JJ, I have been following you for some time and really enjoy reading your comments, evaluations, etc. as well as comments from others. Having followed the prospects camp, the subway series, and having seen Rockford a few times, my projections for some of the prospects in terms of how they might equate with current NHL (mostly Hawks) players are as follows:

Danault = Toews on the defensive side of the puck (faceoffs, pure tenacity... I love this guy’s heart) but more like Bolland with greater upside on the offensive side of the puck

McNeill = Backes at center if he can continue to improve as a center and improve his offense or he is a meaner version of Brouwer at wing

Saad = Ladd with just a good all around solid game but needs to play with higher-end skill players to be really effective

Bollig = Eager as a 4th liner

Beach = Eager as a 4th liner with potentially higher offensive upside but not as good a fighter (both were first rd picks)

Paradis = Burish with more size

I also like Morin a lot but am just not sure who he might compare to.
- FourOrr

Good points, but Saad doesn't possess 1/100th of Ladd's grit or the intangibles he brought.

WTF is Andrew Shaw's problem. I know "Its just the AHL" but he better get his head out of his ass and take it a little more seriously and stop getting suspended. Play time is over kid.

Personally . . . I'm going to differ with you on this one. When Buff (especially) and even Brouwer and Versteeg came up, this wasn't exactly an NHL powerhouse. There is a lot of established veteran talent on this club so that you can't plug a guy with talent but huge flaws in his game—like you could from 2004-2008 or so—and he will be tolerable.

That said, aside from Teravainen (and he's not guaranteed by any stretch), I don't think there is any prospect you can say is going to be a top line NHL player. Saad is big and he skates well and unlike the similar (in those regards) Jack Skille (for example) he seems to think the game well. But all the "scouts" in the fanbase proclaiming him a future first line player or HOF'er need to slow down and look around the league at other prospects like Huberdeau and Tarasenko and Yakupov and others who ooze talent and dominate all the time.

Where I will credit these guys is they seem to have hit on a lot (and more than most teams do) of draft picks with guys who appear to have an NHL future in some role or another. Some, like Danault and Saad and Shalunov, appear to have some intriguing upside especially where they were picked.
- John Jaeckel

Shalunov makes for a good shiny penny too, no? He basically shared the spotlight with Yakupov in the SSS. What were your thoughts on that series?

Shiny pennies Makarov, Kruger, Ludwig, Saad, Shalunov...

Shalunov makes for a good shiny penny too, no? He basically shared the spotlight with Yakupov in the SSS. What were your thoughts on that series?

Shiny pennies Makarov, Kruger, Ludwig, Saad, Shalunov...
- busmaster

I will be the first to admit I whiffed on Makarov, but his issues were between the ears, not from the neck down, where he could have been an NHL player.

Where your analogy falls down however is that no one has hyped any of the above as much as the organization and fans have hyped Saad.

Saad might end up being the best of those players.

But another argument could be made that Shalunov will be at least as good—and he has shown up better on the bigger stage to this point. Saad, also, had great linemates in last year's WJC's.

Shalunov's 2012 Subway Series >> Saad's 2012 WJC. Shalunov was a revelation, Saad was a bit of a disappointment.

In fact, it will be interesting to track those two as they are similar players, both drafted in the same year, both well below where their talent projected they would go due to perceived motivation issues.

Understand, again, i think Saad's going to be at least a good-ish NHL player. And maybe more. But I just find it laughable the way some in the fanbase drool over him like he's the next Gordie Howe when it really remains to be seen how good he will be. And there is at least reason to doubt he will ever be much more than a decent second line PF.

I am with you on Buff, Lucic and Ladd and glad you include Buff because I think people look at his weight or his regular season scoring totals and automatically assume he's lazy, when, in fact, he brings something rare on the ice, with and without the puck and is a leader and well-liked in the dressing room.
- John Jaeckel

We'll see on the prospects. I don't 100% disagree, but I am very cautious to get excited about lower round picks materializing into anything of value for the Hawks long term. Remember, everyone was ready to annoit Ben Smith Jesus H Christ, but then he got a concussion...and.....never heard from him all of last year. So everyone ready to annoint Andrew Shaw the same....lets wait and see. It's funny what a mindset of a player who is guaranteed a spot vs having to earn his way into the lineup every night.

I'll also add that I breezed through the latest crap from Eklund, and it's typical crap at a wall. No, a 12/15 isn't not being driven by potential lost X-mas sales. My god...I enjoy your work JJ, but this whole BS "excitement" meter updates are just that.

IF Dreger or McKenzie can't get this information, no way hell in a hell a guy who won't reveal himself can....

Since the NHL took away Johnny Toews from me, I'm very excited as an alumunus to watch my beloved Huskies potentially cause chaos in the BCS this weekend. Best football program in the state. Period.

We'll see on the prospects. I don't 100% disagree, but I am very cautious to get excited about lower round picks materializing into anything of value for the Hawks long term. Remember, everyone was ready to annoit Ben Smith Jesus H Christ, but then he got a concussion...and.....never heard from him all of last year. So everyone ready to annoint Andrew Shaw the same....lets wait and see. It's funny what a mindset of a player who is guaranteed a spot vs having to earn his way into the lineup every night.

I'll also add that I breezed through the latest crap from Eklund, and it's typical crap at a wall. No, a 12/15 isn't not being driven by potential lost X-mas sales. My god...I enjoy your work JJ, but this whole BS "excitement" meter updates are just that.

