The Chicago Blackhawks Organization Needs to Make a Hard Decision. Are They Up to It?

Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville’s face last night in Vancouver after the fourth unanswered goal went in said it all. Joel Quenneville is done in Chicago.

Hall of Fame.

Only an elite few have that moniker put on them before they even exit the game. Arguably, Joel Quenneville is one of the best coach’s in NHL history. Coach Q. It’s damn near a brand at this point. He’s the Mike Ditka of Chicago hockey who brought three Stanley Cups to a starving city.

At this point, the guy is an icon.

But as with life, eventually everything must come to an end. Can you really see Q getting this team to play hard? Make the playoffs?

I don’t.

The reality is, the old days of consistent excellence are over and they’re not coming back with coach Q at the helm. As the inscription on the tablet brought down from the coaching God’s read – thou shall win and keep winning or else (insert Old Testament wrath anecdote here). We knew at some point it had to end. It has.

This is not a snuff piece on Q, it’s a thank you.

Instead of condemning the team with their lack of intensity, uneven play and joke of a power play, this is more of an Irish wake. For those of you old enough, think back before Coach Q entered the scene. An organization in a death spiral, rescued by a prodigal son in Rocky Wirtz.

Wirtz was a business man who knew to make money you have to spend money. Hire the best without exception. If an opportunity presents itself, take it. That’s how Q was hired. He was the best, and was available.

The organization fired a Hall of Fame player who was coaching the team only a few games into a season, to ensure they would not lose an opportunity to make the organization better. Three Cups later shows the philosophy works.