So I've really only read three pages of this, but so far no one's mentioned the one big concern we all had at the beginning: Craw may be settling back in as a mediocre goalie... His reaction time is slow and is rather passive when it comes to fighting through screens.

Saad is not the savior, but he has earned every right to be on this team and is NOT the problem. Hayes and Mayers really are dead weight though. I can't tell who is slower out there...

I also wonder if Sharp's injury might be preventing Stanbo from making a good trade... Naa that giving him too much credit...
- busmaster

I mentioned it today...The Ryan goal was on Crawford, poor rebound control on a shot that couldn't go to the other side of the net or directly out front....

That said was good in the opening period....or the game could have been over then.

Today's article.....Blackhawks give one away late but can learn from loss to Anaheim - FOX Chicago: http://bit.ly/ZWzogb

Unclear in my opinion, and truly doesn't matter until the second season.

I'd love to see these two go at it in a 7 game series. Which I believe the Hawks would win.
- nathanjf

So if you're Stan Bowman, would you bet your career on it? Why not render the point moot and go out and fill a couple of holes? Because I guarantee you the "underperformed in the playoffs" deflection/line will not wash this summer.

My future brother in law DID play beer pong with Seabs in Kelowna at some random curling event this summer. He said he was pretty good... maybe a little toooo good. ha.

Also, didn't he just get married in the summer or last summer? maybe marriage is driving him to drinks... I kid, I kid.

By all accounts I think Seabs is a pretty serious dude and is a vocal leader in the room... I would be surprised if he slipped down that path. But like JJ mentioned, it is a disease and can be uncontrollable.
- TyCamScore

Seabs came into camp out of shape, but a drinking problem is absolutely not the case.

True Grit made a point earlier that is being relatively ignored. It isn't as though this is the first physical team the Hawks have faced this year. Why now is one loss such glaring evidence that a paradigm shift need take place?

What would the tone be today had the Hawks held on to win 2-1 or 3-1(EN)? Another good win against another bigger more physical opponent?
- nathanjf

I see what you're saying. But when I look at the teams that play the Hawks physically, it;s always a struggle. The games that come to my mind are against the Blujackets. Granted, they're playing better but they're a team that the Hawks should be able to handle pretty easily (although anyone can be beaten on any night). Those games are always right down to the wire and I think it has to do with the Jackets physical game. Maybe they just kind of have the Hawks number like when the Sox play the Royals--always a struggle. Haha.

I mentioned it today...The Ryan goal was on Crawford, poor rebound control on a shot that couldn't go to the other side of the net or directly out front....

That said was good in the opening period....or the game could have been over then.

Today's article.....Blackhawks give one away late but can learn from loss to Anaheim - FOX Chicago: http://bit.ly/ZWzogb
- Al

Agreed and agreed and it's why I can't put it on Crawford. He gave up one badd-ish goal. Hawks should have won that game, especially because they were outplayed for long stretches and still had a lead. To me, it came down to who wanted it more at the end. We have our answer. The same team that wanted it more in the first period.

True Grit made a point earlier that is being relatively ignored. It isn't as though this is the first physical team the Hawks have faced this year. Why now is one loss such glaring evidence that a paradigm shift need take place?

What would the tone be today had the Hawks held on to win 2-1 or 3-1(EN)? Another good win against another bigger more physical opponent? Held off shaky start to control game late? Seriously.

Two bad plays = loss. Physical play was minimized early in the second.
- nathanjf

This is true. First game was a tie, this game we had a lead which would have been two goals if Kane knocked in that open net which he gets 99 times out of 100... And then Craw crapped the bed...

But I get what John's saying too... A little over the top with the doomsday stuff, but it is true that our best chance to compete in the playoffs is if we had some more talented and physical guys on the team.

I think this is a BIG part of the problem. With No Sharp and Hossa, the advantage that the Hawks have in being able to rotate 3 lines with not only the chance to score, but also be defensively responsible is gone. Very few teams can go 3 lines deep and 3 defensive pairings to match up, but that is all gone without Sharp and Hossa. Without them it becomes easier for the opposition to chase the matchup and shutdown Toews and/or Kanes line, with 3 full lines rolling it becomes advantage Hawks in at least one of the line matchups.
- TheTrob

....and a major advantage beside a more mobile defense is that the Hawks could normally go one line deeper....

