Justin Lowe: A Win in the Books + Kings Tonight
Jeremy Colliton is a very modest guy. He said he felt "awkward" when Toews handed him the game puck. "I'm just here to help the guys" he insisted.

Regardless of how you feel Jeremy, the fact is that your team has played 6+ periods without giving up a 5-on-5 goal and you have yourself your first NHL win.

Someone mentioned that this Chicago Blackhawks season has been "confusing" to date and I couldn't agree more.

Foist!

Foist!
- tompo1015

Rookie goalie Cal Petersen makes his first NHL start. Should be a good test. Curious to see how he does. He’s suppose to be the kings up and coming goalie of the future.

Rookie goalie Cal Petersen makes his first NHL start. Should be a good test. Curious to see how he does. He’s suppose to be the kings up and coming goalie of the future.
- KINGS67

The Hawks tend to make AHL goalies look like Vezina candidates, so I'm not too optimistic about tonight.

1) What have you liked so far about Jeremy Colliton?

He seems very poised and mature for a guy who's 33 with one of the Original Six Franchises and the spotlight firmly on him. Seems like the guys old and new can relate to him and vice versa and they're willing to work together to get this team where we all want it to be. Feel like having him behind the bench will allow for a lot of the young kids to grow now

2) What are you concerned about with this team overall?

Depth scoring. Like the lines we've rolled out the past few games but we need consistency from anyone outside of Kane, Cat, and Toews. After that it's been a crapshoot as to who can/will show up any given night. I feel like the defense will sort itself out in order here and will improve as the guys play more together and build chemistry.

3) What would you do if you were Stan Bowman to improve this team for the future?

Depends on how the team plays over the next month and a half.

If they play well, I would like to see him go out and acquire a legit scorer to go with Kane, Cat, and Toews and the secondary guys in Saad, AA, and Schmaltz. Someone on a decent contract. I've suggested Tyler Toffoli. As long as they aren't overpaying for someone or taking on a deal that could hurt us down the road. If it's not there then I would like to see them sign an impact forward in FA. Also would like to see Dylan Sikura get called up soon as he's been play very well in Rockford and could slot somewhere in this lineup to improve our offensive depth.

If they slide down or are stuck in the middle, I would look to trade one or both of AA or Murphy to free up more cap space for Free Agency. Also, would call around to see if someone would be interested in taking Kunitz or Cam as a veteran for the Playoff run (depending on where THEY would like to go with their NTC.). Then give more of the kids in Rockford a chance to build confidence for next year.

Rookie goalie Cal Petersen makes his first NHL start. Should be a good test. Curious to see how he does. He’s suppose to be the kings up and coming goalie of the future.
- KINGS67

Interested to see how he does. I was hoping the Hawks landed him a year back when LA ended up locking him in out of NCAA.

Good luck tonight. You guys have been on a rough ride so far this year.

1) What have you liked so far about Jeremy Colliton?

Since he took over, the PP has been moving around more and trying to cause more movement of the PK.

There have been more things to dislike so far IMO, with odd choices for OT and overplaying Kane. (No reason he should be playing as many minutes as Keith)

2) What are you concerned about with this team overall?

Defensive play is still the #1 issue. Time will tell if the coaching changes will help, but you can't win giving up the goals/chances they have. They have been at their best when the forwards are giving more support in the middle of the ice, but I think it also comes down to the short/easy plays to exit the zone.

3) What would you do if you were Stan Bowman to improve this team for the future?

1) Trade a D-man+ for a forward who is actually difficult to play against. Someone that can forecheck/backcheck shift after shift. I still think a guy like Luke Glendening (or similar if available) as an example.

In answer to your questions:
1) What have you liked so far about Jeremy Colliton?
He is Not Q. While the optics and timing of Q's firing were less than ideal, especially for a club that has been all about their public perception, the reality of it was that he should have been gone before. Colliton seems to be slowly installing a system more suited to the way the game has been moving the last few years.

2) What are you concerned about with this team overall?
I think they need more scoring depth in the everyday lineup. It's tough to win consistently with only 5/6ths of 2 lines being a threat to score. The 3rd and 4th lines do not scare anyone. Bring up some guys like Sikura and let them go through the growing pains at the NHL level. Get a feel for whether they will ever be effective in the NHL. Slot them in and let play, not yank them around and press box them at the first sign of trouble. Same goes for the defense. With a young core, there will be mistakes on a nightly basis. Let them grow and learn from them.

