability to do the same here. Again, IMO.
- savvyone-1

Every time I hear Foley gush over Keith for not getting smoked, I think of you. Its truly comical. If Keith has a lady friend, I know where I would look first if 2 ever went missing....Foley's basement.

Agree on everything else. People point to this supposed success this team had last year in JC, so then why with a full offseason, training camp, and 11 games in they look as bad as possible? Shouldn't they be building off that supposed success?

That's a point I don't see a lot of rebuttle from the JC crowd.

They have 9 more games to show me.....and the kings game is a lose/lose.....they wax the kings, they should as the kings might be the worst team in the nhl. They lose, and you have larger problems.

Hope you enjoyed the last shift with Bolland…..

Dach is physically probably ready for the NHL. Hell get caught a few times since he was the big kid but when prepared he shrugs guys off and wins battles. Better have him learn (on the assumption they let him learn and don't jerk him around) then just beat on kids.

Boqvist will at least be fun when he has the puck. Cant get worse.

Its a silly system to play, especially with the speed and skill available. Calling out veterans 5 games in is pretty desperate.

I think both the GM and coach are gonzo in the next 4-6 weeks. If both are here by Christmas it'll be a miracle.
- fattybeef

If you want to wager Im game....dm your info and we can bet that neither are gone....that would be admitting mistakes which is very hard to do.

Only way that happens is this goes Defcon 1 and they lose some huge amount in a row and are buried. OR kane goes to McDonough and demands JC be fired.

Here's your chance, guys and gals, to ask JC exactly what the hell he thinks he's doing. Bet you won't have a lot of competition.

Chicago Blackhawks
@NHLBlackhawks

Meet Chicago’s bench boss!

Text BLACKHAWKS to 65047 for the chance to win a pregame meet and greet with Coach Colliton thanks to
@CocaCola
. Visit your local Jewel-Osco for more information! #Blackhawks
- pdx2ord

The kid that currently bags my groceries does a great job, I'll pass.

Every time I hear Foley gush over Keith for not getting smoked, I think of you. Its truly comical. If Keith has a lady friend, I know where I would look first if 2 ever went missing....Foley's basement.

Agree on everything else. People point to this supposed success this team had last year in JC, so then why with a full offseason, training camp, and 11 games in they look as bad as possible? Shouldn't they be building off that supposed success?

That's a point I don't see a lot of rebuttle from the JC crowd.

They have 9 more games to show me.....and the kings game is a lose/lose.....they wax the kings, they should as the kings might be the worst team in the nhl. They lose, and you have larger problems.

Hope you enjoyed the last shift with Bolland…..
- SteveRain

Of course, you know I did!
If the guy only had a bionic back . . . then again, Stanley would have likely given him an 8 year deal.

Hey BTW, I heard Stan might bring back Ville Pokka . . .

And are analytics as predictive of success at team and individual level in NHL as they are in baseball? Is the analytics team getting too much input into the line decisions, etc.? The chaos on the ice smacks of too many cooks. And Keith's comments on thinking too much, white boarding every single scenario, rather than trusting the instincts of players who have made it to this level, were interesting.
- pdx2ord

I don't know but very little homegrown talent of late to brag about.

I don't know but very little homegrown talent of late to brag about.
- SteveRain

That's the scary thing. How many of our young guys developed PRIMARILY in Rockford have stuck or had success in the NHL? Was Shaw the last guy?

The top guys for the Hawks need to get going and things will turn around. None of the top 4 offensive players have had that great of a start to the year. Those guys get going and the Hawks will start to build some confidence and improve.

The top guys for the Hawks need to get going and things will turn around. None of the top 4 offensive players have had that great of a start to the year. Those guys get going and the Hawks will start to build some confidence and improve.
- breadbag

That's where I'm questioning whether JC has asked them to change their style of play. Not unusual to have one guy not performing up to snuff early in year, cough-Toews-cough, but to have every one of the top six underperforming has to have another root cause.

That's the scary thing. How many of our young guys developed PRIMARILY in Rockford have stuck or had success in the NHL? Was Shaw the last guy?
- pdx2ord

Daneault-unfortunately he's not here anymore.

The top guys for the Hawks need to get going and things will turn around. None of the top 4 offensive players have had that great of a start to the year. Those guys get going and the Hawks will start to build some confidence and improve.
- breadbag

Yeah, despite today's meme, the best players are playing like crap. If they don't get in together, they're going nowhere. If they can't get it done anymore, out with them (with everlasting gratitude).

From the ‘More Good News’ department, this from ‘The Athletic’. Point of reference, the Blackhawks are 8 points out of a WC spot today. Even accounting for fewer games played, its more than 4 points.

Today is one of my favorite dates on the hockey calendar: Nov. 1, the day we can look at the standings and declare a whole bunch of teams’ playoff chances dead and buried.

It’s all thanks to Elliotte Friedman, who made a stunning discovery years ago: Teams that are four points or more out of a wild card spot on Nov. 1 rarely make the playoffs. It seemed like it couldn’t be right – four points is just two measly wins to make up over five whole months – but back then, just three of the last 32 teams had managed to make the comeback.

They did not play this new system last year.
Toews might have a broken down body and he prefers to not play physical checking. Maybe he doesn't like JC's system. Whatever ails Toews is unfortunate but he is accountable at his salary. Either Toews has to get better or Colliton has to go.

It is egg on Bowman's face if he fired his hand picked coach. The team is improves in paper but lacking overall in many areas. .The same problems carry over from last season. Boqvist here is a panic move. Should have recalled Holm. Gus value is at its lowest. Find the right pairing with him and he might replicate last season stats. You would try for a #2 round for him

Seabrook eventually will become a healthy scratch most games and could be a regular press box or sent to Rockford. I wish he would accept a buyout - generous one - but how would it affect salary cap?

