Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs legislation in 2019 at the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago. | Amr Alfiky/AP file

The governor contends some have been improperly skirting COVID-19 requirements by using a 1998 law designed to protect health care providers who refuse to perform medical procedures — such as abortions — that they’re opposed to. But GOP rivals denounced the Democratic governor as a “despot” signing “scary legislation.”

Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday signed a controversial amendment that bars the use of moral objections as a reason for refusing to comply with workplace COVID-19 requirements, including those for vaccines or testing.

Pritzker, who was in Glasgow, Scotland, as of Monday morning for the United Nation’s climate change conference, COP26, signed the amendment to the state’s Health Care Right of Conscience Act at the request of Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.

The amendment passed the General Assembly a week and half ago.

“Masks, vaccines, and testing requirements are life-saving measures that keep our workplaces and communities safe,” Pritzker said in a statement. “Keeping workplaces safe is a high priority, and I applaud the General Assembly for ensuring that the Health Care Right of Conscience Act is no longer wrongly used against institutions who are putting safety and science first.”

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times file
Gov. J.B. Pritzker gives an update on COVID-19 pediatric vaccinations during a news conference, last month.

The act, on the books since 1998, was originally designed to protect doctors, nurses and other health care providers who refused to perform medical procedures — such as abortions — that they’re opposed to. The new language seeks to clarify that the right of conscience objection does not apply to COVID-19 requirements.

Pritzker and other Illinois Democrats argue that, during the pandemic, the act has been improperly invoked by some seeking to skirt testing, vaccine and masking mandates at work.

The amendment would help protect an employer’s ability to implement those requirements. It still allows for religious or medical objections.

State Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, who filed the amendment to the Illinois law, called the governor’s signing of the legislation a “critical action to protect people in high-risk environments … from the dangers of COVID-19.”

Blue Room Stream file
State Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, speaks on the House floor last month.

“While this law will not take away anyone’s right to claim exemptions based on religion or medical need, it prevents a small group of people from distorting the meaning of the Health Care Right of Consciousness Act and putting some of our most vulnerable members of society in danger,” Gabel said in a statement. “I would like to thank Governor Pritzker for the steps he’s taking today.”

But Pritzker’s Republican rivals in the governor’s race denounced the amendment as “scary legislation” and another example of the Chicago Democrat’s “tyrannical rule.”

“He continues to strip individual freedoms and make decisions that should be between an individual and their doctor,” said state Sen. Darren Bailey of downstate Xenia. “A few months ago we called healthcare workers heroes [but] now Pritzker wants to ensure they can be fired if they don’t submit to his tyrannical rule.

“These never-ending mandates and radical attacks by Pritzker on individual freedom must stop.”

The campaign of venture capitalist Jesse Sullivan argued the Health Care Right of Conscience Act was in place to “ensure no one could be discriminated against in their job because of their conscientious objection to not getting a medical procedure.

“Over 50,000 Illinoisans filed witness slips against this radical change,” according to Sullivan’s campaign statement. “Nevertheless, Pritzker pushed ahead, once again demonstrating his disregard for the will of the people. Jesse Sullivan opposes this scary legislation.”

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times file; Facebook; Mitchell Armentrout/Sun-Times file
Republican businessman Gary Rabine, left; state Sen. Darren Bailey, center; Republican venture capitalist Jesse Sullivan, right.

Suburban businessman Gary Rabine said the “idea that employers can mandate a vaccine and be protected from lawsuits ought to frighten us all. … Governor Pritzker may not like the choices people make, but he should respect their right to make decisions for themselves.”

The Bull Valley Republican gubernatorial candidate argued “our individual rights and freedoms were dealt a major setback today.

“Illinois does not need a despot. The residents of our state need and deserve a Governor who will listen to them and treat them with dignity and respect.”

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Cubs president Jed Hoyer has harped on ”intelligent spending” and finding the right players on the free-agent market. | Cliff Owen/AP

As the GM meetings begin, the team will be looking to address issues in their starting rotation and in their lineup.

CARLSBAD, Calif. — The Cubs are in a position they haven’t been in for quite some time. For the first time since 2011, they are entering an offseason without Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant or Javy Baez on their major-league roster.

The Cubs played the last two months of the 2021 season without their franchise cornerstones and now have to move in a new direction — a direction president Jed Hoyer and newly hired general manager Carter Hawkins are trying to navigate in their first offseason as a tandem.

