Hey guys this is my first fan post. I've been part of the SBnation community for a long time, mostly following Southsidesox since 06, And recently SCH. I must say I love SCH. So the reason for my post is because I am a studying Architecture Student. My semester project is to design a hypothetical relocation of the USA Hockey Hall of Fame from Eveleth, Minnesota to Chicago. The reason why I am posting is for hardcore hockey fans to have a voice in what they think the hall of fame should be! Details after the Jump!

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As the Trade Deadline approaches GMs all over the league are either attempting to add the final pieces to their Playoff push, thinking ahead to next year or desperately looking to unload dead wood help Jeff Carter to find the right team.

Our beloved Blackhawks are no exception as GM Stan Bowman seeks to cure our recent malaise and get this team back on track. The speculation rages on the internet as visions of Tuomo Ruutu, Luke Schenn, Tuomo Ruutu, Bobby Ryan, Tuomo Ruutu and Tuomo Ruutu donning the Indian Head Sweater dance through our fevered craniums, or, in the case of HFBoards, we "Get rid of dat lazy bum Cane for Kessler and a Pick" (hopefully it's not an icepick as I really don't like the idea of these folks being around sharp objects)

However, as anyone familiar with the work of the Rolling Stones will know, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" (and anyone who heard their last record will also be well acquainted with crushing disappointment) and what we want and what we get can be two very different things. Therefore, we take a cold, dispassionate look at our needs, hopes, dreams and the likelihood of the answer to all the above being "Hal Gill"

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I was curious to see how our penalty killers stacked up against one another and how the addition of Luke Schenn would add to our Penalty Kill. Here are some data from Behindthenet.ca. After the jump, I'll do a mediocre statistical analysis which CNS and Hack (among countless others) will tell me how stupid I am but until then, enjoy the read. Fun stuff after the jump...

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Decided to take a few minutes to check the Hawks' record vs so-called lesser opponents and compare to Detroit's...thought I'd share.

First, the traditional hockey view, ignoring the OTL's (i.e. treating them like ties, winning team thus defined as more total wins than regulation losses):

Against Winning Teams

Chicago 16-13-6

Detroit 25-13-1

Against Losing Teams

Chicago 12-4-0

Detroit 8-3-1

Against .500 Teams

Chicago 1-0-1

Detroit 2-0-0

More alarming, treating OTL's and L's equally, where a winning team is defined as more total wins than total losses, regardless of whether the loss was regulation, OT, or shootout:

Against Winning Teams

Chicago 7-8-4

Detroit 14-9-0

Against Losing Teams

Chicago 22-9-3

Detroit 21-7-2

Uglier still, 15 of Detroit's games against winning teams have been on the road with a record of 7 wins and 8 losses. Ten of the Hawks' games against winning teams have been on the road with a record of 2-6-2.

Usually my thing, but we'll keep it in the family. My brother, the Ombudsman took the responsibility this time. Cry nepotism all you want, you'll be right. -Sam

Hi Q,

Ombudsman here. I know you’re used to getting letters from the slimmer, angrier, balder Fels. But we thought we’d mix it up. Try something new. I think you’ll appreciate it. After all, I’ve seen some of your line combinations lately… Anyway, this is just you and I here. So I’m gonna say some shit and just get out of your way. Maybe you’re swinging into town for the weekend. Maybe you’re going to Santa Anita. I, for one, would not blame you if you did. I’d stay away from Chicago. People are losing their shit and they’re no fun to be around. Spend a day at the track, take in the Super Bowl, and then get back to work. Sounds like a plan.

Now I don’t have to tell you where your team is at this point of the season. It’s clear you understand the rigors of a season, what teams go through, that it’s how you respond to slumps like these more than figuring out why you’re in a slump, etc. etc. Your calm demeanor is only going to help turn this around.

However, the next chess move is yours. It’s time for the coach, who was hired because of his EXPERIENCE, to be a coach. When we hit the playoffs in April (And we will hit the playoffs in April, nobody is that stupid. Well, actually 80% of the people on Twitter are that stupid, but I doubt that you tweet. ) We need to look back and say, "When Q did X back in February, that’s when this Hawk train got on a roll." So let’s figure out what X is shall we? (I know. When you were in high school studying algebra, you always said to yourself "When the hell am I going to use this shit?" and 40 years later you find yourself solving the Value of X….Dem math teachers huh?)

Psst. I’m writing this next part in Italics because it gives off the impression that I’m whispering. If you’re reading this out loud please lower your voice. Anyway, I don’t think your GM has done you any favors. This team is pretty unbalanced and for all the words the GM threw out- Grit, Sandpaper, Depth, Jam- you know? Words made up to describe people with no talent; the boys aren’t very gritty, Sandpapery, deep or Jammy. You know this. I know this. I also don’t think he’s going to help you going forward. Yes it’s trading season, but Stan is being asked to pull off a trade that he’s never ever made before. And you know in horse racing, you never bet on a horse to do something he’s never done. So let’s just move forward with the idea that whoever is coming via trade is just going to be a different color of something that is already on the roster. Do you think Hall Gill is anything other than Sean O’Donnell? Didn’t think so….

So, back in the day, when the Hawks were going great gangbusters, the first thing anyone noticed or commented on was how good the 3rd line is. Bickell, Bolland and Fro (Oh My!) were hard on the puck, aggressive forecheck, and just a nuisance. I think you need to re-unite them. And whatever tact you feel is necessary- warning them with the threat of a trade (even towards Bolland), praising them, calling them out in public (We’ll touch on this later.) – they need to get back to that level of play. I have much more confidence in that line regaining glory than I do of Mr. Bowman acquiring two road-grating wingers to replace them.

