Canes laid out to avoid the obvious high hits from Z. He was more concerned about putting elbows or forearms to the head than playing the game.

Canes are worried about the playoffs not his goon tactics. Take the fall, live to play another game.
- gocanes0506

poop I'll even add, when Hagel and Murphy realized they could get away with clutching and grabbing like all of Carolina, Necas and Svechnikov acted like children do when they don't get their own way, don't think that's really going to be a positive thing in the playoffs.

Didn’t you get the memo Chief? JC and the team suck. No reason for a glimmer of hope. The sky is falling (in the form of a Chinese spaceship) and this team needs to move on from JC and the gaggle of Eurosmurfs Blowman has collected, ASAP!
- HawkintheD

Oh Jeezus do you guys ever let up , some people don't think JC is a good coach,are they not allowed to say it without getting ridiculed by the gang every day.
I don't know if he is a good coach or not but I would guess neither do you.
Everyone says how competitive they have been but really how many teams are not competitive.
Exclude the play in format last year they were 8 points oUT of the playoffs in 70 games . They were 10 points out in 54 games this year that's 15 points out of a playoff spot for a 82 game schedule. In a 3 point a game league that is far from competitive. Last year they were 7 or 8th worse GAA this year they are around 4th worse.
Their goals for/against differential last year -1
This year I believe is -26.
So I think there is reason for criticism. Again I have no idea if he is the coach for the re-build .

Oh Jeezus do you guys ever let up , some people don't think JC is a good coach,are they not allowed to say it without getting ridiculed by the gang every day.
I don't know if he is a good coach or not but I would guess neither do you.
Everyone says how competitive they have been but really how many teams are not competitive.
Exclude the play in format last year they were 8 points oUT of the playoffs in 70 games . They were 10 points out in 54 games this year that's 15 points out of a playoff spot for a 82 game schedule. In a 3 point a game league that is far from competitive. Last year they were 7 or 8th worse GAA this year they are around 4th worse.
Their goals for/against differential last year -1
This year I believe is -26.
So I think there is reason for criticism. Again I have no idea if he is the coach for the re-build .
- HamiltonHawk

Are you talking about the posters who can't stand JC and constantly post about it? Or those who constantly refute their statements?

Oh Jeezus do you guys ever let up , some people don't think JC is a good coach,are they not allowed to say it without getting ridiculed by the gang every day.
I don't know if he is a good coach or not but I would guess neither do you.
Everyone says how competitive they have been but really how many teams are not competitive.
Exclude the play in format last year they were 8 points oUT of the playoffs in 70 games . They were 10 points out in 54 games this year that's 15 points out of a playoff spot for a 82 game schedule. In a 3 point a game league that is far from competitive. Last year they were 7 or 8th worse GAA this year they are around 4th worse.
Their goals for/against differential last year -1
This year I believe is -26.
So I think there is reason for criticism. Again I have no idea if he is the coach for the re-build .
- HamiltonHawk

I have no problem with criticism of JC, but you give your reasons, and they are valid points. What I do have a problem with, is when the criticism is the same thing over and over like "only in beer league hockey has anyone used JC system", or who just repeat bloggers (not Theo) that are just red ass that the Hawks aren't an elite team anymore, or who thought Q should of been retained and Bowman should of been launched. I still remember a certain blog where Seabrook's decline was due to him overeating and not training. That then became a "fact", and repeated over and over. Some of these bloggers when reading, I wonder if they watched hockey before they got the gig.

Since this is a perennial question on this board and in the media, here is what Powers published today on JC's defensive system. Sounds like he will bend the team to his will rather than adjust to the team makeup he has.

The questions usually go something like this: What exactly is the system? Do other teams play this system? Should they be playing this system? Is it personnel or execution?

Let’s get into it.

The Blackhawks call their defense “man and a half.” It’s not a strict man-to-man defense. Colliton wants his players to switch when they can hold the defensemen to the net front or keep them below the top of the circles. But the system does allow players to keep pressuring above the circles if they are engaged, rather than leaving the check and waiting for the right person to pick them up. The Blackhawks also don’t want both of their defensemen to converge in the corners. Some systems, including the New Jersey Devils, permit that.

The Blackhawks’ system isn’t an outlier in the NHL. Just within the division, the Hurricanes and Nashville Predators actually play more of a straight man-to-man defense. The Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning also have similar defensive zone elements, including pressuring at the blue line. The one different team is the Florida Panthers. Joel Quenneville prefers a zone defense.

