Theo Fox: Season Review: Coaches
Season review of coaches. Is Colliton a developmental coach? Is that what the Blackhawks need?

Nice read Theo

I haven’t seen anything in jc coaching style that gives me hope for next season. The players didn’t seem to be any better at his system. I understand the roster isn’t anything close to the cup years. I believe a veteran coach would and would’ve gotten more out of the players these last two years and going forward. So as fans were stuck with his system for now and can hope that player growth and new players in and some subtractions improve the team in the standings for the next season. I just hope jc isn’t the hawks Tim Floyd.

A good analysis of Colliton in non-game situations: system implementation, player development, etc.

But there is also the in-game decision making: having the right players on the ice at the right times - not putting out 4th-lines in the last minute of tie games, or on an o-zone draw with 10 minutes left of a tie game.

Or skating Quenneville twice in the RTP post season instead of Sikura or another of the "Black Aces" that were in Edmonton. In the first instance, Quenneville had only 3:30 of ice times in the first 55 minutes of the game.

After the 2019 season, the thought was - well, let's see what he can do with a full summer of development and a full training camp in September. Did the Hawks improve appreciably - especially on defensive zone coverage and transitioning to offense in his second season?

I'm sceptical.

Tim Floyd always comes to mind when analyzing JC.

A good analysis of Colliton in non-game situations: system implementation, player development, etc.

But there is also the in-game decision making: having the right players on the ice at the right times - not putting out 4th-lines in the last minute of tie games, or on an o-zone draw with 10 minutes left of a tie game.

Or skating Quenneville twice in the RTP post season instead of Sikura or another of the "Black Aces" that were in Edmonton. In the first instance, Quenneville had only 3:30 of ice times in the first 55 minutes of the game.

After the 2019 season, the thought was - well, let's see what he can do with a full summer of development and a full training camp in September. Did the Hawks improve appreciably - especially on defensive zone coverage and transitioning to offense in his second season?

I'm sceptical.
- StLBravesFan

The whole Quenneville thing was a joke, especially at the end of that last game. Really, your gonna is Quenneville over 19

After the 2019 season, the thought was - well, let's see what he can do with a full summer of development and a full training camp in September. Did the Hawks improve appreciably - especially on defensive zone coverage and transitioning to offense in his second season?

That may have been the board's thoughts. Have no way of knowing if it was Management's thoughts?

Tim Floyd always comes to mind when analyzing JC.
- glennjpawlak22

Floyd had no team

Very positive write up Theo I like it.

One would also hope that a contract extension is based on whether he can achieve that balance to bring about positive results in not only individual player development but also in the standings, special teams rankings, and playoff seeding.

That may begin and end at goalie?

Wasn't Crawford hired to be the veteran mentor to Colliton? Playing Q in the playoffs, line combinations, I know JC is the head coach, but isn't JC (or supposed to be) heavily relying on Crawford's experience? Brookbank might be well respected, but he has less coaching experience than JC, and was taught Q's defensive system (like the rest of the core), so maybe JC's system is not being accurately communicated ? Remember when Kitchen was let go and Ulf Samuelsson took over the defense? THAT was a trainwreck. Maybe they need a more experienced asst. coach in charge of defense, that understands the man on man or man and a 1/2 system.

Trotz and Bowness both play a version of man on man on defense, and both are not exactly new age coaches. Bowness was coaching the defense when Montgomery was let go, maybe Brookbank needs to be reassigned as a debelopment coach, and someone more experienced in coaching an NHL defense needs to be hired.

Wasn't Crawford hired to be the veteran mentor to Colliton? Playing Q in the playoffs, line combinations, I know JC is the head coach, but isn't JC (or supposed to be) heavily relying on Crawford's experience? Brookbank might be well respected, but he has less coaching experience than JC, and was taught Q's defensive system (like the rest of the core), so maybe JC's system is not being accurately communicated ? Remember when Kitchen was let go and Ulf Samuelsson took over the defense? THAT was a trainwreck. Maybe they need a more experienced asst. coach in charge of defense, that understands the man on man or man and a 1/2 system.

Trotz and Bowness both play a version of man on man on defense, and both are not exactly new age coaches. Bowness was coaching the defense when Montgomery was let go, maybe Brookbank needs to be reassigned as a debelopment coach, and someone more experienced in coaching an NHL defense needs to be hired.
- LAHawk

Maybe it’s not the system so much but maybe they aren’t properly coaching what should happen after the system inevitably breaks down after 15 seconds.

