Still are......the thing that baffles me is how does the beat writers covering this team for years NOT pick up on Hossa's condition? I mean he missed a SCF final game vs Boston because of it and all those "maintenance days"....crazy.

Maybe 1 guy saw it and Hossa asked him/her not to say anything and they didn't. Just weird to me...….

Problem here is, is that none of the media or beat guys are on the pulse of trades etc. Nobody breaks a thing.
- SteveRain

If it's a medical issue, I don't think HIPAA laws allow it. The beat writers would be a "Business Associate Contract," I would imagine. I bet they knew, they just couldn't really say anything.

Yeah and the last thing I want to see happen is the GM telling the head coach how to coach and what systems he should use. That’s a recipe for disaster!
- walleyeb1

There was none of that in there. Colliton explained that they are not a strict man-to-man scheme. Stan just noted that a lot of people have hemmed and hawed about the scheme and that it is likely overblown.

Nothing there about Stan having any influence on how the players are coached.

I was in the camp that viewed TT much in the same way a lot of us recently viewed Schmaltz; offensively gifted, but weak on the puck and wilted along the boards. It sucks we had to add him to offload Bickell and not to add to the team in other ways, but I wasn’t too disappointed to see him go.
- Chief4Feathers

TT, Schmaltz, Sikura, Hino..... little guys that took a little time (or are taking a little more time) to figure out how to play with the big boys at the NHL level. They all could have good to great nhl careers. But it was/is hard to be patient when you have Stanley Cup possibilities right in front of you and you had cap issues.

While not impossible, it’s unlikely the player selected with the #3 pick is going to be NHL ready. However, I’d love to be wrong on this one.
- Chief4Feathers

The top 4 players in last years draft averaged more than 70 games played in the NHL this year.

The top 4 players in last years draft averaged more than 70 games played in the NHL this year.
- -Doh-

Ok, I’ll take your stat on face value. But from the 4-5 usual suspects the Hawks are projected to select with the 3rd pick - it doesn’t seem likely, and/or prudent, to have them up with the big club in their first year.

Wasn’t Pirri with the Hayes brothers complaining about call-ups and ice-time? I recall something about text messages from the elder Hayes alongside the lines of “Free Pirri.”

That struck me as he’s an entitled d-bag.
- Chief4Feathers

Pirri and Morin, the height of the Q hates young guys meme

Nah. I'm in Saskatchewan.
- BINGO!

Well, Raleigh is my northern boundary!

Pirri and Morin, the height of the Q hates young guys meme
- LAHawk

Right, thanks. I knew there was something like that floating around at the time.

It’s never a good look for an unproven prospect to piss and moan about what he should be getting. STFU and earn it.

AND... People seem to forget how Q actually fell in love with certain young players if he saw something in them. Hjarlmarsson and Saad were both given a lot of ice time and responsibility under Q right away. And recently I thought Q was going to adopt Joki given how effusive he was about his play (in Q’s understated way of course).

Ok, I’ll take your stat on face value. But from the 4-5 usual suspects the Hawks are projected to select with the 3rd pick - it doesn’t seem likely, and/or prudent, to have them up with the big club in their first year.
- Chief4Feathers

I think Kakko will play in the NHL (and I hope he falls to #3). I think Podzkolin could play in the USA if he gets out of his KHL contract. After that it is iffy.

So losing Teravainen was worth clearing $3.6 in space?
- BINGO!

Although I do remember on this board many hating TT for his unwillingness to grind it out during the playoffs when he was here.

I think Kakko will play in the NHL (and I hope he falls to #3). I think Podzkolin could play in the USA if he gets out of his KHL contract. After that it is iffy.
- -Doh-

Agreed, that’s all I’m saying. After Hughes and Kakko it gets murky in projecting who might play right away.

He would of still counted $3 mil against the cap.
- BetweenTheDots

Forget the draft picks the Hawks got in the deal, they netted Artur Kayumov and Evan Barratt.