When you double shift one player and sit another....That's bad enough, combined with missing two of the top four forwards....trouble.

Blackhawks give one away late but can learn from loss to Anaheim - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News http://bit.ly/ZWzogb

Agreed and agreed and it's why I can't put it on Crawford. He gave up one badd-ish goal. Hawks should have won that game, especially because they were outplayed for long stretches and still had a lead. To me, it came down to who wanted it more at the end. We have our answer. The same team that wanted it more in the first period.
- John Jaeckel

It's not a goalie loss, for more of the game and when it counted most the Ducks were a better team.

Mistakes cause most goals...Selanne goal came about by Saad misplay...

It happens but the Hawks need everyone on board to beat a team like the Ducks.

Blackhawks give one away late but can learn from loss to Anaheim - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News http://bit.ly/ZWzogb

For what it's worth, Ek in his latest has the Hawks in on Derek Roy and Johen Hecht. He describes Hecht as someone who can really help come playoff time.

How long will it take the "boardworks empire" here to make this lost as the key reasoning behind a hawk implosion in the post season? The idea the team isn't "built" for competition is, to me, ludicrous based on the strength all-around of a healthy line-up. Place the "concern" squarely where it really belongs and then start pointing fingers.

What I saw was opposition "speed killing" them, in the same manner they can inflict it.

Board Solution: Trade most of the line-up and replace them with slower physical forwards and slower bigger defenders and find a team to sucker out of their promising young goalie prospect.
Re-think the style that won up until yesterday and scrap it.

…and while at it make some non-realistic deadline trades for multi-year additions that bring more Cap crunch in the ensuing years…

Or you can take last night as a message (as I am sure the Hawk line-up will) to what else must be done, and how much deeper you must dig to win 16 post season matches.


…the only teams I truly expect to be wheeling and dealing are ones like Detroit, who have space and may be ready to do massive re-tools/addition and also have an abundance of Cap space and room for "growth."

So I bid you all day, have a good rant, but don't expect an overpayment of some addition who clearly not making-over the face of the Hawk line-up….


I like watching hard fought games were teams fight through adversity by finding ways to win, and I saw one yesterday. Unfortunately my team lost.
So boo-boo and move on.

The real wussies seem to be planted at keyboards, not on the ice.
- wiz1901

Who the hell said to move most of the line-up?! What crawled up your pants leg and started chewing on your ass?

Try to keep up with what almost everyone is saying. The 'Hawks need a couple - A COUPLE - more guys that can finish their checks, play the kill and win a draw.

EDIT: And you have a lot of balls calling others here wussies. Get off your effing high horse, it's getting really effing old!

I couldn't agree more with JJ blog today hes absolutely on point

That first period is a sign of things to come playoff time. They decided to weather the storm by sticking to the finesse game which is fine for a regular season game. Come playoffs if you dont respond to physicality then you get physically removed from the playoffs. Bring back Brouwer!!!

It's not a goalie loss, for more of the game and when it counted most the Ducks were a better team.

Mistakes cause most goals...Selanne goal came about by Saad misplay...

It happens but the Hawks need everyone on board to beat a team like the Ducks.

Blackhawks give one away late but can learn from loss to Anaheim - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News http://bit.ly/ZWzogb
- Al

And Vice Versa....

Who the hell said to move most of the line-up?! What crawled up your pants leg and started chewing on your ass?

Try to keep up with what almost everyone is saying. The 'Hawks need a couple - A COUPLE - more guys that can finish their checks, play the kill and win a draw.
- blackhawk24

Going to extremes is much more fun for some.

Dunno, I know lots of dudes who are in great—or pretty damn good— shape who still drink alcoholically. Hang out at a Crossfit gym or a forward post in the Middle East.

My experience was, everyone drinks that way until age 22. By age 30, those still drinking that way are probably drunks.
- John Jaeckel

Where was this sensible approach to drinking when you had Kane in the dog house and were providing reasons for him to be dealt?

You don't see the relationship between the two?

Here's my mantra today: go back and watch the Phoenix series. Or Game 1 vs. Vancouver in 2011. Repeat as necessary.

That is all.
- John Jaeckel

I agree that this team needs some more physicality going into the playoffs but do you really think the PHO series was decided bc of physical play? That series was decided bc Mike Smith played like Hasek in his prime. Nothing more. Nothing less.

