Chicago Blackhawks Mailbag: Goaltending, Trade Rumors and More

This week we asked Chicago Blackhawks fans what their questions were surrounding the team at this point. Unlike the team they root for, they did not disappoint.

What are your thoughts on Colliton now? — Ty, @willtycarp

I think Jeremy Colliton has done his best with the hand he’s been dealt this season.

The Chicago Blackhawks handled the promotion of Jeremy Colliton and the firing of Joel Quenneville in the worst way possible. Yes, they were unfair to Q, but that’s a completely different story.

The most important part of that decision — the one that effects the Chicago Blackhawks in the present — was when Colliton was hired. Because he was brought in midseason, there was no time for him to get players bought in, for the team to learn his system or for there to be any real process of them growing together as a group.

It’s been a challenge for him and a fair amount of the team’s struggles since he’s joined this year have been largely because of the timing of that change.

Now that they’ve had some time, I think Colliton has done a very good job with this team. It looks as if every single player on the roster, veteran or rookie, is bought in on whatever it is he’s selling. He deserves a lot of credit for turning the ‘Hawks power play around as well.

They’re playing a significantly better hockey brand of hockey now than they were a month and a half ago. So much so, that discussion about whether or not this team could make a playoff run is starting to circulate.

While this is still a small sample size, I’m certainly pleased with that we’ve seen out of him thus far. His defensive pairings and lines seem to be interesting decisions at times, but Q frequently made us turn our heads in that department too.

I’m curious to see where he takes the Chicago Blackhawks next season when he gets the keys to the highway from day one.