There are obviously some major differences between how the Hurricanes — and the Predators — execute the defense compared with the Blackhawks. They have more size, skill and experience. So it’s not necessarily the system, it is the execution.

“It all depends on the personnel,” a league source said Thursday. “You need good defensemen. It’s not necessarily something the Blackhawks have right now. You need to execute it.”

By the way, neither the Blackhawks nor the Hurricanes executed very well on defense Thursday. The Hurricanes finished with 36 scoring chances and 17 high-danger chances in five-on-five play, and the Blackhawks had 30 scoring chances and 15 high-danger chances, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Another league source thought the Blackhawks would be better off if Colliton changed the system to better fit his players. Colliton is confident his system will benefit the Blackhawks just as it has those other teams, though. He envisions the Blackhawks eventually being a better team under his system than adapting for the short term. It’s the system he believes is most effective in the long term.

For some background, Colliton opted to switch from Quenneville’s zone when he took over. The Blackhawks took their lumps early on as the veterans especially struggled to adapt. To begin last season, Colliton tried to make up for the defensive issues by placing another forward low. That crippled the offense and he adjusted again. This season the Blackhawks have been breaking in so many young players, and the defense has often struggled as a result. Some of the Blackhawks’ five-on-five defensive analytics have improved, but they’re still among the league’s worst.

Connor Murphy has become the Blackhawks’ best defenseman in the system. He recently explained what it takes to be effective in it.

“It’s getting your mind and body to be comfortable and try for it to be second nature, to play more man-to-man and stay with your guy and leave certain zones of your ice,” Murphy said. “With other ways of playing, the D always stays on their strong side, and if the puck goes to the other side, you leave it to your partner and stay in your area of the ice. There are certain scenarios that are going to play out differently that you have to work out before it becomes second nature in games.”

Colliton knows the defense has room to grow. He again stood behind it Thursday. He also put accountability on himself to help the Blackhawks get to where he wants them.

“We got lots of work to do, no question,” Colliton said. “It’s just building habits. We’ve played a lot of young guys, so naturally, there’s going to be a learning curve as far as how to play in the league. It’s not system things they’re learning. It’s fundamentals, habits and details: facing the puck, keeping body position, boxing out, not letting people to the inside, stick on puck, communication, managing the puck. Those are little things that, if you don’t do them, it’s hard. It’s our job to just make them better.

“Their work ethic and commitment to try and get better all the time has been great, so we’ve seen a lot of progress. Since the deadline, we’ve got a lot of new faces, whether it’s new players coming in or young players that we’re introducing to the lineup or they’re getting bigger roles, they’re being relied upon for more minutes. So naturally, it’s not going to be perfect all the time. But the focus is going to continue on keep getting better.”

Colliton was also asked about the type of players he needs to fit his system.
“Overall, we feel that skating and competitiveness and obviously hockey IQ, that’s what you want,” Colliton said. “Those are the three. Any team, the more guys you have who have those characteristics, the better. They’ll fit in well with what we’re trying to do.”

So, of the three key elements ostensibly needed to succeed in his D scheme, which are the Hawks most lacking in, in your opinions?

On a related note, I've been seeing more and more reports that the players have to work on their "fundamentals" before they'll be able to perform in his system and become a contender. Must be the team's latest rationale for the record. But, aren't the fundamentals what every hockey player is schooled in repeatedly at all lower levels leading up to the NHL? How do they get to the NHL without those skills? Or, is it adapting those skills to a higher level of competition?

I have no problem with criticism of JC, but you give your reasons, and they are valid points. What I do have a problem with, is when the criticism is the same thing over and over like "only in beer league hockey has anyone used JC system", or who just repeat bloggers (not Theo) that are just red ass that the Hawks aren't an elite team anymore, or who thought Q should of been retained and Bowman should of been launched. I still remember a certain blog where Seabrook's decline was due to him overeating and not training. That then became a "fact", and repeated over and over. Some of these bloggers when reading, I wonder if they watched hockey before they got the gig.
- LAHawk

Especially when it turns out to be completely false.

Since this is a perennial question on this board and in the media, here is what Powers published today on JC's defensive system. Sounds like he will bend the team to his will rather than adjust to the team makeup he has.



So, of the three key elements ostensibly needed to succeed in his D scheme, which are the Hawks most lacking in, in your opinions?

