Kane with the hattie.

a good start and better finish...way to rare...

Hawks are 6-1 on the second game of back-to-backs. They should just play two games in a row for the rest of the season.

Hawks are 6-1 on the second game of back-to-backs. They should just play two games in a row for the rest of the season.
- SecondCitySavage

Maybe scrimmage the night before the first.

After that effort, lets get started on extensions for JC and Gus....

Now Scottak will not be able to sleep tonight...sorry bud...

After that effort, lets get started on extensions for JC and Gus....

Now Scottak will not be able to sleep tonight...sorry bud...
- TrueGrit

Tyler, FWIW, Hawks currently have 30 points. Dallas 4th in the Central at 39. Vegas 4th in the Pacific at 37. So Hawks need 8 points to get into a playoff spot. Not that it makes any difference. You may want to edit the blog.
- boilermaker100

This isn't the correct way to look at this. You are assuming all those other teams will lose 100% of their games while the hawks win 4 straight (8 pts).

A more realistic way at comparing things is by points per game. Historically (until last year), 94-95 points is most years got a team an invite as a Wild Card 2 (WC2). Like last year, this year is trending below that (but only by a point). Calgary has 1.143 points per game.

For the Hawks to ascend to that average, they would need to win 8 straight games

That would just bring them to a WC2 position, based on current realities. If we use the historical last 15 years, then the Hawks would need 9 straight victories, just to get the last playoff invite. Of course, after that, the Hawks would still need to win at a 1.143+ points per game clip. In essence, that would require at least a 22-17 finish, after winning those 9 straight (i.e. 31-17 tear for rest of season to get to 94 points, the historical bare minimum WC2 average).

#LookingBleak

This isn't the correct way to look at this. You are assuming all those other teams will lose 100% of their games while the hawks win 4 straight (8 pts).

A more realistic way at comparing things is by points per game. Historically (until last year), 94-95 points is most years got a team an invite as a Wild Card 2 (WC2). Like last year, this year is trending below that (but only by a point). Calgary has 1.143 points per game.

For the Hawks to ascend to that average, they would need to win 8 straight games

That would just bring them to a WC2 position, based on current realities. If we use the historical last 15 years, then the Hawks would need 9 straight victories, just to get the last playoff invite. Of course, after that, the Hawks would still need to win at a 1.143+ points per game clip. In essence, that would require at least a 22-17 finish, after winning those 9 straight (i.e. 31-17 tear for rest of season to get to 94 points, the historical bare minimum WC2 average).

#LookingBleak
- DontKnowNutin

So - they have to win 65% of the rest of the available points - almost 2/3 of them.

So - they have to win 65% of the rest of the available points - almost 2/3 of them.
- StLBravesFan

well the blues changed coaches and goalies and went on a tear last year...

it's a very simple formula from last to cup in 6 months

After that effort, lets get started on extensions for JC and Gus....

Now Scottak will not be able to sleep tonight...sorry bud...
- TrueGrit

I am certain he along with certain other bloggers who like tough checking hockey would love to insert B Saad name and thr opponents name in a Xmas jingle:

Goes like this Brandon Saad ran over Eric Staahl at the hockey game last night,
You may not believe Chicago plays that way, but I saw it with my own eyes.

The words fit even if you stretch the truth a tad.

Kane with the hattie.
- HawkintheD

Kane also said after the game, they're hoping to go on a streak and put it all together. Would love to see it but we'll see. I still think their biggest problem is the dump n chase. Go back to cycling and puck possession to keep the puck in the o-zone. We won tonight but still had most of our o-zone entries turn into one-and-dones. Less pressure on the defense.

well the blues changed coaches and goalies and went on a tear last year...

it's a very simple formula from last to cup in 6 months
- bogiedoc

Yep, find a coach that will ditch the dump n chase offense. Get back to cycling the puck and maintaining possession in the o-zone.

After that effort, lets get started on extensions for JC and Gus....

Now Scottak will not be able to sleep tonight...sorry bud...
- TrueGrit

After tonight, could totally see them winning it all.

Wish more people would blog who apply common sense and not emotionalism and or disallusionment and anger as their basis to call for the ouster of both Stan Bowman and J Colliton.

I want to be clear here; I am not a Bowman apologetic and I believe there are mistakes made by the GM and the head coach. And furthermore, a dramatic upheaval would be enacted if they were replaced; presently we expect soon that M Crawford will be terminated.

So that I can present this with brevity in mind, I am illustrating my views with a pretend conversation but the content firmly believe is a reflection of the current state of Blackhawk affairs as well as historically during the past few seasons.