There was none of that in there. Colliton explained that they are not a strict man-to-man scheme. Stan just noted that a lot of people have hemmed and hawed about the scheme and that it is likely overblown.

Nothing there about Stan having any influence on how the players are coached.
- Chunk

Bottom line is the Hawks defense sucked. It was low hanging fruit for the media to get ahold of this man-to-man thing and blow it up. It doesn't matter if it was true or not, or if the average fan can even tell the difference from when they are man-to-man vs. zone.

Coaches have schemes, systems and themes on how they want to play. Q was a firm believer in active sticks, fronting guys, shutting down the passing/shooting lanes and a less physical overall game based on possession. You aren't hitting if you have the puck. He stressed positioning and awareness as opposed to hitting for the sake of hitting. He also was also a proponent of the d-to-d recycle and passing and then an attempt at stretch passes as opposed to carrying the puck up the ice.

We will have to wait for a full off-season and the installation of his ideas before we know all of what Colliton is about. Then the question will be can they adjust once the other teams shut down the preferred method of play.

Agreed, that’s all I’m saying. After Hughes and Kakko it gets murky in projecting who might play right away.
- Chief4Feathers

Just to add.

There is also the difference between playing in the NHl because your organization lacks depth and being actually NHL ready from a development standpoint. Don't want to see the Hawks rush a kid and screw him up.

Bottom line is the Hawks defense sucked. It was low hanging fruit for the media to get ahold of this man-to-man thing and blow it up. It doesn't matter if it was true or not, or if the average fan can even tell the difference from when they are man-to-man vs. zone.

Coaches have schemes, systems and themes on how they want to play. Q was a firm believer in active sticks, fronting guys, shutting down the passing/shooting lanes and a less physical overall game based on possession. You aren't hitting if you have the puck. He stressed positioning and awareness as opposed to hitting for the sake of hitting. He also was also a proponent of the d-to-d recycle and passing and then an attempt at stretch passes as opposed to carrying the puck up the ice.

We will have to wait for a full off-season and the installation of his ideas before we know all of what Colliton is about. Then the question will be can they adjust once the other teams shut down the preferred method of play.
- TheTrob

An encouraging aspect about JC so far is that he isn’t shy about withholding ice time for players who aren’t working within the system - that’s not always an easy thing for a younger coach to do.

He would of still counted $3 mil against the cap.

Btw didn't we draft Debrincat in the 2nd round of 2016? I believe Carolina gave us their 2nd round pick, so the Hawks did fine on the trade
- BetweenTheDots

Well that’s not exactly right! DeBrincat came from the Shaw trade with the Canadians.

Same dynamic of Stan and Q not on the same page going on in Toronto between Dubas and Babcock, supposedly Dubas wants one type of player and Babcock another. I really wonder who pushed Lou out, and all the credit to Trotz, but Lou was the one remaking the roster (and getting soundly criticized for his free agent signings), and look at his body of work with NJ, Tor. and now the Isle.

Bottom line is the Hawks defense sucked. It was low hanging fruit for the media to get ahold of this man-to-man thing and blow it up. It doesn't matter if it was true or not, or if the average fan can even tell the difference from when they are man-to-man vs. zone.

Coaches have schemes, systems and themes on how they want to play. Q was a firm believer in active sticks, fronting guys, shutting down the passing/shooting lanes and a less physical overall game based on possession. You aren't hitting if you have the puck. He stressed positioning and awareness as opposed to hitting for the sake of hitting. He also was also a proponent of the d-to-d recycle and passing and then an attempt at stretch passes as opposed to carrying the puck up the ice.

We will have to wait for a full off-season and the installation of his ideas before we know all of what Colliton is about. Then the question will be can they adjust once the other teams shut down the preferred method of play.
- TheTrob

I think we can agree that positioning was a HUGE issue at times.