On a related note, I've been seeing more and more reports that the players have to work on their "fundamentals" before they'll be able to perform in his system and become a contender. Must be the team's latest rationale for the record. But, aren't the fundamentals what every hockey player is schooled in repeatedly at all lower levels leading up to the NHL? How do they get to the NHL without those skills? Or, is it adapting those skills to a higher level of competition?
- pdx2ord

Exactly as he should. The organization- not the coach on his own - has decided that this system is what today's NHL calls for to be a good team. They are developing players to learn that system.

This "JC's system" thing is complete garbage. It is the Hawks system. Raise your hand if you think JC gets to implement a system that the front office thinks is bad. C'mon man.....

Oh Jeezus do you guys ever let up , some people don't think JC is a good coach,are they not allowed to say it without getting ridiculed by the gang every day.
I don't know if he is a good coach or not but I would guess neither do you.
Everyone says how competitive they have been but really how many teams are not competitive.
Exclude the play in format last year they were 8 points oUT of the playoffs in 70 games . They were 10 points out in 54 games this year that's 15 points out of a playoff spot for a 82 game schedule. In a 3 point a game league that is far from competitive. Last year they were 7 or 8th worse GAA this year they are around 4th worse.
Their goals for/against differential last year -1
This year I believe is -26.
So I think there is reason for criticism. Again I have no idea if he is the coach for the re-build .
- HamiltonHawk

First of all...no.

Also, there's quite a difference between simply not knowing if JC's the guy and criticizing him vs the meltdowns exhibited by some from regarding a team that's stated it's rebuilding.

If you're having a conniption where you're throwing the baby out with the bathwater there's a good chance me or one of the "gang" (aka the Posse) might poke fun. All in good fun of course.

Since this is a perennial question on this board and in the media, here is what Powers published today on JC's defensive system. Sounds like he will bend the team to his will rather than adjust to the team makeup he has.



So, of the three key elements ostensibly needed to succeed in his D scheme, which are the Hawks most lacking in, in your opinions?

On a related note, I've been seeing more and more reports that the players have to work on their "fundamentals" before they'll be able to perform in his system and become a contender. Must be the team's latest rationale for the record. But, aren't the fundamentals what every hockey player is schooled in repeatedly at all lower levels leading up to the NHL? How do they get to the NHL without those skills? Or, is it adapting those skills to a higher level of competition?
- pdx2ord

The Hawks said at the beginning of the year they are rebuilding. I am fine with JC instituting his system, instead of chasing wins today. Look at the up and coming defenseman, Bovquist, Mitchell, Beaudin seem perfect for this system, no?

Especially when it turns out to be completely false.
- mohel

I'm sure beer was involved in this claim, but not beer league. Plus, their misery wave has calmed down after victories. They only parade after a loss, at the start of the season, & end of the season. With a few scattered showers here & there.

I was a lurker for a very long time & this place is better in comparison to what it used to be. More thought & reason, & less bod-ness. You always get a few, to be expected.

Oh Jeezus do you guys ever let up , some people don't think JC is a good coach,are they not allowed to say it without getting ridiculed by the gang every day.
I don't know if he is a good coach or not but I would guess neither do you.
Everyone says how competitive they have been but really how many teams are not competitive.
Exclude the play in format last year they were 8 points oUT of the playoffs in 70 games . They were 10 points out in 54 games this year that's 15 points out of a playoff spot for a 82 game schedule. In a 3 point a game league that is far from competitive. Last year they were 7 or 8th worse GAA this year they are around 4th worse.
Their goals for/against differential last year -1
This year I believe is -26.
So I think there is reason for criticism. Again I have no idea if he is the coach for the re-build .
- HamiltonHawk

Playing a washed up vet, yes Keith is nothing special, Murphy and Zad inconsistent, the rest of the D is kindergarten or AHL, and you think the defensive issues could be the coaches fault? If an NHL team can't score against this defense it's their coach that should be fired.

I'll even add how many times will we see Regula chase around the back of the net, coaching point, and the forward get a clean pass back across the ice for a great scoring chance, cough cough Stillman one time he left his post to pick his stick up, i counted 3, both guys have to do a better job, hoping they get better at this.
- BetweenTheDots

Did anyone else notice that kid is a "big dude?" I sure hope he turns into something!

Exactly as he should. The organization- not the coach on his own - has decided that this system is what today's NHL calls for to be a good team. They are developing players to learn that system.

This "JC's system" thing is complete garbage. It is the Hawks system. Raise your hand if you think JC gets to implement a system that the front office thinks is bad. C'mon man.....
- mohel

I have no issue with him/them implementing the system they think is best, assuming it is one that the IQ and talent on the team can succeed within on a regular basis. Otherwise, at some point, barring ability to get more of those two things on the roster, they may need to adapt. I was just curious which of the three fundamental elements to make it work that JC mentions you think is causing most of the breakdowns today.