They’ll get a chance to start in earnest at the GM meetings, which get underway Tuesday. And with so much uncertainty regarding the expiration of the collective-bargaining agreement Dec. 1, it wouldn’t be surprising to see several teams, including the Cubs, try to get ahead of the game before a potential roster freeze comes in early December.

The first order of business for the Cubs will be trying to shore up a starting rotation that was one of the worst in the game this past season. Fortunately for them, they caught a break when journeyman left-hander Wade Miley fell into their lap on waivers. They picked up his $10 million option Sunday, making him a virtual lock for the rotation in 2022.

The addition of Miley is a good start on the rotation overhaul, but there is still a ways to go in terms of improvement.

The thing Hoyer has harped on entering this offseason has been ”intelligent spending” and finding the right players on the free-agent market. Where the Cubs think they are in terms of their competitive window likely will be reflected in their targets this offseason.

”There’s a danger in free agency of committing a lot of years and a lot of dollars to players for the decline phase of their careers,” Hoyer said last month. ”You always have to be mindful of what the biggest value is in that contract.

”Free agency is valuable, [but] free agency is also dangerous. I think that there’s a reason that the best organizations generally build from within and use free agency to sort of finish off a club. I think building a club through free agency is really challenging.”

A target who might make a lot of sense for the Cubs is right-hander Jon Gray. Because the Rockies surprisingly didn’t make him an $18.4 million qualifying offer, he enters free agency without the hurdle of draft-pick compensation for whatever team decides to sign him.

Besides starting pitching, figuring out what to do with the lineup also will be high on the Cubs’ list. As currently assembled, the lineup features several players who could be successful on a big-league roster, but it lacks cohesion.

One of the areas lacking with the offense is power, and the Cubs will have to find some this winter, whether that’s in free agency or on the trade market. Their current roster features no true power threats outside of Willson Contreras, Frank Schwindel and Patrick Wisdom.

After the trades he made during the season, Hoyer’s goal was to put together a plan to get the Cubs back to contention. With the offseason here, it’s time to see those plans put into action. From ownership down, the talk has been of not wasting time with a long rebuild.

Wrigley Field wasn’t the packed house it usually is this past summer, and if there’s one thing that gets the attention of ownership, it’s empty seats. With the incentive to improve and the means to do it, it’s time the Cubs put their money where their mouth is.

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“That second half is not who I am,” White Sox pitcher Dallas Keuchel said. “I want to get back to who I am. I’d really like it to be February or March so I can come out and show everyone.” | Reed Hoffmann/AP

“I want to get back to who I am. I’d really like it to be February or March so I can come out and show everyone,” Keuchel said.

CARLSBAD, Calif. — Dallas Keuchel’s Gold Glove Award, his fifth, was a nice consolation prize for an otherwise bad year for the former Cy Young winner, who posted a career high 5.28 ERA and did not make the White Sox playoff roster.

Keuchel says the performance has left him motivated. He wants to be to be his old self again next season, and knows the Sox need him to be better in the the final year of his three-year, $55 million contract.

“That second half is not who I am,” Keuchel said on a Zoom call Monday. “I want to get back to who I am. I’d really like it to be February or March so I can come out and show everyone.”

The Sox hope he does. Keuchel talked as though he expected left-hander Carlos Rodon to be gone in free agency, and even though Michael Kopech is transitioning from the bullpen to the starting rotation, more quality innings will be in demand.

“Each one of us, whoever’s in the rotation, or however it shakes out, has had success at the big league level,” Keuchel said of Lance Lynn, Lucas Giolito, Dylan Cease and himself, as well as Kopech and Reynaldo Lopez. “Having Carlos this year was a huge bonus. It was just kind of a wild card play that we just kind of found that ace of spades in the deck; the way it was kind of just take your pick and we found it. It was just a bonus honestly with the amount of injuries that he’s been through, to have him actually come back out and do what he did was nothing short of amazing.

“Each one of us in the rotation next year could very well be that. And we’re going to need that. We’re going to need one or two guys to not step, but continue to be on the pace that they are. Because our division is not going to be a walk in the park by any means. It’s not going to be the AL Central of three or four years ago where three or four of the five teams were very, very subpar. We’re going to to have our work cut out for us. We are going to need one or two rotation guys to really carry the load.”

Keuchel posted a 1.99 ERA during the abbreviated 2020 season, his first with the Sox. This was his first Gold Glove on the South Side.

