Blackhawks Banter: Problems Aplenty to Start the Season

Typically, I am a very positive person. I find the glass half full, the silver lining in every dark cloud and think that when every door closes, another one opens. But the Chicago Blackhawks are making it very difficult for those of us in the optimist’s club to stay the course.

There’s the occasional glimmer of hope when taking to the ice against an equally struggling opponent. However, those hopes are quickly dashed as soon as a formidable foe appears.

So, where is the answer?

Where Did Everybody Go?

Through 11 games, Jonathan Toews has one goal and one assist, for a total of two points — TWO POINTS! Patrick Kane is doing a little better, with three goals and six assists, but has surely not been the impact on the ice that we are accustomed to. The struggling defense brings to question: where are Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith?

In times such as these, when a club full of young, inexperienced talent that a team’s leaders are needed to step up and bring things together. Those C’s and A’s on the sweaters are there for a reason, and as I’ve mentioned before, until we start hearing the names we’re used to hearing during game-time, things are likely to continue to stagnate.

On the bright side, the goaltending has been solid. Robin Lehner is boasting some of the best stats in the NHL and Corey Crawford remains steadfast. But it’s crucial that the lines in front of them begin to click, and finding that mix falls on Colliton’s shoulders.

Who is to Blame?

While many look to Colliton as the fly in the ointment, I personally feel it goes much higher than that. The problem starts at the top.

Since general manager Stan Bowman’s knee-jerk overreaction to the series loss to the Nashville Predators during round one of the 2017 Playoffs cost the Hawks Niklas Hjalmarsson and Artemi Panarin, things have been slowly unraveling.

Bowman’s inability to replace lost talent and manage key players have left us to watch as a steady decline in performance has taken place right before our eyes.

Of course, we all fondly look back upon those glory days of this past decade with pride, but bear in mind it was the strategic mind of Dale Tallon that assembled that machine, bringing in coach Joel Quenneville and Marian Hossa to seal the deal and the subsequent three Stanley Cups.

Bowman and Quenneville never saw eye to eye, so it’s not surprising that coach Q’s departure was predicated by having little to work with on his bench, methodically sending him on his way. On his way, incidentally, to the Florida Panthers where he once again finds himself with together with Tallon. I wonder what direction that franchise is heading?

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While I don’t have an answer to the question of what it is going to take to right the ship and head back to the days of playoff appearance assumptions, it is my job to write about the person who does.

I will be anxiously awaiting his arrival.