Yeah this certainly doesn't look good for Hawks fan or the organization. As some have already said, this team has been trending down hill since 2015. If this year's losing skid continues for the next week or so, it will get interesting.

Do the hawks make an aggressive decision like they did with Coach Q? During the Colliton press conference, they strongly insisted that they do not make knee jerk decisions and everything is thoughtful and rational.

Some would say firing the greatest coach this team has seen after one year not making the playoffs is not only irrational, it is disrespectful.

My gut is telling me this organization is in dark place right now. I hope they prove me wrong.

I’m not sure I understand this belief that Gustafsson is some kind of offensive star.

Yeah - 17+43=60 last season - but had never approached those numbers before that, in Chicago, in Rockford, in Sweden....

And he’s nowhere close to last season’s production this season.

A one-year wonder who, if he’s not scoring like las season, is a liability because of his defensive issues.
- StLBravesFan

Wasn't he the one who turned it over in 2016 vs STL that led to Brouwer's gwg? I think he was.

Agreed....he may be the dumbest defensemen they have ever had in my life time. If Montreal is seriously looking at him......deal him ASAP before they 2nd guess themselves.

Free up space and sign Torrey Krug and Tyson Barrie. Ship out Keith and Maata.

Up front, you're screwed unless forwards in Rockford and these kids start taking major steps.

That's the real question that has to be asked.

If you are launching StanBow/JC into the sun, who are you replacing them with?

Are Maciver or MacIsaac taking over? Mark Kelly? do you completely go outside the organization to the Hunters? Dale coached the Caps for a Season. Mark was an assistant GM in Toronto until recently.

If StanBow and JC are going, how much further do the cuts go? Scouting? Minor Leagues?
- TheTrob

Yeah. I don't know. It seems the Hunter's have a good thing going in London and may not be interested in working for someone in the NHL.

https://londonknights.com/staff-dhunter

Dale Hunter, along with his brother Mark, and Basil McRae purchased the London Knights in May 2000 from the Tarry Family.

Have the Hunters ever been at the wheel of an NHL franchise?
- mohel

At London, right?

Apparently, a bad injury to the Knights’ goalie last nite - his leg sliced a skate of one of his teammates.

He had surgery - don’t know the results.

The injury was bad enough that they cancelled the game.

CORRECTION: it was the Niagara Ice Dogs goalie injured by a Knight skater.

Apparently, the surgery was a success - he’s stable and recovering.

That's the real question that has to be asked.

If you are launching StanBow/JC into the sun, who are you replacing them with?

Are Maciver or MacIsaac taking over? Mark Kelly? do you completely go outside the organization to the Hunters? Dale coached the Caps for a Season. Mark was an assistant GM in Toronto until recently.

If StanBow and JC are going, how much further do the cuts go? Scouting? Minor Leagues?
- TheTrob

I've been asking this for awhile. The Hunters are the most common answer. Angry fans can call for heads to roll; executives have to replace them.

Also, look at who is making the decision on who to hire. McD and Rocky. Probably not getting advice from Scotty if they can his kid.

Thank you and look.....All good things come to an end. Do I appreciate the glory years? Of course I do.....Do I appreciate what Toews USED to do on a consistent basis which apparently made me a "real fan" of course I did.

My issue is, is that this team is horrid. Awful. Anyone else notice the ongoing cap issue with this team and how do they get out from underneath it? They make a smart hockey trade and dump 1 of their MAJOR cap hits. They can continue to put lip stick on a pig but for the last 3 years, including this year....it hasn't worked. THey tried a major shake up when Nashville exposed them.....didn't work. They fired Q. Didn't work. They hired some hidden gem that I don't believe ever played in the show OR coached in the show yet was given the reigns for this team.....and how has that panned out? OH, they had a glimmer mid-late last year when the season was already over, and now his system is literally leading to both these goalies have nervous breakdowns either in game or post game...or both.