“It’s always special. I’ve always taken pride in my defense,” he said.

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Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs legislation in 2019 at the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago. | Amr Alfiky/AP file

The governor contends some have been improperly skirting COVID-19 requirements by using a 1998 law designed to protect health care providers who refuse to perform medical procedures — such as abortions — that they’re opposed to. But GOP rivals denounced the Democratic governor as a “despot” signing “scary legislation.”

Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday signed a controversial amendment that bars the use of moral objections as a reason for refusing to comply with workplace COVID-19 requirements, including those for vaccines or testing.

Pritzker, who was in Glasgow, Scotland, as of Monday morning for the United Nation’s climate change conference, COP26, signed the amendment to the state’s Health Care Right of Conscience Act at the request of Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.

The amendment passed the General Assembly a week and half ago.

“Masks, vaccines, and testing requirements are life-saving measures that keep our workplaces and communities safe,” Pritzker said in a statement. “Keeping workplaces safe is a high priority, and I applaud the General Assembly for ensuring that the Health Care Right of Conscience Act is no longer wrongly used against institutions who are putting safety and science first.”

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times file
Gov. J.B. Pritzker gives an update on COVID-19 pediatric vaccinations during a news conference, last month.

The act, on the books since 1998, was originally designed to protect doctors, nurses and other health care providers who refused to perform medical procedures — such as abortions — that they’re opposed to. The new language seeks to clarify that the right of conscience objection does not apply to COVID-19 requirements.

Pritzker and other Illinois Democrats argue that, during the pandemic, the act has been improperly invoked by some seeking to skirt testing, vaccine and masking mandates at work.

The amendment would help protect an employer’s ability to implement those requirements. It still allows for religious or medical objections.

State Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, who filed the amendment to the Illinois law, called the governor’s signing of the legislation a “critical action to protect people in high-risk environments … from the dangers of COVID-19.”

Blue Room Stream file
State Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, speaks on the House floor last month.

“While this law will not take away anyone’s right to claim exemptions based on religion or medical need, it prevents a small group of people from distorting the meaning of the Health Care Right of Consciousness Act and putting some of our most vulnerable members of society in danger,” Gabel said in a statement. “I would like to thank Governor Pritzker for the steps he’s taking today.”

But Pritzker’s Republican rivals in the governor’s race denounced the amendment as “scary legislation” and another example of the Chicago Democrat’s “tyrannical rule.”

“He continues to strip individual freedoms and make decisions that should be between an individual and their doctor,” said state Sen. Darren Bailey of downstate Xenia. “A few months ago we called healthcare workers heroes [but] now Pritzker wants to ensure they can be fired if they don’t submit to his tyrannical rule.

“These never-ending mandates and radical attacks by Pritzker on individual freedom must stop.”

The campaign of venture capitalist Jesse Sullivan argued the Health Care Right of Conscience Act was in place to “ensure no one could be discriminated against in their job because of their conscientious objection to not getting a medical procedure.

“Over 50,000 Illinoisans filed witness slips against this radical change,” according to Sullivan’s campaign statement. “Nevertheless, Pritzker pushed ahead, once again demonstrating his disregard for the will of the people. Jesse Sullivan opposes this scary legislation.”

Suburban businessman Gary Rabine said the “idea that employers can mandate a vaccine and be protected from lawsuits ought to frighten us all. … Governor Pritzker may not like the choices people make, but he should respect their right to make decisions for themselves.”

The Bull Valley Republican gubernatorial candidate argued “our individual rights and freedoms were dealt a major setback today.

“Illinois does not need a despot. The residents of our state need and deserve a Governor who will listen to them and treat them with dignity and respect.”

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The new Culver’s at East 111th St and Doty Avenue in Pullman is just off the Bishop Ford Expressway. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Culver’s has become Pullman’s first stand-alone restaurant in more than 30 years. Its grand opening on Monday saw nearly 50 people gathered in celebration.

Maddox Walton’s favorite meal is a Butterburger topped with ketchup, mustard, lettuce and a side of fries from Culver’s. The 8-year-old likes to top it all off with a frozen custard sundae, with sprinkles.

But since Maddox and his mom Meagan McNeal moved to Pullman two years ago, getting his favorite meal hasn’t been easy.

“When we moved here, there was nothing,” said McNeal, 35. “We always had to drive to Bronzeville or Evergreen [Park] or Crestwood.”

