Blackhawks

#76      

bdutts

Houston, Texas
It wasn't working and had to be done, but the majority of this failure is on the players and Bowman.

They couldn't elevate Crawford. I can't stand King, but evidently he's strictly a place holder. If Davidson picks the new HC, he'll get the interim tag lifted.
I think the new GM will pick the new coach. Won‘t be Davidson unless he's elevated to GM. He won’t make the call as interim.

I'm not sure who bears the most blame to be honest. But it’s moot, coach is gone, GM is gone.
 
#84      

Illiniaaron

Geneseo, IL
For some reason the Bob Murdoch season in the late 80s has always stood out to me as one of massive despair. I don't know why but I remember being really frustrated as a fan then. This team is worse.
 
#85      
For some reason the Bob Murdoch season in the late 80s has always stood out to me as one of massive despair. I don't know why but I remember being really frustrated as a fan then. This team is worse.

Hey, those were the glory years of the consecutive playoffs, regardless of rarely going anywhere once they got there. I do think the late 90s to early 00s were worse, but I won't argue with your memories of despair.

Fun facts from last night. That was game 32 for AZ:
- It was only the 2nd time they've had the lead after 2 periods
- It was the 1st time they won a game by more than 1 goal
- Johan Larsson hadn't scored yet this season before his hat trick last night

The future certainly doesn't look bright. I still think there's a glimmer of hope that a strong coach could whip this squad into shape, but it's getting harder to defend that opinion.
 
#86      

Illiniaaron

Geneseo, IL
Hey, those were the glory years of the consecutive playoffs, regardless of rarely going anywhere once they got there. I do think the late 90s to early 00s were worse, but I won't argue with your memories of despair.

Fun facts from last night. That was game 32 for AZ:
- It was only the 2nd time they've had the lead after 2 periods
- It was the 1st time they won a game by more than 1 goal
- Johan Larsson hadn't scored yet this season before his hat trick last night

The future certainly doesn't look bright. I still think there's a glimmer of hope that a strong coach could whip this squad into shape, but it's getting harder to defend that opinion.
I also saw it was the first game they had won when leading after one period. They were 0-2-1 previously. :poop:
 
#87      
Time to go old school into the vault at WGN-TV and find films and video of the ‘60s Blackhawks and Lloyd Pettit.

“Hull... racing down left wing... he gets around his man!...A SHOT! AND A GOAL!”

Bobby Hull. Stan Mikita. Pierre Pilote. Glenn Hall. All-time greats.

And Chico Maki always going offside on right wing on the Hull line and forcing a faceoff.

In those days... always a Saturday night road game and a Sunday night home game. And of course, no home game television for a two generations so countless Hawks fans were deprived of seeing all these greats on home ice.

The Blackhawks may be not at their best these days. But at least we can see what they’re doing wherever they’re playing.
 
#91      
Rocky Wirtz can **** off.

It's an incredibly poor response. If you're not prepared to handle that question cleanly then you definitely should not be holding a town hall. I didn't watch the entire event to understand if there were other Beach questions that may have set Rocky off, but I don't think this particular question was even a difficult one.
 
#93      
Full clip including a follow-up question after that that makes Rocky look even worse:


Rocky issued this statement: “Tonight, at the Chicago Blackhawks town hall, my response to two questions crossed the line,” he said in a statement. “I want to apologize to the fans and those reporters, and I regret that my response overshadowed the great work this organization is doing to move forward. We have the right leaders and right processes in place to create a safe environment for our employees and players.”

He needed to realize there could be no mistakes on this subject. I think it's fair to say his legacy will be forever tarnished, and I think that's a fair judgement.
 
#95      

bdutts

Houston, Texas
Rocky issued this statement: “Tonight, at the Chicago Blackhawks town hall, my response to two questions crossed the line,” he said in a statement. “I want to apologize to the fans and those reporters, and I regret that my response overshadowed the great work this organization is doing to move forward. We have the right leaders and right processes in place to create a safe environment for our employees and players.”

He needed to realize there could be no mistakes on this subject. I think it's fair to say his legacy will be forever tarnished, and I think that's a fair judgement.
Time heals all wounds. He can definitely make up for this large blunder.

The bad thing is, McDonough would handle these sorts of things and he's a polished professional so he would know what to say, even if he had to go off the cuff. Rocky didn't have, or let, anyone do it for him. Danny tried.
 