Bowman tried signing and acquiring veteran D men.....but that hasn't worked.

So to me....blow it up. Trading role players isn't enough. You aren't going to dig yourself out of this cap crunch.

Its not a matter of picking a side....you look at who is producing and your ROI and pick and chose. At this point, outside of Dach, I would listen on everyone. You have to. Its not going to be pretty...you're going to alienate some fans, but the reality is this team is stuck in a financial cap crisis, with aging assets, who are no longer capable of carrying a large portion of the work load. that's a fact, and it's been on going since the Nashville series.....

Or is this post too negative for you Paul?
- SteveRain

C'mon, lets not disparage the great JC, he had 57 NHL games under his belt as a player.

I get your sentiment to "blow it up", but in reality, that just doesn't really work in the NHL. How well has the plan worked in EDM, BUF, Ariz, FLA and other places?

8 seasons since Buffalo in the Playoffs, 7 for Ariz, etc.
22 seasons since FLA won a playoff round, 14 for TOR, 12 for BUF. EDM has had one playoff appearance in 13 years.

How many butts you think will be in the seats if this Hawks playoff drought extends another few seasons.

I’d keep the Drake and trade Shaw. Same type of player that is best suited to bottom 6 but has enough skill to slot up when needed. Drake’s younger with a lot less miles, and doesn’t get reputation penalties...yet anyway.

All of the good will that was built up with the epic run has been destroyed in 2 years.

This overhaul is going to get worse from here not better. A complete shake up is needed
- TJYTJY

Not to me it hasn't. Did you think the team would never suck again?

Have the Hunters ever been at the wheel of an NHL franchise?
- mohel

Wasn't Dale the HC of Caps for a season or at least part of a season?

Wasn't Dale the HC of Caps for a season or at least part of a season?
- Beaver-Warrior

Yes

He can only kick the can down the road for so long. At some point Rocky/McD will not allow the "we had injuries" anymore. A couple years ago an injured Crawford meant no playoffs, this year it is Keith/Shaw/deHaan, etc. Nevermind the injuries, well built organizations overcome them.

A better backup to Crow would have meant maybe making the playoffs a few years ago. Having more than one top 3 defensman in the organization means you can absorb an injury here or there. Is it swings and misses by scouting? lack of development in RFD? problems with the NHL staff?

With the success from 2010-15 its hard to believe that the issues are completely institutional. The number of draft picks that have come thru and are successful either with the Hawks or elsewhere leads me to believe that scouting is fine with identifying talent. Supposedly talented guys topping out or flaming out in RFD maybe leads to the conclusion that the minor league coaching needs to improve.

These things need to be taken into account before head (StanBo/JC) is cut off.
- TheTrob

I give that window 2009-2017....each of those years they made the playoffs....the later it went on the more reliant they were financially and on the ice with the core....it accelerated the decline of 2/7/19 and here we stand....and again, this team is financially reliant on the core but now they are too old, and their game's have slipped to be able to count on them to carry this team.

This approach since Nashville has been the definition of insanity. Sure they have tweaked it a little and fired their HOF coach, but NOTHING bowman has done has worked....which tells me it's to get a fresh set of eyes on this organization from GM down to the scouts. Jeremy finishes out the year, but he needs to go. Hes not a NHL coach TODAY...……

As somebody else stated, I don't think you can allow Bowman to continue to tinker with this team. Get a new, younger, outside the box GM here and let him evaluate all his assets so he can lay ground work for trades either at the deadline or this upcoming summer.

Guys like Saad, Shaw, Keith, Crawford, Lehner, Maata, Murphy, Gus, Carpenter, I think you can easily trade......all those guys can plug holes for cup contenders. Both goalies can fetch you borderline 1st round picks since, Keith may as well......maybe even Murphy.....

#1. Fire Collition & replace him with King.

#2. Implement a more current roster friendly defensive system.

#3. Trade Gus & give the future time to play NOW!

#4. Re-sign Lehner.

