This is where I'm at. I'm easing off the players because at some point, I can't blame them for the lack of effort when the coaches clearly aren't putting forth an effort themselves.
The whole desire to be a skill team that relies on speed and a fast back end is not working.
This roster is still being coached as if it was the 2010 team which it clearly is not. The combination of incredible depth and youthful energy is long gone. The big superstars are still here and that makes the team look, feel and even sound similar to that championship roster. It's not.
Just look at how they started the year. They were flying high with an entertaining, high scoring brand of hockey. The third line was effective and the 2nd line with Kane at center was even better than the top line. It was good. We knew there were some defensive issues but Crawford was playing well and covering up lapses like a good goalie often does. The powerplay struggled and the team lost some shootouts but the mantra was always "
this team has too much talent to (insert whatever problem) for long.
- They have too much talent to be this bad on the power play for long.
- They have too much talent to lose this many shootouts for long
- They have too much talent to be 29th on the PK
- Patrick Kane has too much talent to be slumping like this for long
Truth is- they do have a ton of talent. Looking at rosters alone, the Hawks absolutely have a better lineup than Nashville and St Louis and I'd even argue Detroit too. Purely on paper- there aren't many teams that can best the Hawks. They are absolutely an elite level team with the guys they have- even if you don't love all the bottom line players.
So what went wrong? Why are they in the middle of a terrible slide that has absolutely no signs of stopping?
Teams got wise. Teams figured out how to exploit the Hawks' weaknesses.
- Get in behind Chicago's defense when they're too aggressive.
- Start the physical play on 88 early and you wont have to deal with him late.
- Key in on Toews... hound him anytime he even smells the puck. Treat him as if her were #99.
- When they're on they're on the PP- clog up the blue paint and don't let them execute the backdoor play.
- Make them play from behind and burn them when they take risks
- Stand tall at your own blue line because the Hawks wont ever dump it in.
- Shoot glove on Crawford
This isn't top secret info. If fans know it- opposing teams absolutely know it and then some.
But this isn't end of the world. Every team has weaknesses and every team knows them. Flaws need to be addressed with hard work and new ideas. If something isn't working, try something else. Don't just assume it's bad luck and that you're just in a slump.
This is where the Hawks have failed. Beyond juggling lines and goalies- nothing has changed through out the course of this year. There has been absolutely zero visible attempt to rectify the flaws that this team has in it's game. Nobody is assuming different roles or altering their play. Everything from the powerplay to defensive zone breakouts looks the exact same. Everyone is playing as if
we have too much talent to **** up this long.
That kind of loser mentality starts at the top. Hockey players don't think that way.
Jonathan Toews doesn't think that way.
The Red Wings don't think that way.
