Chicago Blackhawks 2026-2027

#151      
RoundBalcs
bdutts said:
Didn't mean to single you out with my question. I asked (everyone) because I truly don't know. I guess in my mind, I'd say finishing top three in the division (and thus making the playoffs) for 3 years in a row (?) would mean sustained success. It's really hard to say.

Your second paragraph makes a lot of sense. The (obvious) point is when a guy feels comfortable and gets put into a position to succeed (i.e. the system), he's going to have success (DUH!). I think that's at least part of the problem with Blashill (and Rockford, who runs the same system). It seems like guys aren't in the correct position to succeed. Not sure if the system is too hard or if they players aren't smart enough to grasp it but there is just something missing. And there doesn't seem to be much leadership from the veterans, like Ian Cole and Cole Smith and Greenway and Donato although it's hard to see what happens when the spotlight isn't on them.

Part of it, too, is organizational philosophy. They drafted a bunch of small, skilled forwards and skilled defensemen and so far, that hasn't worked out. The past two years, they drafted bigger skilled forwards. Time will tell how well that works out but Davidson may not have that kind of time. Blashill definitely doesn't.

I'm not willing to give up on the guys they drafted the past few years yet, but they need to start cranking it up otherwise this rebuild will last 10 more years.
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right now - playing meaningful hockey in March and NOT thinking about the draft lottery seem like two (distant) measures of success.

I agree on the system. Maybe it's a poor fit for our guys, maybe Blashill sucks at teaching it--I don't know, but it clearly isn't working. These are the problems I see...

1. System and coaching - the first change you try.
2. Roster Construction - Our veteran players are awful. Bertuzzi, Teravinen, Kane, Donato, Ian Cole, Greenway ...they just stink. Bad veterans + inexperienced youngsters who are still trying to develop = dumpster fire. We need ACTUAL NHL players to balance out and support the recent draftees...In fairness, Byram was an attempt to bring in solid NHL talent. Davidson is asking WAY too much of these young guys - to be the guys AND simultaneously develop.
3. Development - Levshunov has clearly taken a step. Can't say the same about Rinzel, Korchinski, Moore, Kaiser, Greene, Vlasic, or Nazar. The recent draft picks in Rockford are somehow doing even worse.

2 and 3 are much tougher to unwind, but fall primarily on Davidson. I don't understand how you don't TRY to change up the coaching...gotta try something.
Just my two cents!
 
#152      
Illiniaaron
Davidson said after the '23-'24 season that being in the bottom three was no longer acceptable. They have been every season since and will be again this year. I know it doesn't really matter that he said that but it still irritates me. There seems to be a malaise that has set in on the franchise. I don't think the players feel any pressure of being replaced or of any repurcussions for bad play. I don't follow the prospect list like others on here but it seems like they just kept adding the same type of player over and over again in the draft with no emphasis at all on toughness. The veterans they have added are not good. Bertuzzi is awful this year. I didn't know anything about Byram when they traded for him but I think one of the early comments on the thread was that he was a defensemen known for his offense rather than his defense. I think they needed the opposite of that, a tough defenseman with a baseline level of offensive competence. I know they were looking for him to have a big role on the power play but that hasn't worked out and now he has missed 8 games with the mysterious upper body injury. I really think Blashill gets fired after the end of this trip unless the Hawks win both remaining games. Even then, he'll just be replaced by an assistant and you don't get a permanent guy in until the offseason. Just a complete mess.
 
#153      
Warren Carter Fanclub
Illiniaaron said:
Davidson said after the '23-'24 season that being in the bottom three was no longer acceptable. They have been every season since and will be again this year. I know it doesn't really matter that he said that but it still irritates me. There seems to be a malaise that has set in on the franchise. I don't think the players feel any pressure of being replaced or of any repurcussions for bad play. I don't follow the prospect list like others on here but it seems like they just kept adding the same type of player over and over again in the draft with no emphasis at all on toughness. The veterans they have added are not good. Bertuzzi is awful this year. I didn't know anything about Byram when they traded for him but I think one of the early comments on the thread was that he was a defensemen known for his offense rather than his defense. I think they needed the opposite of that, a tough defenseman with a baseline level of offensive competence. I know they were looking for him to have a big role on the power play but that hasn't worked out and now he has missed 8 games with the mysterious upper body injury. I really think Blashill gets fired after the end of this trip unless the Hawks win both remaining games. Even then, he'll just be replaced by an assistant and you don't get a permanent guy in until the offseason. Just a complete mess.
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Hopefully hired by a new GM.
 
#155      
ChiefGritty
bdutts said:
Part of it, too, is organizational philosophy. They drafted a bunch of small, skilled forwards and skilled defensemen and so far, that hasn't worked out. The past two years, they drafted bigger skilled forwards.
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"There are too many speed/skill/puck moving guys on this team" strikes me as a much more plausible explanation of the problem than "needs more time for ever more asset accumulation".

The Hawks have three 1sts, two 2nds and two 3rds in the 2027 Draft. After making 11 first round picks in a four year span. This "pipeline" needs more top draftees like a hole in the head.
 
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