#5. TOTALLY TIME TO HAVE KUBALIK PLAY WITH TOEWS!!!!

What is the update with Crawford?

I give that window 2009-2017....each of those years they made the playoffs....the later it went on the more reliant they were financially and on the ice with the core....it accelerated the decline of 2/7/19 and here we stand....and again, this team is financially reliant on the core but now they are too old, and their game's have slipped to be able to count on them to carry this team.

This approach since Nashville has been the definition of insanity. Sure they have tweaked it a little and fired their HOF coach, but NOTHING bowman has done has worked....which tells me it's to get a fresh set of eyes on this organization from GM down to the scouts. Jeremy finishes out the year, but he needs to go. Hes not a NHL coach TODAY...……

As somebody else stated, I don't think you can allow Bowman to continue to tinker with this team. Get a new, younger, outside the box GM here and let him evaluate all his assets so he can lay ground work for trades either at the deadline or this upcoming summer.

Guys like Saad, Shaw, Keith, Crawford, Lehner, Maata, Murphy, Gus, Carpenter, I think you can easily trade......all those guys can plug holes for cup contenders. Both goalies can fetch you borderline 1st round picks since, Keith may as well......maybe even Murphy.....
- SteveRain

yeah I think organization gives him the season to finish this out. By doing it this way, it makes it more clear where the organizational issue is versus taking your frustration out from another failing season. My money is that this is Bowman's last trade deadline. The writing is on the wall for me.

I've been asking this for awhile. The Hunters are the most common answer. Angry fans can call for heads to roll; executives have to replace them.

Also, look at who is making the decision on who to hire. McD and Rocky. Probably not getting advice from Scotty if they can his kid.
- mohel

Honestly after speaking to Scotty this summer....I respect him a TON I don't think you approach him on this.....It's been what? 12 years around this time that WWW passed? I would hope they don't need to bounce anything off Bowman SR any longer...

Every single player should be listened on. Hate the thought of ever moving Kane, but he is your biggest piece and gets you the biggest return. My problem with them rebuilding is do we want to watch Stan Bowman reconstruct the future of this team? I would hope Bowman is fired and whoever takes his position handles those decisions.

By the time the deadline comes, the Hawks could have some VERY attractive trade chips. Say what you want, but I would listen on both Crawford and Lehner, as well as Keith, Strome, Debrincat, Maata, De Haan, Gustafsson, or anybody else that brings you back value. The Hawks need to start acquiring draft picks and a lot of prospects. This team isn't going anywhere this year or in the future. I would rather watch a team rebuilding, who we also know has no short term shot, rather than a team stuck in the middle.

When Stan fired Q the fate of the team fell on him.
In business results speak volumes - I’m thinking he maybe given the opportunity to resign in the next few weeks.
If not he will be axed.

Yeah this certainly doesn't look good for Hawks fan or the organization. As some have already said, this team has been trending down hill since 2015. If this year's losing skid continues for the next week or so, it will get interesting.

Do the hawks make an aggressive decision like they did with Coach Q? During the Colliton press conference, they strongly insisted that they do not make knee jerk decisions and everything is thoughtful and rational.

Some would say firing the greatest coach this team has seen after one year not making the playoffs is not only irrational, it is disrespectful.

My gut is telling me this organization is in dark place right now. I hope they prove me wrong.
- catrisc

The decision was it is rebuild time, and Q's not the coach for that. JC is filler for now. I think when Stan was given the power to can Q, he was given the keys to do the rebuild.

This means Stan is probably gone tomorrow.

C'mon, lets not disparage the great JC, he had 57 NHL games under his belt as a player.

I get your sentiment to "blow it up", but in reality, that just doesn't really work in the NHL. How well has the plan worked in EDM, BUF, Ariz, FLA and other places?

8 seasons since Buffalo in the Playoffs, 7 for Ariz, etc.
22 seasons since FLA won a playoff round, 14 for TOR, 12 for BUF. EDM has had one playoff appearance in 13 years.