IF Dreger or McKenzie can't get this information, no way hell in a hell a guy who won't reveal himself can....

Since the NHL took away Johnny Toews from me, I'm very excited as an alumunus to watch my beloved Huskies potentially cause chaos in the BCS this weekend. Best football program in the state. Period.
- SteveRain

I gotta stop drinking at work...my god. That's a red pen highlight reel....

WTF is Andrew Shaw's problem. I know "Its just the AHL" but he better get his head out of his ass and take it a little more seriously and stop getting suspended. Play time is over kid.
- mrpaulish

His rep and not this particular hit cost him a game IMHO.

His rep and not this particular hit cost him a game IMHO.
- philco28

He needs to cool it , don't need a negative Carcillo type of Reputation for this young guy who can be an effective player.

SPeaking of that is Hossa and Carcillo getting any healthier ?? Carcillo has played in 2 exhibition games right ?

His rep and not this particular hit cost him a game IMHO.
- philco28

That's what iis scary. It wasn't a bad hit at all. If he already has a bad rep with the league that will not be good at all. He just started his career. I read that he went crazy on the bench after that hit. Smashed a chair, maybe.

He needs to cool it , don't need a negative Carcillo type of Reputation for this young guy who can be an effective player.

SPeaking of that is Hossa and Carcillo getting any healthier ?? Carcillo has played in 2 exhibition games right ?
- mrpaulish

I don't think Carcillo has been medically cleared. He probably doesn't want to be cuz then he loses his paycheck. Players like Hossa and Carcillo on IR still get paid during this lockout!

I don't think Carcillo has been medically cleared. He probably doesn't want to be cuz then he loses his paycheck. Players like Hossa and Carcillo on IR still get paid during this lockout!
- bogiedoc

He'd be medically cleared or they wouldn't insure him for those charity games. Which does bring up a good point though - at what point does a player "come off the IR"?

I'm not sure, other than the Taylor Hall situation, would a player and the team doctor come to the conclusion that a their cleared for NHL action. I am assuming if the Carcillo's and Hossa's of the league hit the IR before this strike they lucked out and will remain there until a decision is made on the season.

JJ, Al - are you guys privy to the inner workings of that process during this deadline?

He needs to cool it , don't need a negative Carcillo type of Reputation for this young guy who can be an effective player.

SPeaking of that is Hossa and Carcillo getting any healthier ?? Carcillo has played in 2 exhibition games right ?
- mrpaulish

I thought the Mike Smith episode was COMPLETE HORSE SH*T TOO...Shaw'sy plays the game hard and fair. He's getting blackballed and it's %*#@$

That's what iis scary. It wasn't a bad hit at all. If he already has a bad rep with the league that will not be good at all. He just started his career. I read that he went crazy on the bench after that hit. Smashed a chair, maybe.
- tomcat24

Don't blame him. He defends a teammate and gets banned for 10...though he was over the line (just a tad) in that instance...now this. He just has to find 'the balance' between being flagged for borderline stuff and playing his style of hard-nosed hockey. I wish we could clone his heart. Shaw is a KEEPER.

At the Mississauga junior game and on the big screen they showed a fan holding up a sign that got the loudest ovation of the season.

It read "R.I.P. N.H.L."

Don't blame him. He defends a teammate and gets banned for 10...though he was over the line (just a tad) in that instance...now this. He just has to find 'the balance' between being flagged for borderline stuff and playing his style of hard-nosed hockey. I wish we could clone his heart. Shaw is a KEEPER.
- philco28

I agree about Mike Smith. What a joke that was. Not even penalty worthy let alone 3 game suspension. The hit the other day wasn't bad. Other things went on later that got him suspendded. I lked how he stood up for a teaammate, but leaving the bench is pretty severe. I don't think a lot of it is fair but it is what it is. Hope he doesn't get a cooke-type rap. Shaw can be an important player moving forward

Understand, again, i think Saad's going to be at least a good-ish NHL player. And maybe more. But I just find it laughable the way some in the fanbase drool over him like he's the next Gordie Howe when it really remains to be seen how good he will be. And there is at least reason to doubt he will ever be much more than a decent second line PF.

I am with you on Buff, Lucic and Ladd and glad you include Buff because I think people look at his weight or his regular season scoring totals and automatically assume he's lazy, when, in fact, he brings something rare on the ice, with and without the puck and is a leader and well-liked in the dressing room.
- John Jaeckel

I think the reason for all the Saad hype starts with Hawks management and look no further than Stan Bowman. He was standing right behind me at prospects camp raving about Saad to one of his friends. I think Stan despeately would like to hit the jackpot with one of his draft choices and he is hitching his wagon to Saad. I think he may be a good player but it's way to early for fans to say he will be an elite player. The kid needs time just like any other prospect does.

I think the reason for all the Saad hype starts with Hawks management and look no further than Stan Bowman. He was standing right behind me at prospects camp raving about Saad to one of his friends. I think Stan despeately would like to hit the jackpot with one of his draft choices and he is hitching his wagon to Saad. I think he may be a good player but it's way to early for fans to say he will be an elite player. The kid needs time just like any other prospect does.
- jhawk159

Nailed it.

Had no problemo with it...shoulder on shoulder...and next time Sterling will keep his head up.
- philco28

It was pretty late. It's a penalty.