Seth Jones Rips Blackhawks After Ugly Loss to Utah: ‘We Haven’t Made Any Strides’
Blistering Criticism from Captain
Seth Jones has gone unfiltered, speaking his mind after the Blackhawks’ 2-1 loss to the Utah Jazz on Tuesday. With his interest in a trade now public knowledge, Jones ripped the team, stating, “We’re the exact same team right now as we were game one. It’s pretty evident out there. We haven’t made any strides to be a better, more simple hockey team, and it shows. We don’t get a lot of wins because of that.”
This isn’t the first time Jones has been critical of the team. He’s been vocal about the need for change, and it’s clear he’s at his wit’s end. “This has been almost four years of being at the bottom of the league, so it’s not just this year — for me at least,” he said.
Game Recap
Jones scored the Hawks’ lone goal, a first-period power-play snipe that gave them the lead until the final minute of the second period. He also logged a game-high 25:27 of ice time. However, neither Jones nor any other Hawk found a way to stem wave after wave of Utah rushes, which led to some absurdly lopsided stats. During five-on-five play, Utah generated a 69-19 advantage in shot attempts and 40-5 advantage in scoring chances.
In a Drought
Hawks forward Tyler Bertuzzi is a historically streaky scorer, and that streakiness is something he has learned to tolerate. “Sometimes you hit a post or miss a chance,” he said. “[But] when you’re on a streak and you’re feeling it, stuff is just hitting you and going in. You ride the highs when they’re high, but you [should] keep grounding out the lows, and they’ll eventually come.”
The Hawks have gotten the full range of him this season. He racked up 12 goals in Anders Sorensen’s first 21 games as interim coach between early December and late January. But he has scored only five goals in his other 37 appearances, including zero in his last 11.
No Calls
Young NHL players often have to pay their dues, in a sense, to get the benefit of the doubt — or some protection, on the other hand — from referees. In Connor Bedard’s case, he seems to be going through an extreme case of that.
The 19-year-old Hawks star has drawn only 10 penalties this season (tied for sixth-most on the team) and has been whistled for 16 (tied for third-most on the team). It’s not so much the latter number that seems unjust — Bedard is prone to committing stick infractions on defense at times — but the former. It seems as though he often gets held, hooked, or interfered with, but nothing is called.
Utah Impressions
The NHL’s newest city seemingly has taken to hockey quickly. The crowd at the Delta Center was raucous Sunday against the Canucks and again Tuesday, even though many of the upper-bowl seats can’t see the near-side goal.
One thing that has stood out to Hawks players is how warm the arena is. “I was sweating in morning skate,” Bertuzzi said. “I usually never do.”
Conclusion
The Hawks’ loss to the Utah Jazz is just another in a long string of disappointing results for the team. With their captain speaking out, it’s clear that things need to change. The question is, what’s next for this struggling team?
FAQs
Q: What did Seth Jones say after the game?
A: Jones ripped the team, stating, “We’re the exact same team right now as we were game one. It’s pretty evident out there. We haven’t made any strides to be a better, more simple hockey team, and it shows. We don’t get a lot of wins because of that.”
Q: What are the Hawks’ current standings?
A: The Hawks are second-to-last in the NHL with a record of 17-34-7.
Q: What is the plan for the team moving forward?
A: With the captain speaking out, it’s clear that change is needed. However, it’s unclear what the plan is for the team moving forward.