I'm sure beer was involved in this claim, but not beer league. Plus, their misery wave has calmed down after victories. They only parade after a loss, at the start of the season, & end of the season. With a few scattered showers here & there.

I was a lurker for a very long time & this place is better in comparison to what it used to be. More thought & reason, & less bod-ness. You always get a few, to be expected.
- I Am The Breadman

It is interesting that the team with the best record in the league plays "JC's beer league system", too.

Playing a washed up vet, yes Keith is nothing special, Murphy and Zad inconsistent, the rest of the D is kindergarten or AHL, and you think the defensive issues could be the coaches fault? If an NHL team can't score against this defense it's their coach that should be fired.
- rpeters01

Look at Carolina's defense last night. One guy (Bean 6th defenseman) is 22, Pesce is 26, and Hamiltion Skej, and Slavin are 27. So you have 4 guys in their prime, with over 400 games each in the NHL. I would hope they play their defensive system better than the Hawks do.

I have no issue with him/them implementing the system they think is best, assuming it is one that the IQ and talent on the team can succeed within on a regular basis. Otherwise, at some point, barring ability to get more of those two things on the roster, they may need to adapt. I was just curious which of the three fundamental elements to make it work that JC mentions you think is causing most of the breakdowns today.
- pdx2ord

How's that system working for Carolina? The team began drafting for this system long ago, and hired a coach who they feel can develop the kids into the system. Maybe give the kids more than a handful of games to learn to play in the league?

Since this is a perennial question on this board and in the media, here is what Powers published today on JC's defensive system. Sounds like he will bend the team to his will rather than adjust to the team makeup he has.



So, of the three key elements ostensibly needed to succeed in his D scheme, which are the Hawks most lacking in, in your opinions?

On a related note, I've been seeing more and more reports that the players have to work on their "fundamentals" before they'll be able to perform in his system and become a contender. Must be the team's latest rationale for the record. But, aren't the fundamentals what every hockey player is schooled in repeatedly at all lower levels leading up to the NHL? How do they get to the NHL without those skills? Or, is it adapting those skills to a higher level of competition?
- pdx2ord

I'm fine with keeping the same system for a few reasons.

1) If you keep changing systems then everyone is always learning and no one ever gets to the point of being comfortable in any system so you are perpetually not great.

2) There are certain hockey fundamentals that players should have, but being able to apply them at the NHL level isn't always a given. You have less time and space to process/think about the situation and the mind has to get there before the body can. It's why virtually every rookie says "it's a lot faster out there". Not to mention, some players are top heavy in one "fundamental" over another due to their natural talent.

3) I'll maintain this until the cows come home: it doesn't matter right now. This team was not going to compete for anything significant as constructed. Their best center (AT THIS POINT IN TIME) for most of the year was a 2/3 tweener (whether you think it is Suter, Kurashev, Strome, Soderberg or Dach). Their best defenseman is ??? No matter how you answer that question, it is not very encouraging. They played three rookie goalies. They lead the league (by a quite large margin) in games played by rookies.

The Hawks said at the beginning of the year they are rebuilding. I am fine with JC instituting his system, instead of chasing wins today. Look at the up and coming defenseman, Bovquist, Mitchell, Beaudin seem perfect for this system, no?
- LAHawk

The way it is described, it seems they should be. This comment on the article was interesting to me (as someone with very little hockey Xs and Os knowledge):

Mr C.
@Geoffrey C. There are several types of zone defense, and this article confuses those that “pressure the point” with Colliton’s man hybrid system. Kids typically grow up playing a simply 5 zone based on position or a similar combination zone (a combination zone will pressure the man, and seems to be confused in this article with man-to-man—for example, in a combination, you would pass off the man once he crosses into someone else’s zone). A box + 1 zone is different and involves protecting the house with 4 but sending the closest defender to pressure the puck—you can have a wide box or a collapsed box or a staggered box with varying pressures—watch John Cooper’s team (which uses a stagger box+1 but is incorrectly described here as a man system). Then there is a sagging zone which has box + 1 principles, but is more aggressive and has the weakside winger down low (the zone look closest to Colliton’s man hybrid system.