But on Monday, Maddox was one of the first to place an order at a new Culver’s at 111th Street and Doty Avenue, right off the Bishop Ford Expressway.

Before the new Culver’s came in, McNeal and Maddox would frequent nearby restaurants, including like the Potbelly in the food hall at the other side of the parking lot.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Maddox Walton, 8, lists off his favorite meal at Culver’s during Monday’s grand opening and ribbon cutting. With him is his mom, Meagan McNeal.

But they noticed the construction at the Culver’s site, and continued to keep tabs as the 4,300-square-foot restaurant was built.

“I legitimately cannot tell you how excited we have been as we’ve driven back and forth going home and as they would add the sign or the parking blocks,” said McNeal.

Finally, one day Maddox came home, bursting with excitement, rushed up to her and said, “The menu is up!”

This is owner/operator Baron Waller’s sixth Culver’s restaurant — his fifth in Illinois and second in Chicago.

Waller also will own and operate a Culver’s in West Garfield Park, near the new training facility for Chicago’s police and fire departments. Plans call for that location to open next fall.

At Monday’s grand opening, Waller said he wanted to build in Pullman “be a part of the resurgence” of the area.

As Culver’s largest African American franchise owner, he also wanted to be in a community that was predominantly Black.

“We want to come into our neighborhoods and make an impact,” said Waller, 60. “And I think bringing jobs — because that’s what’s really needed — that’s going to turn the tides and that’s what I want to continue to do — go into communities, bring some stabilization into those communities and bring jobs.”

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
The Culver’s that opened in Pullman on Monday is franchise owner Baron Waller’s fifth Illinois location.

The Pullman Culver’s brings 70 new jobs, and qualified for $1.5 million in federal and state tax credits. It also received a $250,000 grant from Chicago’s Neighborhood Opportunity Fund.

Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) said Culver’s is part of the “renaissance” in the area.

Located on land abandoned by Ryerson Steel in 2006, Culver’s sits next to the Method factory that opened in 2015; last year, an Amazon warehouse facility opened; and just down the block is the Pullman National Monument, which opened its visitor center this summer.

And, Beale said, more development is on the way.

Speaking to Monday’s crowd, Beale said Culver’s gives families in the neighborhood and visitors to the Monument a place to eat, but “we’re going to next work on some place for them to sleep!”

He wouldn’t offer details, but said it shows Pullman is being seen differently.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Culver’s employees watch Monday’s news conference celebrating the grand opening of their restaurant, at 111th Street and Doty Avenue in Pullman.

“I think it’s changing the narrative in our community and the stigma that we have on our community,” Beale said. “These corporations would not have taken a chance … if they did not feel that something was happening. … It changes the mindset, and once you change the mindset of people, then you’re going to start seeing the spillover,”

As for McNeal, she’s just excited to have one of her favorite meals — the shrimp basket — on nights she doesn’t want to cook.

Cheyanne M. Daniels is a staff reporter for the Sun-Times via Report for America, a not-for-profit journalism program that aims to bolster the paper’s coverage of communities on the South Side and West Side.

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AP Photos

“The postseason performance was frustrating. It highlighted certain areas where we need to get better.”

CARLSBAD, Calif. — The White Sox got some key initial offseason decisions out of the way, declining to pick up second baseman Cesar Hernandez’s $6 million option for next season, picking up reliever Craig Kimbrel’s $16 million option and choosing against giving All-Star left-hander Carlos Rodon an $18.4 million qualifying offer for 2022.

Hernandez will sign elsewhere and Rodon probably will, too, although general manager Rick Hahn said he is keeping the door open while Rodon and agent Scott Boras see what multiyear deals are to be had on the open market. Kimbrel, an eight-time All-Star closer who flopped in a non-closer’s role after Hahn gave up Nick Madrigal and Codi Heuer to get him, will be dangled as trade bait.

“We’re evaluating all our options for Craig for next year,” Hahn said.

As Hahn gets together with his peers at the general managers meetings at the Omni Resort in Carlsbad Tuesday and Wednesday, his aim to improve a 93-win division champion that got buzzsawed by the Astros in the ALDS will center on seeing what he might get for Kimbrel in a deal while adding more pitching and a second baseman. Hahn and manager Tony La Russa both touted converted first basemen Andrew Vaughn and Gavin Sheets and a healthy Adam Engel as viable right field options, suggesting an internal option there. And they probably should look to give starting catcher Yasmani Grandal a backup with good defensive skills as they try to find ways to spruce up one of baseball’s lowest ranked fielding teams.

