Blackhawks 08-09

[Chadd 916]

Duncan Keith is still the worst "good" defenseman in the NHL. Sure he can skate but that alone doesn't make him a number one or two defenseman.

[Smitty34 0]

Watching the game right now. Looks like the Hawks are having trouble capitalizing on chances.

I don't get a chance to see Chicago too much, but should I have felt surprised when Olczyk picked Byfuglien to score 30 goals this season?

And right on que, Duncan Keith scores.

[JJ Thompson94 0]

I was at the Ranger-Blackhawks game. The Hawks outshot the Blueshirts by two shots, but all the shots were from the outside, and there was never that oh what a save from Lundqvist. Huet had a few what a save moments. Even though they were outshot, it seemed the Rangers dominated the game.

[Dare to Dream 1980 0]

I wasnt at the game but i watched it on TV and certainly the Rangers 2 games in Prague really showed... They just killed the hawks left in right specially at the start of the first 2 periods... the hawks had jet leg it looked like and the puck was rolling all over their sticks... very disappointing start for that hawks... but talking about defence what a poor showing from the hawks.. Keith lets a guy skate right around him to start the 3rd period, Seabrook looked way out of sync... watching him out there looked like a house leaguer could play in the NHL. Cambell is definately going to take over right away if they keep this up... And Huet played OK at best.. he didnt control his rebounds and some of the goals were weak... maybe the hawks should keep HAbby

[D-MaN88 0]

Watching the game tonight just reaffirmed by thought of "WTF why did they sign Huet?", he's definitely no upgrade from Khabby and tonight he played decent at best. I know it's only the first game of the season for the Hawks and with the Rags coming off a 2 game set already...but eek, they were abysmally sloppy with the puck, guys out of position, guys getting beat.

I'll chalk it up with the first game of the season and still getting the legs going thought though.

And one last thought, instead of getting Huet when Niemi and Crawford are ready to go, why didn't they / they should have went after another big time goal scorer...cough Hossa cough...just my opinion though.

[JJ Thompson94 0]

From what I saw, the hawks biggest problem was not blocking out defensivly. They let the Rangers shoot and then drive right to the net not blocking them out, and not to mention Huet giving up those juicy rebounds didn't help either. Two goals were scored of rebounds.

[Hawkeye 0]

Huet looked bad in preseaon too. The first game he played he let in 3 soft goals before buckling down. And he let in 6 goals against the Jackets.

Seeing him struggle (without much help d wise) was no surprise.

Once again Savard proves to be a mental midget by doing two things I thought no coach with a brain would do:

1) Put Keith and Cambell on the ice at the same time. YIKES!!

2) Break up Toews, Kane, Sharp those guys were clicking at the end of the year. Sharp is not a center and his time in Philly proved that.

What's the love fest with Byfuglin? He looks so clumsy on his skates and he won't hit anyone. I have never seen a weaker big man he must be the second coming of Eric Daze.

The Hawks better come to play at home. They risk turning all this good will around in a hurry.

[Slapshot9123 0]

Byfuglien hasnt clicked with his line yet. Ive watched him closely the past 2 years in the hawks system. Last year when he was with Towes and Kane they were doing amazing things. Sharp defiantly needs to pick up his game, he had a point blank shot on an open net and hits the post. Huet's 5 hole is disgustingly large. Being a die hard hawks fan i am not impressed with anyone's play so far other than Versteeg and Skille. Kane floats around and does nothing. Towes does what he can but it all doesn't seem to be there for him. Byfuglien is just standing arround it seems like, he needs to start useing his size and shot to his advantage again. The defense is just completely terrible, I still am against the signing of campbell it was not needed at all. Maybe we should not have gotten rid of the little veteran leadership we had left in Lang.

[Hawkeye 0]

I think they needed Cambell. They needed great PP guy. I don't think they should have paid the price they did but it's water under the bridge now.

Buff looks lost half the time and Monday he was on the point on the PP. He turns the puck over so much and breaks up the flow on the PP. At least 10 times last year he had a turnover on the point that cost us at least 3 games. He's my goat this year for sure.

Huet is a close second. I'm pretty sure that 75% of his GAA are 5 hole. Just like Habby's high glove side, the word is out.

Tonight's game is no gimme either. Unless there is some urgency 0-3-1 is looking straight at them and Savard is goign to start hearing it fro the fans and media.