Of some relief next season would be Crawford out and Laakinen in as back up Fo that because you are keeping Lehner at roughly a tad more than Crawford gets now - but give him four years and hope he accepts. Not really a cap saving but a necessary move.

We need to determine if Strome line is ok because Toews is not the answer as a too center and Strome is only acceptable if his line scores a lot and our #1 center is not Tiewes. That is a huge problem because you aren't going to win with Toews as a too line piviot.

Blackhawks need to package Keith and whatever - even a 2020 #1 and consider even prospects not Beaudin, Mitchell or Boqvist. Slavin might be attractive. A new as good as you can trade for #1 dman. Mitchell will have to be the too guy in your second pair. DeHahn and Maara are serviceable on second and third pair until a youngster is deemed ready to replace the. Gus has to go. Murphy is nothing more than a luxury and hopefully taken in expansion. His job is to provide balance to a pairing but he is I jury prone and therefore unreliable

Very interesting Tyler.

As I see it, to announce Dach is up for the year....and that Boqvist will be called up, is shouting from the roof-tops that the organization is disgruntled (as well they should be) with the older core...and that they are going full-bore into handing the team over to the youth.

I would not be surprised to see maybe one or two "Prospects" also being brought in over the next month or two. It started with benching Seabrook 2 consecutive games, and has now snowballed into a REAL youth re-build. Hang on fellas. It's gonna be a ROCKY ride!

They did not play this new system last year.
Toews might have a broken down body and he prefers to not play physical checking. Maybe he doesn't like JC's system. Whatever ails Toews is unfortunate but he is accountable at his salary. Either Toews has to get better or Colliton has to go.

It is egg on Bowman's face if he fired his hand picked coach. The team is improves in paper but lacking overall in many areas. .The same problems carry over from last season. Boqvist here is a panic move. Should have recalled Holm. Gus value is at its lowest. Find the right pairing with him and he might replicate last season stats. You would try for a #2 round for him

Seabrook eventually will become a healthy scratch most games and could be a regular press box or sent to Rockford. I wish he would accept a buyout - generous one - but how would it affect salary cap?

Of some relief next season would be Crawford out and Laakinen in as back up Fo that because you are keeping Lehner at roughly a tad more than Crawford gets now - but give him four years and hope he accepts. Not really a cap saving but a necessary move.

We need to determine if Strome line is ok because Toews is not the answer as a too center and Strome is only acceptable if his line scores a lot and our #1 center is not Tiewes. That is a huge problem because you aren't going to win with Toews as a too line piviot.

Blackhawks need to package Keith and whatever - even a 2020 #1 and consider even prospects not Beaudin, Mitchell or Boqvist. Slavin might be attractive. A new as good as you can trade for #1 dman. Mitchell will have to be the too guy in your second pair. DeHahn and Maara are serviceable on second and third pair until a youngster is deemed ready to replace the. Gus has to go. Murphy is nothing more than a luxury and hopefully taken in expansion. His job is to provide balance to a pairing but he is I jury prone and therefore unreliable
- jhawk59

Number one, Searook cannot be sent to Rockford.

Two, under no circumstance should the Hawks trade their #1 pick in 2020 unless the return is an established star player who is 23 years old or younger (and no team is gonna make that trade). The Goal is to rebuild not make the playoffs this season.

If Gus and Bovquist are both dressed, guess who's power play time probably gets reduced (DK).
- LAHawk[/quote

A pity, that.

They did not play this new system last year.
Toews might have a broken down body and he prefers to not play physical checking. Maybe he doesn't like JC's system. Whatever ails Toews is unfortunate but he is accountable at his salary. Either Toews has to get better or Colliton has to go.

It is egg on Bowman's face if he fired his hand picked coach. The team is improves in paper but lacking overall in many areas. .The same problems carry over from last season. Boqvist here is a panic move. Should have recalled Holm. Gus value is at its lowest. Find the right pairing with him and he might replicate last season stats. You would try for a #2 round for him

Seabrook eventually will become a healthy scratch most games and could be a regular press box or sent to Rockford. I wish he would accept a buyout - generous one - but how would it affect salary cap?

Of some relief next season would be Crawford out and Laakinen in as back up Fo that because you are keeping Lehner at roughly a tad more than Crawford gets now - but give him four years and hope he accepts. Not really a cap saving but a necessary move.

We need to determine if Strome line is ok because Toews is not the answer as a too center and Strome is only acceptable if his line scores a lot and our #1 center is not Tiewes. That is a huge problem because you aren't going to win with Toews as a too line piviot.

Blackhawks need to package Keith and whatever - even a 2020 #1 and consider even prospects not Beaudin, Mitchell or Boqvist. Slavin might be attractive. A new as good as you can trade for #1 dman. Mitchell will have to be the too guy in your second pair. DeHahn and Maara are serviceable on second and third pair until a youngster is deemed ready to replace the. Gus has to go. Murphy is nothing more than a luxury and hopefully taken in expansion. His job is to provide balance to a pairing but he is I jury prone and therefore unreliable
- jhawk59

Not much to disagree with. IMHO the team needs to adopt the Patriots strategy, Only the star of stars is retained - everyone else is expendable BEFORE they hit the cliff. Oh and a world class coach would help.

Kane's frustration article: https://chicago.suntimes....y-colliton-jonathan-toews

Another comment on letting instincts take over:

“The biggest thing right now is probably to be as prepared as possible going into the games,” Kane said. “Whether it’s watching your shifts, watching video, watching video on the power play, it’s feeling overly prepared so you can go into the game and just watch your instincts take over.”