Collison doesn't have enough of the correct type players to win

And look the part of an upward trending new age team

If we had gone to the next round in the current playoffs. fans would have seen a repeat of the Nashville non compete and physicality wise total domination against us from a few years ago.

I like the current and future prospect pool Bowman had drafted; however, much work remains to be completed.

Now Bowman must add two top six players with grit and not unwilling to battle in the physicality nature of the game.

The bottom line will see prospects matriculation. Dach is going to move up to top six incremental steps and Toews may receive some third line minutes IF. If IF we ever get two more top six players.

I do not really believe that DeBrincat is top six but he could be if he gets his offensive touch back

Unfortunately I am not optimistic the type forward the team needs is available with our 2020 first round selection That type of player though looks possibly available in wiz second round rating. Holloway at #17 would be a surprise to last so long.

Bowman has the type skill prospects to field an entire ew age defense Corp. Threrefore the question is how soon and how good will they become. Eventually Carlsson needs to be joined by a Moberg and either Rogula or Vlasic would provide necessary depth in physicality.

The defense shall consist primarily of new age capacity players whom should play how Colliton envisions within his system

That is how I hope the roster shapes up. It may take Bowman a couple years even longer to get a much more competent willing roster capable to perform in Colliton's system

The goaltender situation is an altogether different story. And an unsettled situation to closely monitor perhaps for a few years.

HABs GM came out with the 4 players that are untouchable. the last one was the 38 pick in the 2018 draft and it mentioned he was #10 in the top 100 ranking of prospects. russian d men alexander romanov. it was our pick in the 2018 draft from the danult trade.

Would like to see Colliton's defensive system with six mobile defensemen. The Hawks have a couple of plow horses on the blueline presently. Unfortunately, those right now are the players that can currently play in the NHL. When these young defensemen are truly ready for the NHL, then it might be more of an indicator if Colliton's system will work or not at the NHL level.

HABs GM came out with the 4 players that are untouchable. the last one was the 38 pick in the 2018 draft and it mentioned he was #10 in the top 100 ranking of prospects. russian d men alexander romanov. it was our pick in the 2018 draft from the danult trade.
- kmw4631

We stole Kubalik from the Kings, Panarin from everyone, not sure what your point is? A trade was made by Chicago for a specific reason, Montreal got our pick...

Maybe it’s not the system so much but maybe they aren’t properly coaching what should happen after the system inevitably breaks down after 15 seconds.
- StLBravesFan

We don't win battles and struggle to get the puck out. We were the opposite in the cup years. It comes down to the players not the system. There's no system to winning board battles, taking the other guy's milk money.

We talk about Colliiton's sometimes baffling personnel decisions, how about DeBoer annointing Lehner the #1 goalie? Not even close to even a 1 and 1A scenario? I could see pulling Fleury if he was playing bad in the playin round or the first round, but to literally cast him aside, I don't think played well with the team, no matter what they say publicly, let alone the public relations nightmare, as Fleury is (was) the face of the franchise.

I haven’t seen anything in jc coaching style that gives me hope for next season. The players didn’t seem to be any better at his system. I understand the roster isn’t anything close to the cup years. I believe a veteran coach would and would’ve gotten more out of the players these last two years and going forward. So as fans were stuck with his system for now and can hope that player growth and new players in and some subtractions improve the team in the standings for the next season. I just hope jc isn’t the hawks Tim Floyd.
- Abadseed

IMO, Colliton needs to significantly improve his tactical coaching since results as an entire team on the ice is where it counts most otherwise he won't last long as an NHL head coach.

Player development is fine and always needed but a horrible team can still have prospects who develop well.

What is the good of having great young players if they're not part of a team that can compete and contend?

A good analysis of Colliton in non-game situations: system implementation, player development, etc.

But there is also the in-game decision making: having the right players on the ice at the right times - not putting out 4th-lines in the last minute of tie games, or on an o-zone draw with 10 minutes left of a tie game.

Or skating Quenneville twice in the RTP post season instead of Sikura or another of the "Black Aces" that were in Edmonton. In the first instance, Quenneville had only 3:30 of ice times in the first 55 minutes of the game.

After the 2019 season, the thought was - well, let's see what he can do with a full summer of development and a full training camp in September. Did the Hawks improve appreciably - especially on defensive zone coverage and transitioning to offense in his second season?

I'm sceptical.
- StLBravesFan

Totally agree, STL. The in-game decision making needs vast improvement and why I feel Colliton is deficient as a tactician.

I almost wrote about the questionable in-game decision making in the blog but it would have made the article much longer.

