November 7, 2021: Three and Out

Three years ago the Blackhawks replaced their 3-time Stanley Cup winning coach with some young guy. I was furious. So Coach Q was the scapegoat for the declining play of the champs? What about Bowman? Well, he’s gone too now… unfortunately for another reason instead of his sub-par GMing, but… he’s gone, so good. He was the guy that picked Jeremy right? Well, now Jeremy joins Q and Bowman, and everybody else for that matter, out of a job, as the Blackhawks relieved him of his duties exactly 3 years to the day they hired him. Three and out.

Is everybody happy now? It seemed like everyone was calling for his head; again, you have to blame somebody for this horrific start. Again, I didn’t like the initial hiring 3 years ago, mostly because Q was gone, but… just like anybody else, I had to give him a chance. He took over a decent roster, then promptly lead them to missing the playoffs. The roster got worse, the Blackhawks got worse, but… made the extended playoff bracket due to COVID, and actually won a round; progress? Yes, yes I think so. Then was last year and the no fan season; did it impact the Hawks? I’m sure it impacted all teams, but a team that normally fills the UC, and has a really good following, like most Chicago teams, on the road, maybe more than others? Regardless, the Hawks missed the playoffs again. Now our goalie situation was interesting to say it nicely, and our defense wasn’t helping much, so again, the talent on the roster wasn’t the greatest, yet, there were some good streaks… just not often enough. Colliton to blame for this?

We’ll find out if this move will make a difference. I would certainly bank on it making an immediate impact… providing a spark that will boost the Hawks in the next week or two, but after that??? That’s the real question. And if the answer to that question is no, then what? Do we start dumping guys? Or do we just wait it out, and let the new coach, when named, and staff put in their system? What looked like a promising year has certainly turned into a dumpster fire quickly, for many reasons. Thankfully, it’s early enough that the Hawks can turn it around; it’s not so early where they have that much room to play though. It’s another losing streak or two away from being a lost season honestly.

I’m not upset that the Blackhawks fired their coach; I’m just not convinced that this will make a difference, at least this year. By firing the coach mid-season, it almost feels like this year will be a wash, although I’m sure you can find examples of the opposite. We may have to wait until 2022-2023 to really see; I hope not. Lot of hockey still left to play; I’d like to see some more wins… I couldn’t really figure out what was wrong with this Hawks team, but the powers that be seemed to settle on the coach; we had to do something. I hope they were right; we know they’ve been wrong, but… this is a new management team making the decisions, so like AKME with the Bulls, we have to give them the benefit of the doubt on this one, right? And since most fans wanted this anyways, I guess they’re throwing us a bone here? God knows the Hawks have embarrassed us enough with decisions from the past; this pathetic start isn’t helping either. Turn it around boys… quickly. Go Hawks!