I also think you need to pull Kane and Sharp aside and say "Hey, if we have any shot of anything here, one of you needs to play second line center. And you need to commit to it." First one that says yes gets Hart Trophy candidate Marian Hossa as their right wing. I say Sharp. But you know success in this league is built on center depth. And the most talented 2nd center behind Toews is 10 or 88.

2 scoring lines, a checking line that actually checks and a 4th line of Morrison-Mayers and Shaw, who's still impressive, that actually can provide what a 4th line is supposed to provide- experience, hitting, and two players who we think can win some draws.

And now the real move. You have a bunch of horn playing seals that are covering the beat for the local papers and sub-par cable station in town. They must be a dream for hiding injuries, keeping what’s behind closed doors behind closed doors, and overall controlling the message. However, they provide an opportunity. They will simply type whatever you write and not question it. So put the onus on somebody else. I’m not talking about C.Y.A. I mean set the damn rules. This team is a recess that badly needs a teacher to blow the whistle. So blow it.

" We played our best hockey when Bolland’s line was playing the best hockey. We need that from them now."

" I believe Kane is going to erupt. Just watch."

"We brought in veterans for moments like these…"

You can use the media as stick or carrot. It’s a coaching device that’s just as effective as a bag skate, a line change, or a trip to the press box.

It’s a 30 game sprint, and if I can use one last horse racing term, it’s time to go to the whip.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. (Oh, and I’m writing another lampoon rap song featuring you and Stan…. fair warning.

Let’s go Hawks,

The Ombudsman.

The beast must be fed....

A few smokies:

Clockgate gathers steam: PD

We can use a laugh: DGB

Next up: the Avs. How they're doing: DP

And a few random thoughts:

Sure, Jokinen wasn't covered, but the Hawks turned back up the ice in perfect formation. From my view, one of the big differences Thursday was that the Oilers were able to use their speed to gain an edge, then use a sharp pass to gain a bigger edge, and before you knew it, the whole Hawks D was in disarray.

That's twice this year that the Flames have scored on a play that made Keith look hapless.

Otherwise, Emery stayed at home, the Q random pair generator didn't look to me like a disaster. Harsh glare of scrutiny volleys back to the offense....

Stalsberg reminds me of Spaceman Spiff, hurtling from planet to planet, ever seemingly on the verge of careening out of control.

If there has been malfeasance by the Kings' timekeepers, I say dock 'em enough points to relegate them to the second division next season.

Please be gentle.....

A really cool idea and pulled off beautifully. It will probably make a damn good 60-second TV commercial though I guess U.S. viewers won't see it:

So, the Ice-Capades Trip is upon us.. nine Road games for the Hawks, featuring our Friends in Vancouver, a first trip To Alberta of the season (Got that? Right? That other trip you think happened was just the DTs.. trust me, I'm a Scientist) followed by a Western States swing and rounding off VIA Nashville, New York and an exhibition game against some AHL team in Columbus. It may not be the long retreat from Moscow that Napoleon endured (weather conditions in Alberta will be MUCH worse) and I'm pretty sure Mao's famous Long March didn't involve knowing the way to San Jose but it's a gruelling slog regardless. Plus this'll be the longest gap between "Daggers" since Brutus accidentally brought a pastry brush to the Senate and had to run home to switch it before Cassius found out.

Now, we all know that these days Hockey Players travel in the very lap of luxury: charter planes, air-conditioned coaches (or dogsleds in Edmonton) and 5-Star Hotels are where it's at. However, despite all this, there's no place like home and it's little comforts. Therefore it should come as no surprise that the Hawks all like to add a few personal touches to the obligatory luggage of Hockey gear, iPods and natty suits (not you, Marian)

Having had a good, old-fashioned rummage through their luggage while their bus was "inadvertently" delayed by one of my worker monkeys pretending to spot Kim Johnsson in a diner across the road, I am in a position to provide you with a list of the little things that the Hawks need On The Road To Nowhere (sorry, Columbus)..

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Memes: a fancy new way of saying "Running Joke". SCH is riddled with them, some timeless, some less so. Of course, in the process of this entire blog's steady retreat from conversing in anything that's recognisable as English to outsiders, there are some Shibboleths that didn't quite make the cut. However, they should not be forgotten: Here we honour those memes that fell by the wayside in the Grand SCH(m)eme of Things..

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get this into a fanpost please

just so I can cheer myself up after a GDT like last night!

Ten.Fucking.Stars!

-mightymike D

As you've requested sir. I am nothing if not your humble servant. I would've just made this a fanshot but you specifically required a fan post. Therefor I had to come up with all this fluff text. I really hope you're pleased with yourself MMD. I should be doing real work right now but here I am typing this out just to appease you. As an aside good job on all the funny stuff you've been posting lately, the mood around here lately has definitely been in need of lightening up. Oh my god what is the minimum word count for a fan post... jeez. Well that's all I've got. Remember folks it's a game, and we're 3 points out of first life is not as dire as it seems. Breathe, laugh, have some fun. There's still a lot of hockey left and we've still got the Captain, the Jehossa, the Rat, the Lazy One and all those other guys out there, some of whom I've heard are quite good at hockey. So next time you're close to the ledge just think about a game against Calgary 2 years ago, or a certain game against the Preds later that same season. Well that's all I've got, Peace!