Instead, I thought it would be better for that storyline to play out in the message boards. Thank you for bringing it up.

Very positive write up Theo I like it.

One would also hope that a contract extension is based on whether he can achieve that balance to bring about positive results in not only individual player development but also in the standings, special teams rankings, and playoff seeding.

That may begin and end at goalie?
- rpeters01

I didn't want to be overly positive as Colliton does have a growth curve to get through. Didn't want to be completely negative either.

On your last point, having a solid goalie tandem is definitely critical to the overall success even if Colliton can get the forwards and blueliners banging on all cylinders.

Wasn't Crawford hired to be the veteran mentor to Colliton? Playing Q in the playoffs, line combinations, I know JC is the head coach, but isn't JC (or supposed to be) heavily relying on Crawford's experience? Brookbank might be well respected, but he has less coaching experience than JC, and was taught Q's defensive system (like the rest of the core), so maybe JC's system is not being accurately communicated ? Remember when Kitchen was let go and Ulf Samuelsson took over the defense? THAT was a trainwreck. Maybe they need a more experienced asst. coach in charge of defense, that understands the man on man or man and a 1/2 system.

Trotz and Bowness both play a version of man on man on defense, and both are not exactly new age coaches. Bowness was coaching the defense when Montgomery was let go, maybe Brookbank needs to be reassigned as a debelopment coach, and someone more experienced in coaching an NHL defense needs to be hired.
- LAHawk

I do hope Crawford installs voices of reason from his long NHL coaching career to advise Colliton. Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't.

As for Brookbank, while I find him a good mentor for young players, I think he was best off remaining in Rockford with Derek King.

Before being promoted to the Hawks coaching staff, I actually thought Brookbank would be named head coach with King as assistant.

Brookbank teaching defense to the prospects would have been a good complement to Brian Campbell who remains as a development coach.

Campbell is good to teach the likes of Boqvist, Beaudin, Krys, Kalynuk, Regula, etc. how to be a modern NHL defenseman who can carry the mail and create offense while still remembering defensive duties.

There needs to be a coach who can really teach defensive play.

Maybe it’s not the system so much but maybe they aren’t properly coaching what should happen after the system inevitably breaks down after 15 seconds.
- StLBravesFan

The inevitable breakdowns are what drive me batty. The players just don't know what to do when structure degrades. In those instances, just play smart fundamental hockey.

Instead, you see deers in headlights and lots of running around chasing the puck which tires them out and creates even more confusion.

"One measure of effectiveness as a head coach is looking at gross numbers, i.e. statistics and standings. His overall record as an NHL bench boss is 62-58-17 with 30-28-9 last season (6th place in the Central Division) and 32-30-8 this season (7th in the division)."

I wonder what his record breakdown is when he wears glasses versus doesn't wear glasses, or when he is clean shaven versus supporting that 2 day growth.

I do hope Crawford installs voices of reason from his long NHL coaching career to advise Colliton. Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't.

As for Brookbank, while I find him a good mentor for young players, I think he was best off remaining in Rockford with Derek King.

Before being promoted to the Hawks coaching staff, I actually thought Brookbank would be named head coach with King as assistant.

Brookbank teaching defense to the prospects would have been a good complement to Brian Campbell who remains as a development coach.

Campbell is good to teach the likes of Boqvist, Beaudin, Krys, Kalynuk, Regula, etc. how to be a modern NHL defenseman who can carry the mail and create offense while still remembering defensive duties.

There needs to be a coach who can really teach defensive play.
- Theo Fox

I hope Marc Crawford is not with the team next season. The guy should’ve been kicked out of the league along with Todd Bertuzzi back in 2004. Better to not have Colliton learn anything from that bumhole. He’s garbage as far as I’m concerned, and the team should be embarrassed to Have him in their employ. I’m kinda shocked The Meddler allowed the hire to begin with.

Would like to see Colliton's defensive system with six mobile defensemen. The Hawks have a couple of plow horses on the blueline presently. Unfortunately, those right now are the players that can currently play in the NHL. When these young defensemen are truly ready for the NHL, then it might be more of an indicator if Colliton's system will work or not at the NHL level.
- ChicagoHope

I'm with you there. In time we should see a progression in 2-3 years as the veterans move out and prospects come in.

The capacity to flip the ice and play a stronger transition game should come as the prospects learn how to play all zones effectively, contest every puck, and make quick exits out of the zone whether skating it out or feathering a crisp pass.

Let them develop in the appropriate place which is Rockford for most of them. Marinate and call them up when ripe.