The Colliton defensive coverage system. We saw it on display in Rangers game. It dont work, guys get out of position very quickly. Someone said they get gassed quickly because they are chasing. YEP. I turned on computer this morning, went to Hawks website to read about the firing of Colliton. But noooooooooo.

Woah weird...I live like five minutes from that place...lol
- Savetheembers33

Same. Plainfield.

The Colliton defensive coverage system. We saw it on display in Rangers game. It dont work, guys get out of position very quickly. Someone said they get gassed quickly because they are chasing. YEP. I turned on computer this morning, went to Hawks website to read about the firing of Colliton. But noooooooooo.
- MadHatter

Well, Hawks switching it up today; were scheduled for an 11am practice, but are now doing off-ice workouts.

Not sure what's up with that. They really need work on the ice.

Man I could say so much on this but I will refrain. Good post.
- NamedSources

Thank you. If you are who I think you are...welcome back.

Wild speculation underway Re: Gaudreau after he removed all references to CGY from his social media profiles. Hard to believe CGY would trade him while sitting in WC spot.

Well, Hawks switching it up today; were scheduled for an 11am practice, but are now doing off-ice workouts.

Not sure what's up with that. They really need work on the ice.
- Tyler Cameron

Adding to this:

@SBekovic

Colliton added they did some video and had some "individual discussions" saying the #Blackhawks need to respond better.

Adding to this:

@SBekovic

Colliton added they did some video and had some "individual discussions" saying the #Blackhawks need to respond better.
- Tyler Cameron

Bowman and JC have no clue what to do. It’s beyond dumb at this point. Stan will do nothing because he can’t. He built this mess. To tear it apart signals failure. Ownership must step in and make the hard decisions. Stan Bowman is simply not capable.

Most Swedes are very happy with the tax rate. And if they aren't they have the freedom to move elsewhere.
- paulr

How do you most Swedes are happy with the tax rate? I remember the group ABBA Leaving Sweden for awhile and than forming a corporation because of the tax structure.

Adding to this:

@SBekovic

Colliton added they did some video and had some "individual discussions" saying the #Blackhawks need to respond better.
- Tyler Cameron

Bowman and JC have no clue what to do. It’s beyond dumb at this point. Stan will do nothing because he can’t. He built this mess. To tear it apart signals failure. Ownership must step in and make the hard decisions. Stan Bowman is simply not capable.
- z1990z

Fundamentally, these guys know they are out of a playoff spot. Doubt we see much fire from them the remainder of the year. Sad, but also understandable.

Adding to this:

@SBekovic


Colliton added they did some video and had some "individual discussions" saying the #Blackhawks need to respond better.
- Tyler Cameron

Morning Tyler. Chicago has 2 more games before the trade deadline , it's obvious now that Chicago will more than likely not make the playoffs.

Do you envision any trades before Monday from Chicago?

Ryan Carpenter: “Right now this just sucks, the feeling in the locker room.”

Ryan Carpenter: “Right now this just sucks, the feeling in the locker room.”
- pdx2ord

Well it starts with the junior varsity head coach. Not JC’s fault. He has no business behind an nhl bench yet Stan Bowman put him there. Can bowman!!! You have Gallant and Lavi sitting there yet JC is still the HC of this dumpster fire. As I said it’s beyond dumb.

Junior? Dach played 3 seasons already lol. AHL is not much if a development league sadly. It should be but it isn’t. I might’ve agreed with you on Boq to start the season but in hindsight he’s done well at the NHL level. Dach has made leaps and bounds over his first full season as well.
- Assman22

The AHL is a far better league than you give it credit for. Over decades it has sent many excellent players to the NHL after they learned how to be pros, stars included. It is a league made up of many hard nosed, nasty veteran pros in their mid to late 20's; kids out of junior gaining experience, Euros experiencing the NA game and a lot of those 30 game a year NCAA wannabes with their face shields who have been told all their lives how great they are.

Don't tell the Pittsburgh Penguins or Tampa Bay Lightning the AHL isn't a valuable component of their success. The Hawks would do well by putting more emphasis on that team in Rockford.

The AHL is a far better league than you give it credit for. Over decades it has sent many excellent players to the NHL after they learned how to be pros, stars included. It is a league made up of many hard nosed, nasty veteran pros in their mid to late 20's; kids out of junior gaining experience, Euros experiencing the NA game and a lot of those 30 game a year NCAA wannabes with their face shields who have been told all their lives how great they are.

Don't tell the Pittsburgh Penguins or Tampa Bay Lightning the AHL isn't a valuable component of their success. The Hawks would do well by putting more emphasis on that team in Rockford.
- RickJ

Another problem bowman has ignored for too long the development of young players in rockford and other places. Pitt has a great development ly ahl affiliate bunch of 3rd and 4th liners contributing at the nhl level and pitt's prospects on paper are worse than the hawks but pitt has a system and preaches hard working culture which the hawks are greatly missing. Question who was the last player from Rockford that has contributed consistently and made a difference at the nhl level for the hawks over a period of time?