3) What would you do if you were Stan Bowman to improve this team for the future?
The future? as in a few years down the line? I would allow your young players to play and learn the game without the threat of benching or demotion. Determine your future players and let them learn. Guys like Seabrook, Keith, Sharp and even Kane and Toews were allowed to develop at the NHL level because there wasn't an preset expectation that they had to win, just improve. Don't reach on contracts to vets because you feel it will help the team remain competitive now (see: Kunitz and Manning), and especially don't be handing them multi year deals. I would rather see Sikura, Highmore and some of the D play at the NHL level that watching the old guys who don't give much more.

1) What have you liked so far about Jeremy Colliton?

(a) Teaching a new or at least revised system.
(b) Showing poise and humbleness.
(c) Trying new things that seem to have rhyme or reason to them.
(d) Providing a youthful injection of coaching leadership in a league that has shot ahead of the Hawks who didn't evolve with everyone else.

2) What are you concerned about with this team overall?

(a) Team defense from blueline to forwards needs to continue improving; seems to be trending in a better direction with no 5-on-5 goals in two games.
(b) Two related issues: secondary scoring and roster depth where every player is slotted correctly by line and by position.
(c) Special teams still need to improve; the Hawks have great players so to me it comes down to both revamped systems and execution by each of the units.

3) What would you do if you were Stan Bowman to improve this team for the future?

Step down as GM and ask McD to focus on non-hockey matters.

Kidding aside, a few things to address (and in no particular order of priority; also many things could kill two birds with one stone):

(a) Enhace depth scoring.
(b) Assemble a solid 3rd line, not two 4th lines.
(c) Clear up the logjam at defense.
(d) Solidify the top 6 either with current assets or by adding one more forward from the outside.
(e) Work with Colliton to start seeing which Hogs deserve call-ups to see what the team has.
(f) Start getting rid of dead weight to free up cap space for future moves and allow for the youth to play regularly.

Torn labrum or rotator cuff for Highmore??

Rookie goalie Cal Petersen makes his first NHL start. Should be a good test. Curious to see how he does. He’s suppose to be the kings up and coming goalie of the future.
- KINGS67

He's the guy out of Notre Dame, right?

I still think the Kings can be a really dangerous team. They just haven't quite clicked to get it going yet. A lot of talent on that roster.

I believe the Hawks are more on the upswing then most. This club has been floundering for 3 plus years. Losing 4 games in a row with the same half hearted effort and inconsistent play was the exclamation point on finally firing Q - 2 years late.

If they just play consistent and Keith and Seabrook find a little bit of their mojo, they will be on the bubble. If other younger D come along faster and secondary scoring develops, they will be able to make some noise.

I suggest people look back 3 years, the year the Predators beat hawks in 4. Look at their early season record and play. They committed to bringing along their young players and it built into a Stanley Cup final crescendo. Many of those guys were not household names at that time. They stuck with the plan.

Would like to see Fortin skate instead of Kunitz and bring a little more dynamic play on the 4th line. Todays NHL does not need a pure banging 4th line, it has to be able to score. Ours has not.

Nobody should expect anyone to comment on Q, but I believe that Toews enthusiasm is genuine and he has fully bought in to the clubs new direction.

1) What have you liked so far about Jeremy Colliton?
Colliton has been a breath of fresh air and my hope is he evolves the team into a winner. Q was a mess, and I couldn’t stand him and his BS doghouse nonsense. Worse was he refused to evolve his coaching philosophy. Unforgivable is how the team starts flat footed or doesn’t play a full 60 minutes. It’s his pucking job to have the team ready each game and playing every minute. He didn’t do that and he was fired. Thank god.

2) What are you concerned about with this team overall?

How the veterans will handle the change. It’s showing progress but only time will tell how they adapt. The sport changes constantly and so should they.

3) What would you do if you were Stan Bowman to improve this team for the future?

After a certain amount of evaluation time, it would be time to make solid trades to shore up team defense and scoring depth. If their hope is to truly make the playoffs, then this has to happen. Obviously call ups will also be on the menu. A trade for Nylander would not be out of the question but how do they pull it off. Maybe involve a 3rd team. If that also means moving schmaltz then so be it. Nylander is higher end talent anyway.

Justin Lowe: A Win in the Books + Kings Tonight

Jeremy Colliton is a very modest guy. He said he felt "awkward" when Toews handed him the game puck. "I'm just here to help the guys" he insisted.

