Follow me @jaeckel

Because I know what you guys really want first: a new rumor.

Take your eyes off Calgary for a moment, where the Hawks appear (at least) to have stepped back from the lead in the Jarome Iginla Sweepstakes, and look East, to Long Island, where a major deal could be brewing between the Hawks and the Islanders.

As I reported here, the Hawks have been scouting the Islanders and talking to them about "all-terrain" winger Matt Martin. Well, I am hearing this morning that the parameters of the deal have expanded. The Hawks maybe offering an "elite" prospect as part of a package that could include some combination of Martin, Mark Streit and/or Brad Boyes.

Without sharing the name of the top prospect, let me just say, it's a little bit of a surprise—and underscores what I heard in conjunction with this. The Hawks want to get their now three years anemic power play fixed—hence Streit and Boyes.

Evidently, the Hawks are serious about making some improvements. But the proof is in the doing. Talk is cheap.

Which leads me to the Hawks' latest third period collapse—against a big physical team they could likely see in the playoffs.

Let's not forget, the Hawks are without arguably their best two-way forward, Marian Hossa, and another top guy in Patrick Sharp. But offense wasn't the problem last night. Getting the puck out of their own end and keeping it out of their net was.

For some reason, Johnny Oduya and Corey Crawford both decided to climb into the way back machine before the game and dialed it back to last April—so they could relive their personal infamies of the Phoenix series. Mission accomplished.

Andrew Shaw probably shouldn't have been playing due to flu symptoms.

Bad game, given away in the third—yet again.

To me, this game leaves some bad psychological juju. But, hey, here come the Flames and their 12-14-4 record.

Expect to see Ray Emery between the pipes tonight—and if he plays well, maybe more regularly moving forward.

Game time: 7:30 Central/6:30 Mountain
Sportsnet West/CSN Chicago/WGN Radio

Obviously, the way the Hawks are playing, nothing can be taken for granted, and all should remember the 45+ shots the Flames put on Emery in a tour de force goalie performance earlier this year.

Speaking of the Flames . . . Iginla . . . what I am now hearing from really all my sources is the Hawks would only consummate this deal if they could arrive at a reasonably affordable extension for Iginla. While I would not rule anything out completely, this to me is code for: "we're bowing out."

But we'll see. In the meantime, watch the Isle, perhaps Toronto and Florida.

Stan Bowman is under the gun here. The bloom has definitely come off the rose called "the streak." The Hawks weaknesses have been exposed: a softish team end to end and an anemic power play. The combined result is that teams have no fear of hitting the Hawks (especially their defensemen) and playing aggressively up to and including taking penalties.

All for now,


JJ

Join the Discussion: » 637 Comments » Post New Comment

» Thanks and Farewell

» Where do we go from here?

» Preds at Hawks Breakdown

» "All Teams Have Flaws"

» The Games You Should Win