Colliton’s system is “man and a half” because the wingers are in zone coverage, with the weakside winger down in the mid slot and the puckside winger up at the point in more of a tradition combination zone look. It is man-to-man below the dots, which means you’re chasing men regardless of where they move below the dots (staying between them and the net)—you’re not just pressuring the puck carrier. There is no other team that plays this specific system in the NHL because it does not work against NHL talent. Carolina plays a man-hybrid system with the wingers in zone, but they have both wingers covering slot-to-point—not just one—and their man defenders do not concede the slot.

If this is how it is white-boarded, it would seem counterintuitive to switch to man-to-man BELOW the dots at which point, switching to cover your man would open up too many dangerous scoring chances. Instead, wouldn't you want to do man-to-man until then and then switch to a zone system? Just curious what you bigger hockey brains think.

Lest you interpret my including the Powers article info as my being a JC hater, I'm not. Since he joined the team, this question about what system he has implemented has never gone away. Just trying to learn more and understand if you think the Hawks' system does/does not work with this team or in the NHL and why, why not.

How's that system working for Carolina? The team began drafting for this system long ago, and hired a coach who they feel can develop the kids into the system. Maybe give the kids more than a handful of games to learn to play in the league?
- mohel

Yeah.

Granted they played like poop last night, but it's probably a good thing that they get a little wake up call now instead of in the first round.

But you're right, at some point you just have to put the kids in and roll with them for a few weeks. Some of them might surprise you.

How's that system working for Carolina? The team began drafting for this system long ago, and hired a coach who they feel can develop the kids into the system. Maybe give the kids more than a handful of games to learn to play in the league?
- mohel

Yeah, the kids needing to learn it, I get. How do you think the vets (both D and F) group are doing with it? DBC seems to be doing well.

(you're not going to goad me in to a debate by assuming I'm anti-JC or slamming the team - I'm just trying to understand what the more knowledgeable people on the board think is holding the team back from succeeding under this scheme. am I reading this right that you think it's largely the inexperience?)

I'm fine with keeping the same system for a few reasons.

1) If you keep changing systems then everyone is always learning and no one ever gets to the point of being comfortable in any system so you are perpetually not great.

2) There are certain hockey fundamentals that players should have, but being able to apply them at the NHL level isn't always a given. You have less time and space to process/think about the situation and the mind has to get there before the body can. It's why virtually every rookie says "it's a lot faster out there". Not to mention, some players are top heavy in one "fundamental" over another due to their natural talent.

3) I'll maintain this until the cows come home: it doesn't matter right now. This team was not going to compete for anything significant as constructed. Their best center (AT THIS POINT IN TIME) for most of the year was a 2/3 tweener (whether you think it is Suter, Kurashev, Strome, Soderberg or Dach). Their best defenseman is ??? No matter how you answer that question, it is not very encouraging. They played three rookie goalies. They lead the league (by a quite large margin) in games played by rookies.
- Chunk

Thank you for the explanations. And, agreed on #3. I was pleasantly surprised and thrilled by how well the team did this year. I'm excited about the future, assuming we can bring in some key replacement parts for our aging vets.

Yeah, the kids needing to learn it, I get. How do you think the vets (both D and F) group are doing with it? DBC seems to be doing well.

(you're not going to goad me in to a debate by assuming I'm anti-JC or slamming the team - I'm just trying to understand what the more knowledgeable people on the board think is holding the team back from succeeding under this scheme. am I reading this right that you think it's largely the inexperience?)
- pdx2ord

If you find one, let me know.

Ok, I know he's a big oaf out there, but he's funny as hell:

What do the Blackhawks think of the NHL airing on ESPN and TNT/TBS next season?

Zadorov: “I can’t wait to see Shaq breaking down our games.”

Yeah, the kids needing to learn it, I get. How do you think the vets (both D and F) group are doing with it? DBC seems to be doing well.

(you're not going to goad me in to a debate by assuming I'm anti-JC or slamming the team - I'm just trying to understand what the more knowledgeable people on the board think is holding the team back from succeeding under this scheme. am I reading this right that you think it's largely the inexperience?)
- pdx2ord

The veterans are not talented enough
The youngsters are still too green

It is not just defensive coverage. It is also what you do with the puck when you get it. Murphy, Keith (current model, not the HOF Keith), Da Haan and Z are substandard in making a good outlet pass, or for that matter cleanly handling the puck.

Bovquist was the best D, and Kalnuk has become the second best D at exiting the zone. How many times do the Hawks turn over the puck just inside their blue line? Good teams rarely do that.

Was there any update on Keith?

What a bizarre thing to happen.