Chicago Blackhawks 2026-2027

#181      
Warren Carter Fanclub
Illiniaaron said:
Breaking news-players only meeting after the game. Took too long to happen.
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Question: Did Kaiser call the meeting or did he just comment on it? Because if he called it that says a lot about our veterans not giving a #@$%.
I think Byrum should have run it. He's not doing anything else and making a lot of undeserved money. Sort of like J-Hey.
 
#182      
ChiefGritty
Warren Carter Fanclub said:
Question: Did Kaiser call the meeting or did he just comment on it? Because if he called it that says a lot about our veterans not giving a #@$%.
I think Byrum should have run it. He's not doing anything else and making a lot of undeserved money. Sort of like J-Hey.
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Was naming a 21 year old captain actually a good idea, in retrospect?

Bedard is much better than his teammates and tries harder to boot, but is he a natural leader in that way?
 
#187      
ChiIllini75
Looks like no changes to GM or coach are impending. Given a 4 day window before the next game today would have been the perfect day. I really dislike the idea of KD being here to make panic trades, seems like a recipe for digging the hole deeper (yes it can always go deeper).

Starting to get a bad feeling we'll be in a Buffalo tailspin where we are wandering the NHL wilderness for 10+ years despite cycling through the occasional real talents.
 
#189      
Mr. Roberts
Illiniaaron said:
If nothing happens tomorrow morning, Blashill is the man for the remainder.
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The Blackhawks are the new Bulls. Bulls keep filling the stadium, look at the banners, cheer the intro, relive the memories Blackhawks keep filling the stadium, look at the banners, cheer the anthem, relive the memories. No reason to actually win - the seats are full of paying customers.
 
#190      
bdutts
Mr. Roberts said:
The Blackhawks are the new Bulls. Bulls keep filling the stadium, look at the banners, cheer the intro, relive the memories Blackhawks keep filling the stadium, look at the banners, cheer the anthem, relive the memories. No reason to actually win - the seats are full of paying customers.
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They are 12th in attendance, 91% capacity, 17,916.
 
#191      
Illini2010-11
Illini2010-11 said:
This is quite an exaggeration, IMO.

Bedard and Kane easily look like the two best players on the team. The entire first line for the Blackhawks looks legit -- Bedard, Kane, and Kantserov

This opening stretch has been brutal because Bedard was out of action and the early part of the schedule has been loaded with playoff quality teams.

With Bedard back in action the team is 2-1. The game against Dallas was definitely a step back, but Dallas is very good.

I am not ready to hit the panic button yet, considering the season is not even 10 games old. I am willing to revisit this discussion in about a month.
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Following up on this post. The season has already become a lost season. There will likely need to be new leadership, as the current coaching does not have any semblence of a competitive product.

Kane to IR now. Sadly, it seems to be one of those years...
 
#192      
Illini2010-11
Mr. Roberts said:
The Blackhawks are the new Bulls. Bulls keep filling the stadium, look at the banners, cheer the intro, relive the memories Blackhawks keep filling the stadium, look at the banners, cheer the anthem, relive the memories. No reason to actually win - the seats are full of paying customers.
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This is simply inaccurate. Both the Bulls and Hawks are struggling to fill the United Center consistently. Outside of select nights, neither team is close to filling the stadium.

The fact that the Hawks need to have gimmick seat and drinks promotions tells you about the challenge of getting people to attend. The glory years of both teams are over, and the consistent empty seats tells you all you need to know.

The reality is that management has failed both franchises in their rebuilds.
 
#193      
Mr. Roberts
Illini2010-11 said:
This is simply inaccurate. Both the Bulls and Hawks are struggling to fill the United Center consistently. Outside of select nights, neither team is close to filling the stadium.

The fact that the Hawks need to have gimmick seat and drinks promotions tells you about the challenge of getting people to attend. The glory years of both teams are over, and the consistent empty seats tells you all you need to know.

The reality is that management has failed both franchises in their rebuilds.
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They both must be doing a very good job of gimmicks and promotions. Bulls were #1 and Blackhawks #4 in attendance last season. Maybe no one is there, but the internet says the tickets are sold.

Chicago Blackhawks
2025-26 attendance - average 18,949 5th in NHL


Chicago Bulls
2025–26 Attendance Breakdown

CategoryGames (GMS)Total AttendanceAverage AttendanceNBA Rank
Home (United Center)41829,99720,2431st of 30
 
#194      
bdutts
Illiniaaron said:
If Blashill doesn’t get canned tomorrow morning, he’s got job security for the rest of the season.
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He won't get canned before Thursday. Davidson with a "media availability" session on Wednesday.
 
#195      
bdutts
ChiefGritty said:
Was naming a 21 year old captain actually a good idea, in retrospect?

Bedard is much better than his teammates and tries harder to boot, but is he a natural leader in that way?
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In retrospect, no. But who else would have gotten it? I was thinking maybe Vlasic since he's the "oldest" of the homegrown guys and was playing well but his play has really gone down in the past two years. Kane, perhaps? Not sure he's the best leader, either, especially vocally. I guess they could have picked three guys to wear the A (or two, if two is the max) each game for this year.
 
#197      
bdutts
ChiefGritty said:
Perhaps that question is pointing in the direction of the problem with the roster.
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To me, it points more to their free agent evaluation and less to the drafting. But yes, they haven't done very well bringing in a guy that could be a captain or alternate.
 
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