Can we blame Q for the poor defense? I guess we can find ways but really as far as blueliners go he isn't working with much past the top 4 guys. And when players like Leddy have off nights there isn't much he can do pushing a guy like O'Donnell. Scott, Lepsito etc etc up to help out. This is Bowmans responsibility the blueline. I think Q does what he can best with his blueline players he has. At least he has kept Seabs and Keith together now. Bowmans gotta find a way to bring a supporting blueliner in. Esp with Montador out Q's hands are pretty much tied. We continue to see how important Campbell was here. Bowmans not going to find another Campbell but O'Donell, Lepsito, Scott certainly aren't going to do the trick. Montadore helps but with him out it really opens up the hole. Like any team when we suffer injuries in areas where there are already question marks and holes they just get bigger.
It would be nice if the Hawks actually could play trap hockey here and there. I know that's an evil word..BUT games like we saw tonight when the Hawks tied the game a little trap capabalities to hold for a point would have been nice. Not looking for the Hawks to play 60 minutes of trap hockey and they certainly don't need to. But sometimes the trap is called for and it would be nice if the Hawks had the ability to do it better.
Not sure if Q can be held 100% responsible for the lack of defensive forward help either (which overall isn't that bad). He isn't going to be able to get Bickell to use his size (thats a lost cause), Kanes never going to be a back checking machine.
I feel a lot comfy going into the game with young guys like Hayes though. We saw the "fight for a job" spirit from him and Shaw tonight. This team needs a little of that right now. I can see Hayes having another good go tomorrow. Waiting to see how the blueline performs will be interesting again.
My complaint is not on someone getting better personnel, we know that is on Bowman the Younger...that horse has been beaten and whipped.
The problem is the guys we already have that we *know* can play D. Toews was lacking in the back end. Both Seabs and Keith were. Hossa was bad. Bolland was abyssimal. Sharp was not only bad this past game but his blown coverage (when Scott, of all people, was in perfect coverage) lead to the 3rd Edmonton goal. That is a coaching issue. That is on Q. IMHO there is no reason that most of our fwds, who have proven they can play defense, along with the majority of the blue-liners, can't tighten things up and actually play a defensive system.
We can point out we need a top-4 d-man or a #2C that is capable in the backend until we're blue in the face, but with who we have right now there should be no excuses for everyone skating back behind the blue line and thinking it's Buffalo Wild Wings where they can kick back, have a beer, and watch both Emery and Crawford make desparation saves.