How many butts you think will be in the seats if this Hawks playoff drought extends another few seasons.
- TheTrob

They continue on this path....its going to extend.

On this team today who is a true TOP 6 player and TOP 4 d man?

88,12, 19 (2c), and maybe 17.....77 unsure.

I think you need to slot 77 between 88 and 12 and see if that can be your future 1st line.

By the time you are competing again 19 will be your 3rd line center.

Honestly, what is more alarming and what is showing more and more is that they dont' have quality D men.....who is the next Seabrook/keith who can eat up huge minutes and neutralize just about anyone in the league? Who is their next PK specialist like Hammer was?

I posted a few blogs ago....they are going to get desperate. Tug at the allegiances of fans with crafted 1 goal commercials to come out to the UC, but history shows us we are a fickle fan base and we wont' drop money on a crap ice product.

The decision was it is rebuild time, and Q's not the coach for that. JC is filler for now. I think when Stan was given the power to can Q, he was given the keys to do the rebuild.

This means Stan is probably gone tomorrow.
- mohel

Im truly surprised we haven't seen any media member approach McDonough for an interview.....state of the team union per se. Id love to hear how he spins this given their rapid decline.....especially with more and more embarrassing efforts, and players literally melting down on the ice. There is no way he can sit and hide from this much longer without doing something.

Ill be shocked if Bowman is gone......as much as I think it has to happen, I don't think it will. I think they will keep him, 2/7/19/88 and continue to hope that guys like DeBrincat hit and they can patch work their way to a WC 1 year...until they are able to replace a core player when their deal falls off, with a younger version through the draft or UFA

Wasn't Dale the HC of Caps for a season or at least part of a season?
- Beaver-Warrior

Yes. I wonder what happened to make it only a season?

That's the real question that has to be asked.

If you are launching StanBow/JC into the sun, who are you replacing them with?

Are Maciver or MacIsaac taking over? Mark Kelly? do you completely go outside the organization to the Hunters? Dale coached the Caps for a Season. Mark was an assistant GM in Toronto until recently.

If StanBow and JC are going, how much further do the cuts go? Scouting? Minor Leagues?
- TheTrob[/quote
Clean house from mcego bowman jc scouting and minors. If not mcego then the rest need to go.

Wasn't he the one who turned it over in 2016 vs STL that led to Brouwer's gwg? I think he was.

Agreed....he may be the dumbest defensemen they have ever had in my life time. If Montreal is seriously looking at him......deal him ASAP before they 2nd guess themselves.
- SteveRain

Yes, he tried to disguise himself by wearing a different number (52?), but it was him. Start of the downfall. Q played him, so this entire thing is Q’s fault (significant red font).

I give that window 2009-2017....each of those years they made the playoffs....the later it went on the more reliant they were financially and on the ice with the core....it accelerated the decline of 2/7/19 and here we stand....and again, this team is financially reliant on the core but now they are too old, and their game's have slipped to be able to count on them to carry this team.

This approach since Nashville has been the definition of insanity. Sure they have tweaked it a little and fired their HOF coach, but NOTHING bowman has done has worked....which tells me it's to get a fresh set of eyes on this organization from GM down to the scouts. Jeremy finishes out the year, but he needs to go. Hes not a NHL coach TODAY...……

As somebody else stated, I don't think you can allow Bowman to continue to tinker with this team. Get a new, younger, outside the box GM here and let him evaluate all his assets so he can lay ground work for trades either at the deadline or this upcoming summer.

Guys like Saad, Shaw, Keith, Crawford, Lehner, Maata, Murphy, Gus, Carpenter, I think you can easily trade......all those guys can plug holes for cup contenders. Both goalies can fetch you borderline 1st round picks since, Keith may as well......maybe even Murphy.....
- SteveRain

Like they did with JC as coach?

Like they did with JC as coach?
- mohel

worked with Stanley when he was promoted.....