That's completely unrealistic. Strome's an RFA and I forget how things work exactly, but if that was the Hawks final offer, couldn't Strome and his agent go to arbitration.

Either way, even with the Hawks holding the cards in terms of the RFA status, there is no way they are getting him for $2M or less.
- HawkintheD

Strome doesn't have arbitration rights.

Strome doesn't have arbitration rights.
- Elbows15

Ok wasn't sure. Even without them, I think it's a pretty fair bet that $2M or less is not where both sides end up.

Bowman and JC have no clue what to do. It’s beyond dumb at this point. Stan will do nothing because he can’t. He built this mess. To tear it apart signals failure. Ownership must step in and make the hard decisions. Stan Bowman is simply not capable.
- z1990z

Hawks have 4 players, Kane, Toews, Seabrook, Keith, who have more than 30 million of the cap. And with Saad, 11 million for goalies, Dmen De Haan, Maata, Murphy, what kind of maneuvering can he do ? Practically nothing. Bowman tried to follow the Penguins model of patching while he still had the big name players who won 3 Cups. But it didnt work for various reasons. And now its gonna get ugly, REAL ugly. It's gonna be top 10 picks for another 3 years, minimum. And thats only if he chooses wisely in the drafts. As an example, look at salaries of Bruins top line, its only about 20 million. LOTS of room to maneuver.

Same. Plainfield.
- SteveRain

Haha nice. I'm like ten-fifteen minute drive from there. You blew my mind when you brought up Romeoville lmao

Ok wasn't sure. Even without them, I think it's a pretty fair bet that $2M or less is not where both sides end up.
- HawkintheD

They aren't going to need to worry about signing him at all. He is being moved. i keep trying to tell you. lol

How do you most Swedes are happy with the tax rate? I remember the group ABBA Leaving Sweden for awhile and than forming a corporation because of the tax structure.
- spanky

I should have said they are happy with he country so they can live with the tax rate. The population of many social democracies (Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Denmark, Canada among others) are well educated And skilled and could apply to emigrate to countries with lower tax rates. Most don’t emigrate as they are content paying a higher tax rate for the benefits of what those taxes provide. I’m happy, living in Canada, paying higher taxes and getting the health care, post secondary education and other benefits. I understand how others feel that paying less taxes and looking after heath and education themselves but it’s not for me.

Well, Hawks switching it up today; were scheduled for an 11am practice, but are now doing off-ice workouts.

Not sure what's up with that. They really need work on the ice.
- Tyler Cameron

The tank is on!

Morning Tyler. Chicago has 2 more games before the trade deadline , it's obvious now that Chicago will more than likely not make the playoffs.

Do you envision any trades before Monday from Chicago?
- Taylorst1

Not sure. Bowman has made moves prior to the deadline, as well as on day-of.

After the slew of defencemen that were moved this week, might be wise for Stan make some teams panic and offer him too much for Erik Gustafsson or Olli Maata.

Keep an eye on if Gustafsson (or others) is held out of any games this weekend, as well as who starts in net. My guess is Crawford goes tomorrow night. However, if it's Lehner again, that would raise my eyebrow considering how mediocre he was vs NYR... would signal Hawks potentially signing RL and trading Crow.

The team D started the season looking pretty bad. Then it looked better or looked like it was getting better. But now it is like watching a train wreck. You can blame injuries a little. But the blame needs to be shared by GM, Coach, forwards, and Dmen. I would like to see a new coach and a D of Keith, deHaan, Boqvist, Murphy, Mitchell, Seabs, K4 next year. We have not seen Mitchell yet, but he has to be as good defensively as Gus is now. Throw Mitchell into the mix like we did Boqvist this year. He might be a mess next year, but I would think he can figure things out playing with a basically veteran defensive group. Mitchell is 21. So really he has more experience than Boqvist.
- -Doh-

That D lineup for next season seems on point to me assuming:

(A) no trades to add in a defender
(B) Gustafsson and Maatta are shipped out (Gustafsson seems more of a given than Maatta, IMO)
(C) de Haan and Seabrook are fully healthy to start the year or soon thereafter

Keith - Boqvist
Murphy - Mitchell
de Haan - Seabrook
Koekkoek

Koekkoek could easily be Gilbert or possibly even Carlsson if he impresses in training camp. Would be nice to give Carlsson and McCoshen cups of coffee now to see what they have to contribute.

The math get complicated if Maatta is still on the team (I personally don't mind him if slotted properly) but may not be an issue if at least one of de Haan or Seabrook just is not 100% by the fall or continues to yo-yo in the health department.

Mitchell could also get the Boqvist treatment by starting in Rockford first but quickly graduating to the Hawks after a month or so in the minors.

I agree. Just a matter of fitting all the cap hits under the puzzle.

Carpenter at 4c and being able to float up and down is a nice variable as well.
- SteveRain

For sure. I just don't think the guy behind the bench has any idea how to actually coach or make adjustments. A competent person behind the bench has them in the playoffs even with their lack of speed.