[Oberon 0]

...and the Joel Quenneville era has begun. So long Denis.

edit: sorry, just saw smoke's thread

I wasn't crazy about Savard as a coach, though I loved him as a player. I hope Quenneville is able to stick around for a while - I'd hate to see a revolving door of coaches screw up Toews, Kane, etc.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Here is a useless fact.

Christobal Huet has now had 4 coaches in his last 30 games.

Guy Carbonneau (sp)

Bruce Boudreau

Dennis Savard and now

Joel Quennville.

That has got to be some kind of record right?

[Chadd 916]

I think they needed Cambell. They needed great PP guy. I don't think they should have paid the price they did but it's water under the bridge now.

They needed a real shutdown defensive d-man much more than Campbell. They would have been better off with Seabrook and Keith or a forward on the point and having someone else to put out on the ice with a one goal lead and the game on the line. Paying Campbell as much as they are to be good offensively and below average in his own zone is just asinine. I'd rather see Toews running the PP from the half boards or down low than Campbell gunning from the blue line. There are a number of different ways to run a PP and you should fit your PP to the talent you have.

[epstud74 24]

Byfuglien is too lazy to be a force in the league.

[ktang 34]

I don't like the firing of Savard and the replacement by Quenneville.

They hired Savard to bring back the winning tradition from his playing days, and that helped fill the seats while the Blackhawks rebuilt.

Now that they are on the cusp of getting back into the playoffs, they got Quenneville, who is more experienced etc. I realize that it's a business-first decision, but it was only 4 games into the season. During the summer would have been a better time; then Quenneville could have gotten to know the players during training camp and pre-season.

[Rustpot 1]

I don't like the firing of Savard and the replacement by Quenneville.

They hired Savard to bring back the winning tradition from his playing days, and that helped fill the seats while the Blackhawks rebuilt.

Now that they are on the cusp of getting back into the playoffs, they got Quenneville, who is more experienced etc. I realize that it's a business-first decision, but it was only 4 games into the season. During the summer would have been a better time; then Quenneville could have gotten to know the players during training camp and pre-season.

Then again, we really don't know the whole story. Savard was given all of these new pieces and preseason/training camp to learn how to properly utilize them and the GM/Owner/Management were probably unhappy in his execution. Rather than try and buckle things down and get Savard to change how he thinks the team should be coached, they go get a new guy who can do a better job.

There could have been an agreement that Savard had to have a 50% winning record at this point including preseason and he didn't, or Quenneville wasn't available until now, or it took this long to sort out the coaching change and Savard was a lame duck.

If the top guys don't think Savard can take them all the way, better to make the switch now then at the trade deadline, right?

[Hawkeye 0]

From what I can put together. Executives thought that camp was flat and they came into the season flat. With all the new management they had seen enough.

Savvy has been in charge of the PP for the better part of ten years. And the Hawks PP has always been bad. When they couldn't even control the puck on the PP in the first three games Savvy was doomed. Troy Murray said on the radio last night that he was surprised that Dennis got to coach the 4th game.

[ktang 34]

OK, I didn't have the full picture.

I was hoping that Blackhawks management would have given Savard a chance to learn, like the way Gainey let Carbonneau grow into his role as the Canadiens' coach.

[troy 12]

The Savard firing is definitely oddly timed. Is it possible that Quenneville was courted by the Hawks over the offseason and just now decided to accept? And I thought that people had been relatively pleased with Savard?

[Chadd 916]

The Savard firing is definitely oddly timed. Is it possible that Quenneville was courted by the Hawks over the offseason and just now decided to accept? And I thought that people had been relatively pleased with Savard?

Savard went over Tallon's head to try and get a contract extension and that was the main reason according to a couple different sources.

[mack 44]

I hear Patrick Kane literally cried over the firing. What. The. Fuck.

[ktang 34]

I hear Patrick Kane literally cried over the firing. What. The. Fuck.

Kane in tears over Savard firing

[Fletch 219]

I hear Patrick Kane literally cried over the firing. What. The. Fuck.

My reaction exactly.

[RadioGaGa 162]

I'l got Kane & Toews in my pool...so I hope he gets over this quick.

[Chadd 916]

I hear Patrick Kane literally cried over the firing. What. The. Fuck.

So this was obviously a great move to boost morale in the locker room

[Fletch 219]

That would be awesome if there was a player who cried to reporters after every single loss during the course of the season, even in pre-season. Haha.