#96      
Time heals all wounds. He can definitely make up for this large blunder.

The bad thing is, McDonough would handle these sorts of things and he's a polished professional so he would know what to say, even if he had to go off the cuff. Rocky didn't have, or let, anyone do it for him. Danny tried.

The original question was addressed to Danny and Rocky took over. It's mind boggling that they either didn't discuss this beforehand as a group or Rocky just went off script. Just a terrible look and very much an unforced error.

To answer your other question, I won't stop watching games because of this. Sports are a diversion for me so the off the field stuff needs to be super, super egregious for me to actually change my viewing habits.
 
#97      

illinihawk16

Chicago
It's an incredibly poor response. If you're not prepared to handle that question cleanly then you definitely should not be holding a town hall. I didn't watch the entire event to understand if there were other Beach questions that may have set Rocky off, but I don't think this particular question was even a difficult one.
Not difficult at all. The reporter actually kind of teed him up to say "these are all the good things we're doing now to make you proud of us." Danny (who the question was intended for) was wanting to answer the question, too. Rocky did the worst thing possible in that situation.
 
#98      
Is it wrong to just be pissed at Rocky for his stupid tirade but still support everyone else in the org?

Generations of the Wirtz family have disrespected Chicago’s love for the game of hockey. This sad quality seems to be passed down from one generation to the next.

Your grandfather’s generation saw how Blackhawks fans were treated in the ‘60s during the great Hull and Mikita days. No home TV. For many years, not even home RADIO was allowed. Might hurt the box office receipts, you know.

The franchise slid into years of emptying seats and lots of losing in years after that. Fans began to stay away, but they still secretly loved the game and the team anyway.

Then a new generation of Wirtz took over and the team began to flourish. Even bagged some Stanley Cups along the way.

But something dark was going on behind the scenes. And it all became public.

And then that new generation of Wirtz was asked how the franchise was responding to that. And that Wirtz began to sound and act just like some of the prior Wirtz’ did.

Chicago will always love the game of hockey. It’s a shame that those who own the team don’t love them back. Or treat them with the respect they deserve.

Wonder if they EVER will?
 
#99      

bdutts

Houston, Texas
The original question was addressed to Danny and Rocky took over. It's mind boggling that they either didn't discuss this beforehand as a group or Rocky just went off script. Just a terrible look and very much an unforced error.

To answer your other question, I won't stop watching games because of this. Sports are a diversion for me so the off the field stuff needs to be super, super egregious for me to actually change my viewing habits.
I think Rocky went off script due to who was asking the question.

This is what Theo Fox wrote over at hockeybuzz.com. I agree with his stance.

“The Blackhawks have a ton more to think and worry about beyond who their permanent general manager and head coach will be or how to construct the roster moving forward. One thing to keep in mind is that there are still good people in the organization and collaborative auxiliary partners from ticket reps to arena staff to administrative personnel.

Be angry at Rocky Wirtz. Be angry at others directly involved.

Don't be angry at anyone and everyone.

That may help keep things in perspective to not abandon a team that you love and cheer for.”
 
#100      

bdutts

Houston, Texas
Generations of the Wirtz family have disrespected Chicago’s love for the game of hockey. This sad quality seems to be passed down from one generation to the next.

Your grandfather’s generation saw how Blackhawks fans were treated in the ‘60s during the great Hull and Mikita days. No home TV. For many years, not even home RADIO was allowed. Might hurt the box office receipts, you know.

The franchise slid into years of emptying seats and lots of losing in years after that. Fans began to stay away, but they still secretly loved the game and the team anyway.

Then a new generation of Wirtz took over and the team began to flourish. Even bagged some Stanley Cups along the way.

But something dark was going on behind the scenes. And it all became public.

And then that new generation of Wirtz was asked how the franchise was responding to that. And that Wirtz began to sound and act just like some of the prior Wirtz’ did.

Chicago will always love the game of hockey. It’s a shame that those who own the team don’t love them back. Or treat them with the respect they deserve.

Wonder if they EVER will?
Good question. I think yes. I also think that one stupid, childish tirade shouldn’t undo all the good that was done when Rocky took over from his dad. Yes, he will have to rebuild that trust with many, but I think he deserves the chance to try. We need to see if his actions going forward build off his apology.