“As we look to potentially bring in guys from the outside, defense will be part of our focus,” Hahn said.

But pitching is always Hahn’s primary focus and will be this offseason, too, starting at the GM meetings, which often set the table for the annual Winter Meetings in early December, but that bigger, industry-wide event might not happen. Knowing the collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1, few are planning for a gathering in Orlando, Fla., next month, which might heighten the importance of these GM meetings — a smaller but with more face-to-face communication between GMs.

Hahn said the Sox are proceeding as though an agreement will get done, at least for now.

Ryan Tepera, acquired at the trade deadline, is a free agent, and if Kimbrel is traded and Michael Kopech goes to the starting rotation as planned, that leaves three right-handers from the bullpen. Evan Marshall, injured for much of the season, is having Tommy John surgery.

Hahn said he’s not targeting the trade market above or below the free agent market as a primary avenue to add.

“Free agency will have certain options to address certain needs and trades will have other,” Hahn said. “It’s just a matter of how we line them up. If you spend big on one thing via free agency maybe it’s best to address the other need in a more cost effective way via trade.”

Whether free agent shortstop Marcus Semien, a former Sox who clubbed 45 homers and stole 15 bases while playing second base for the Blue Jays, is Hahn’s idea of spending big, remains to be seen. Semien could command more than the $18 million annual salaries to be given to the Sox’ highest paid players next season — Grandal, Jose Abreu, Lance Lynn and Dallas Keuchel — and for at least three years, so perhaps Eduardo Escobar is more reasonable target.

Top free agent starters include lefty Robbie Ray, an AL Cy Young favorite, right-hander Marcus Stroman, both of whom could command five-year deals in the $100 million and higher range. Such long-term commitments for pitchers would be bold by Sox standards.

All eyes are watching to see how the front office improves a good team.

“We have work to do,” Hahn said.

“The postseason performance was disappointing,” he said. “The postseason performance was frustrating. It highlighted certain areas where we need to get better.”

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St. Ignatius’ Richard Barron (23) practices with his team on November 8, 2021. | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

St. Ignatius is a tremendous academic school, probably one of the best in the Midwest. But no one has ever considered it a basketball powerhouse.

Richard Barron laughed when I asked him why he decided to go to St. Ignatius. It’s probably a question he’s heard fairly often.

St. Ignatius is a tremendous academic school, probably one of the best in the Midwest. But no one has ever considered it a basketball powerhouse. The Wolfpack’s greatest season was a supersectional appearance in 2000.

Barron is a big, strong 6-5 junior that recently picked up a scholarship offer from SIU to add to his growing pile that includes George Mason, Kent State, Loyola, DePaul, and Milwaukee.

He likely had his pick of high schools, but he chose wisely. There’s a special feeling at St. Ignatius this season and it was evident on Monday, the first day of basketball practice around the state.

The Wolfpack is loaded with talent, but not in the usual way. There isn’t a headline-grabbing superstar and none of the key players are transfers. It’s just a group of kids that decided to come to a really good high school and play basketball.

“My sister went here, but we picked a school-based on education, not just basketball,” Barron said.

Senior guard AJ Redd and 6-5 senior Kolby Gilles, an Air Force recruit, are the leaders. Redd, an All-City selection last season, is one of the city’s unheralded stars. Expect to read a lot about him over the next few months. It’s puzzling that his name didn’t pop more on the summer circuit based on how well he played last season.

“AJ is a tremendous team player,” St. Ignatius coach Matt Monroe said. “He brings so much to the table. You’ll see during the season, playing in the system with his teammates he’s going to thrive. He’s a tremendous leader. He’s going to make some college very happy.”

Redd, a 6-3 combo guard, is on track to finish his career as the school’s all-time leader in steals, rebounds, and assists. He’ll also be a 1,000-point scorer, despite the shortened season last year.

Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times
St. Ignatius’ AJ Redd (21) practices with his team on November 8, 2021.

Gilles and Barron provide the Wolfpack with strong, mobile post players rarely seen at the high school level. Redd can do it all and 6-8 junior Jackson Kotecki is a three-year varsity player.

There are three other players to keep an eye on. Junior Emmet O’Shaughnessy missed last season with a knee injury but was impressive on the sophomore team as a freshman. Senior guard Miles Casey didn’t play last year either but will be in the rotation.