Especially after JC took over, when the team couldn't win or get a lead, they were constantly breaking down and having 2 or 3 guys cover one guy, while another was wide open. It got better after a few weeks, but for a while it was like Pee-Wee level hockey with the level of confusion. The Hawks weren't a great defensive team to start with, but the transition of coaches compounded the issue.

Just to add.

There is also the difference between playing in the NHl because your organization lacks depth and being actually NHL ready from a development standpoint. Don't want to see the Hawks rush a kid and screw him up.
- breadbag

Exactly. I don’t want to see a center like Cozens up here going 0 for umpteen at face off dot or a defenseman like Byram getting turnstiled on every other rush. Hell, even Toews played another year in college after he was drafted.

Well that’s not exactly right! DeBrincat came from the Shaw trade with the Canadians.


- walleyeb1

The point is we traded away a top 6 player and drafted one the same year, in the 2nd round.

He don't math so good. No one is taking Merrill or Holden without something else coming with them and even then, who wants either of those guys? He seems to missing the part where the Knights have to be cap compliant on day 1 of the season. Or that Karlsson is still going to cost them about what Clarkson cap hit is. Or the UFA they let walk need to be replaced.
- Elbows15

Thanks for checking the math. I was too lazy last night to do that but did have a gut feeling that the article was a little too rosy in painting the cap situation McPhee needs to resolve in Vegas. Not a rock and a hard place for the Golden Knights but some tough decisions still need to be made as to who stays and who goes.

Not to man crush on Drake too much, but if Hayden could get his game where Caggiula's is he would be a great asset. Caggiula not only can dig pucks out of the corners and off the walls, but he knows how and when to set up in front of the net. He obviously has his moments, but Hayden seems to be more reactionary in that he waits until he sees the puck near the net and then skates to the area.

If his comments are to be believed (that he knows where his deficiencies are and that he is 100% committed to improving on them) then I think Sikura could be the "most improved" Blackhawk next year. How many times was he the first guy in the zone and often beating the defenseman to the puck. He plays with a lot of determination. He just needs to the body to go with it.
- Chunk

As far as compete level and effort, yes, Hayden could be a gem for the Hawks on the 4th line. Like Perlini, he has the tools and size but just needs to apply himself consistently with the ice time given.

Sikura is also my pick for "most improved" next season. His scoring will catch up with his excellent hockey sense, vision, poise, and compete level. Getting stronger will help him get that much better.

I guess Perlini or Hayden could vastly improve as well but Sikura has at least shown the consistency and capacity to do the little things to help the team win despite offensive dry spells.

Don't complain, the advantage is when most teams are bad the poor ticket sales encourage Management to improve the on ice/field.court/diamond product. Here in Toronto the Leafs can be bad for 10 years, and you, Rick, Elbows, Mo and I could play for the Leafs and not only will the waiting line for season's tickets get longer but there would be a run on the purchase of our jerseys. There is no incentive here to ice a competative team.
- paulr

Babcock contacted me this morning and invited me to training camp because he wants guys who can play the 'heavy' game he likes. Since I'm heavy I accepted subject to getting a big, fat contract like Worthless Willie Nylander's.

Who do you think Colliton is or should hire as another bench coach?

I agree with you about players like Hayden (54 games), Sikura (33 games), Perlini (46 games). They have been given chances at the NHL level. They each have some positives. But nothing that they have done at the NHL level has earned them anything more than another opportunity to fight for a spot in training camp (if they are signed and not traded). Hopefully there will be a lot more competition for the last forward spots this year. (#3 pick in the draft, Kubalik? Wedin? Mikheyev? Nilsson? Highmore? Hopefully a 3C and 2 bottom 6 gritty forwards acquired through trade or free agency.)
- -Doh-

It's a good thing to have competition for limited spots especially for depth and support roles. What you described sounds about right in terms of who could be in the mix. Of course, it'll be interesting to see how the draft, free agency, and potential trades impact the pool of candidates. Will be an exciting summer starting with Draft Day.