Rocky and McDonough seated behind a table, Stan on the other side.

McDonoigh speaks in Rocky's behalf

McDonoigh
:
well Stan another poor record, no playoff appearance. You have attempted to keep the team competitive, however, which had meat more fans in seats and greater amount of revenue.

What is your plan going forward to bring us to a higher respectable showing, which the result being strongly competing for and even making the playoffs

Stan;

In all due respect to the financial well being, the contracts negotiated and signed by Toews and Seabrook have hampered plans for a distribution of money all the while being cap compliant. These two as well as Crawford and Keith are not finished although the level of performance and accountability has slipped for Toews and Seabrook in particular.. Still you have been able to effectively market them and there was never acrimonious negotiating or negative press in that time frame of negotiations. How I feel about our former core players whom were a big part of three Stanley Cups.- is that they can still have a place in the line up. That is important to stress, because trading them would be an ardous task and likely a fruitless endeavor. In fact I am strongly opposed to including top prospects just to rid our team of a burdensome contract.

Moreover, our farm system - our prospects in the pipeline - fairly impressive. It is from that source we will gain good players whom can help bring us back to first a playoff contender and secondly on a conquest to move into a Cuo final again.

But this is a time sensitive issue. Prospects take a preresquite amount of time to develop, some take longer than others.

The Saad acqusition and last off season transactions did improve our team. But you know injuries are part of the game. DeHahn going down is a big loss. As the expansion season looms closer I do have some players I hope to move out and they shall be replaced eventually on a full time basis by prospects.

When a franchise makes the effort to be as competitive as we have been, the postponement of the inevitable low moment or crash is avoided but now that moment is upon us. I feel this season and next will be low water marks in terms of W and L but through our drafting and develoment we will become elite again.

McDonough

Alright Stan, we have confidence in you. We know that signing top players is not something someone else necessarily could have accomplished with lower salary and term for Toews and Seabrook. We understand at the time the deals were signed that you hadn't evidence of their soon to be decline. We believe also that you have tried to bring in more toughness and accountability. The acqusition of top
line players whom possess such is not easily purchased. And we believe in your drafting: you are not a poor judge as Tallon proved to.be at the draft table.

We are disturbed by your choice of Colliton, though, as the team did not respond well to his strategies. I personally spoke with Jeremy and told him this garbage effort and terrible to the eye test had to end or I would have no choice over the future of Jeremy but to relieve him of duties - I would have instructed you to do this. However the team rebounded nicely and even has put forth a descent effort for the most part after Jeremy changed strategy. He is a bright guy and a good communicator with players; therefore, how is it your choice as coach had the shortcoming? And can we trust him to coach well throughout the term of his contact.

Stan

Jeremy is responsible for all that you mention and I,too, as hiring manager accept responsibility. Jeremy explained his coaching philosophy and it is actually a hybrid of that which is used by a few NHL teams this season. Our failure has been that we do not have as a whole team nearly as good the talent to make the system work. We may consider that system again when our personnel is much improved.

I like a lot the foreseeable future of the composition of the bottom half of our roster. I have great expectation for exciting talented players - some already drafted- to comprise top lines and top dman pairings.

So there I lie it out for you to mull over. Can you agree that while Colliton is not a real solid choice, he is likely ok for another year or two while under contract and during a time frame when prospects filter into the lineup. Then maybe you want a different coach fine visit that prio con discussion in two years.

I think Nylander was much better today with with Kane and Strome.
And after Kubalik went into line with Toews and Saad that line has been good to.

After tonight, could totally see them winning it all.
- HawkintheD

By "all" you mean the draft lottery, right?

By "all" you mean the draft lottery, right?
- DarthKane

No worse than third drop if you ha e worse record but do not get lottery ball on first two pulls. Right?

No worse than third drop if you ha e worse record but do not get lottery ball on first two pulls. Right?
- jhawk59

I could live with another 3rd overall pick, the Hawks could take Russian goalie Askarov.

I could live with another 3rd overall pick, the Hawks could take Russian goalie Askarov.
- DarthKane

Not a skater? Or is this your Caufield tongue in cheek pick for 2020?

*NEW* blog up: http://bit.ly/38L4V0s

Despite winning last night vs. Minnesota, I'm still convinced the Blackhawks have hit their lowest point in the last decade.

Are their changes coming?

C’mon, guys - Foley pays more attention to the game than you all do.
- StLBravesFan

Yeah I really loved “whatever his name is” comment, truly priceless!