Regardless of how you feel Jeremy, the fact is that your team has played 6+ periods without giving up a 5-on-5 goal and you have yourself your first NHL win.

Someone mentioned that this Chicago Blackhawks season has been "confusing" to date and I couldn't agree more.
- Justin Lowe

Great piece, as usual.

I like JC. He's. Great voice and man for the team. I like how he handles player mistakes, it's great for confidence. Just wish he had more player accountability and change the top line.

I'm worried about the hawks consistency. The d log Jame will sort itself out after Bowman clears out.

Get rid of Manning, Davidson, and Rutta for picks.

Great piece, as usual.

I like JC. He's. Great voice and man for the team. I like how he handles player mistakes, it's great for confidence. Just wish he had more player accountability and change the top line.

I'm worried about the hawks consistency. The d log Jame will sort itself out after Bowman clears out.

Get rid of Manning, Davidson, and Rutta for picks.
- I Am The Breadman

Schmaltz for Nylander and then bring up Sikura

Nylander Toews Sikura
Cat kampf Kane
Saad AA Hayden
T. Johnson Kruger Martinsen

The Hawks tend to make AHL goalies look like Vezina candidates, so I'm not too optimistic about tonight.
- Dieselhead

Well I’m hoping for a Kings loss so they can stay right where they are for a comfortable lead of being last. Lol

Interested to see how he does. I was hoping the Hawks landed him a year back when LA ended up locking him in out of NCAA.

Good luck tonight. You guys have been on a rough ride so far this year.
- Justin Lowe

Yeah. I’m pretty excited about him

He's the guy out of Notre Dame, right?

I still think the Kings can be a really dangerous team. They just haven't quite clicked to get it going yet. A lot of talent on that roster.
- Hank3Henshaw

Yeah. I believe BUF drafted him but didn’t sign and became College UFA.

1) What have you liked so far about Jeremy Colliton? 
Colliton is a fresh voice with some new ideas. I like how he stayed with his strategy even after the first losses. He can be better assessed after 30 games.

2) What are you concerned about with this team overall? 

Age. The whole core got old together, then they got old and injuries have crept in. Years of drafting later has left the team with little in the way of top end talent, though the last two years draft picks seems to have restocked the defense.


3) What would you do if you were Stan Bowman to improve this team for the future? 

The first thing is determine if this current group is capable of growing I to a contender or if it needs to be stripped down and rebuilt. With the current support group I'm of the latter opinion.

1) What have you liked so far about Jeremy Colliton?

His confidence, enthusiasm, and focus. He's replacing a HOF coach and he's just going for it. He has a system and a way he wants his team to play and they seem to be responding to him positively.

2) What are you concerned about with this team overall?

Big picture? Will the young guys develop fast enough so that the aging core is still relevant to form a championship team? And/or, will StanBo - or whoever - add enough talent in between the generations to create a Cup contender?

3) What would you do if you were Stan Bowman to improve this team for the future?

- Add a top six forward or two who are better than Schmaltz, Saad, & AA - and trade one or all to get them
- Improve depth scoring
- Need a middle six C
- Add another top 4 D

To early to make a judgement on the new coach what concerns me the most is 2 things the lack of scoring depth plus need more of physical pushback not winning a lot of one on one battles. 2nd Smaltz's play needed to that next step in developing into a impact top six player so far give a D grade but still early in maybe can turn it around.
What i would do explore trading smaltz for bottom six scoring and sandpaper like players 2nd line center a top six power forward with scoring speed and an edge to his game or top 4 young 25 or younger with top 4 p
Potential. Trade Rutta davidson or manning bury kunitz in the minors teach gus how to play defense in his own zone have a shooting pp and show some passion heart urgency grit fire in your belly play like its your last game mentality.

1 I like how he allows players to try things and not be benched forever if it goes wrong . Players need a chance to play their game .
2 Concerned about the goalie depth .Not giving Forsberg a chance well Crow was down was another Q up .
3 Use any extra cap space to get a legit sniper

Schmaltz for Nylander and then bring up Sikura

Nylander Toews Sikura
Cat kampf Kane
Saad AA Hayden
T. Johnson Kruger Martinsen
- SoftServe

Whoa! I like Kampf, but not that much. I don't see him as a 2nd line center. On the fourth line, is that Tyler Johnson, from Tampa?

Who says OH-Twelve or OH-Fifteen? I’ve literally never heard another human besides these two clowns say that when describing the year 2012

You would say Oh-six when describing 2006..but not for 2012. I need to be as drunk as Foley right now Smh