Redd is quick to point out the contribution that senior guard Noah Davis brings to the team.

“Noah, Kobe, Richard, and I are all best friends outside of basketball,” Redd said. “Noah has had a little bit of a different path than the rest of us. He started at the freshman level and has worked his way up to varsity now. He’s worked his butt off. He does a lot for our team that doesn’t necessarily show up in the stats.”

Monroe wasn’t about to name a specific goal for his talented team. He’s about the process. But Redd said what most are probably thinking.

“The sky is the limit for this team,” Redd said. “It’s unfortunate that we didn’t get a chance to make playoff runs the last couple of years because of COVID. If we lock in and everyone is focused, the goal for this team is to go to state.”

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Jeremy Colliton was fired Saturday after an up-and-down three years as Blackhawks coach. | Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images file photo

The same persistence and certainty in imminent success that initially earned Colliton the Hawks’ head coaching job also, in the end, lost it for him.

Jeremy Colliton was always certain he would succeed with the Blackhawks.

The young coach didn’t flaunt that immense self-belief in an arrogant or showy way. His lack of outward emotionality, clean-cut appearance and day-to-day steadiness actually hid it quite well.

But all along, it was there.

“You have to believe in what you’re doing,” Colliton said in July 2019. “You have to be confident in your plan. Certainly, [I’ll] accept input and be flexible and take the information as it comes in, and then adapt. But you’ve got to trust your gut and believe in what you’re doing. And that will come across when you deliver your message.”

Almost exactly two years later, in an interview this summer, Colliton was even more certain the long-awaited payoff was coming.

“Since I got here, the goal hasn’t really changed: We want to be an elite team, year in and year out,” he said. “We’ve made a lot of strides toward that. It’s not always a straight line…[but] it’s fun to have been part of the journey. And when we have that success, it’s going to be pretty rewarding.”

On one hand, Colliton never could’ve done the job — never could’ve gotten the job — without that unwavering confidence. Only because of it was he able to overcome the remarkable sequence of extenuating circumstances that plagued his three-year tenure.

It helped him replace legendary coach Joel Quenneville mid-season in 2018 and handle the ceaseless skepticism Hawks fans held for him given his age and predecessor. It helped him navigate the 2020 COVID pause, coaching the team to a fleeting triumph over the Oilers in the playoff bubble.

It helped him oversee the most logistically strange and difficult NHL season in history in 2021 and keep the ragtag Hawks surprisingly competitive throughout it.

It helped him hold on through ex-general manager Stan Bowman’s half-baked and wildly fluctuating plans for the Hawks, ranging from one-foot-in retooling in 2019-20 to all-out rebuilding in 2021 to all-in brashness in 2021-22.

It helped him juggle the public outrage over the Hawks’ sexual assault scandal. He addressed the media daily while those actually responsible — Bowman, Quenneville, John McDonough and, of course, Brad Aldrich most of all — hid in silence.

And it helped him gain and maintain the trust of many within the organization, including veteran players in the locker room. Patrick Kane, in particular, came to view Colliton as a true contemporary.

“I give Jeremy a lot of credit,” Kane said Sunday, one day after interim GM Kyle Davidson fired Colliton over the Hawks’ 1-9-2 start.

“He went through a lot…[and] he did a really good job. He’s got a really bright future as a coach. He’s a very smart hockey mind.”

On the other hand, Colliton’s self-belief too frequently crossed the threshold into stubbornness without reason — or, worse, outright inflexibility.

He stood proudly behind his hybrid defensive system, even though his defensemen never fully caught on and his teams constantly bled scoring chances. His open-communication coaching style applied only to players he liked, some to a ridiculous degree (i.e. David Kampf), and didn’t apply to players he disliked (i.e. Dylan Strome).

Despite his supposedly analytical approach to hockey — and definitely analytical personality — he often didn’t make decisions that aligned with what the data suggested.

And especially in the waning weeks of his coaching tenure, when absolutely nothing was going well, Colliton nonetheless refused to change anything he’d instituted, be it illogical lines or monotonous talking points or his much-discussed system. Even as the ship sunk, Colliton chose to imagine it sailing smoothly into harbor rather than try anything possible to patch the holes.

That mindset wasn’t out of character for Colliton. It reflected the same persistence, unflappable resolve and certainty in imminent success that initially earned him the Hawks’ head coaching job.

But in the end, it also lost it for him.

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