People are constantly talking bout how the Hawks "under performed" in the playoffs or were "one and done" as if they were out played. They weren't. The best team did not win that series. They outshot the yotes 2.5 to 1 and out chanced them probably 4 to 1. Controlled the play from start to finish. Their goalie was great. Ours was not.

It won't matter if we play the Flyers of the 70s or the Oilers of the 80s, if any goalie we face these playoffs plays like Smith did last year, it won't matter what style that team plays.

How hard would it be for this team to play like the 2010 Hawks? I would think not hard. They are missing a couple of bangers upfront who can also play. And they can pretty much go get that. Not brain surgery and not hard. All good bro.'

And I agree, it ain't NHL '13. BUT . . . a creative GM and front office can get things done. But if you overvalue your team and each guy on it, you will not. You will be stuck with what you have, for better . . . or worse.

The good news is, what I am hearing is the Hawks KNOW the streak was what it was, some good hockey and some luck, and that they have some holes. And the guys they are looking at are PERFECT for what we're talking about.
- John Jaeckel

So I know you'll post a lot of the [possible] moves tomorrow. But before that and w/o regards to 'Hawks org players going the other way, who are your top few guys you think may come here? Also, you think a mandate to "make a deep playoff run" mantra came right from the chairman?

I agree that this team needs some more physicality going into the playoffs but do you really think the PHO series was decided bc of physical play? That series was decided bc Mike Smith played like Hasek in his prime. Nothing more. Nothing less.

People are constantly talking bout how the Hawks "under performed" in the playoffs or were "one and done" as if they were out played. They weren't. The best team did not win that series. They outshot the yotes 2.5 to 1 and out chanced them probably 4 to 1. Controlled the play from start to finish. Their goalie was great. Ours was not.

It won't matter if we play the Flyers of the 70s or the Oilers of the 80s, if any goalie we face these playoffs plays like Smith did last year, it won't matter what style that team plays.
- Bhawks35

I think if we faced the same team we would have enough to eak by them this time... (Rosival was arguably their best player next to OEL)

We need someone like this in the hawks room after a game like lastnight's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeWUDB14kQE

"Sure, but they are 0-1-1 versus their chief Western rivals, Anaheim.

And Anaheim, dare I say it, looks like the better team. Now that's not a guarantee that the Hawks lose a 7-game series to the Ducks. But it is a warning—they sure don't look like a lead pipe lock to do so either."

Try again, what's your point?
- John Jaeckel

In all fairness there is not a team that is a "lock" in either division.

Between Pittsburgh, Montreal and Boston any of those teams can win and Ottawa, NYR or Carolina can definitely pull off an upset.

Same thing in the west, Ducks/Hawks then Kings and STL, VAN and Daytoit are dangerous. Maybe not dominating but can steal a series.

Unless a blockbuster happens there aren't really any scenarios that turn the Hawks into overnight favourites. Kane, Toews and Hossa breaking games open will be the deciding metric either way.

They purge you Wiz ?



- philco28

when the y changed my seats from behind the net where they shoot twice to the section closets to the security room with a camera on me...truth.

I am not much of a drinker, but making grouper tacos, carne asada and quacamole tonight...

and since visit Hollywood daughter and hubbys and grandchild, and my wife planned my quick cremation w/o ceremonies after "falling out" from some farmered flame with other family friends, and I have been cut off from other particuticals....

just like to tell you JJ, im new here but have been reading your blogs for a bit now, great job on here, easily the best blogger on here

If David Clarkson in NJD is being shopped the Hawks need to be in on that and throw whatever prospects picks are necessary to get that done.

when the y changed my seats from behind the net where they shoot twice to the section closets to the security room with a camera on me...truth.

I am not much of a drinker, but making grouper tacos, carne asada and quacamole tonight...

and since visit Hollywood daughter and hubbys and grandchild, and my wife planned my quick cremation w/o ceremonies after "falling out" from some farmered flame with other family friends, and I have been cut off from other particuticals....
- wiz1901

What????

Translation please, somebody!

Where was this sensible approach to drinking when you had Kane in the dog house and were providing reasons for him to be dealt?
- AceRatbang

His drinking was, ummm, a little bit more documented than the player in question. There was some evidence (anecdotal, especially) that it was affecting his play.

Whatever, this gotcha stuff is pretty childish and uncalled for but whatever makes ya happy.

just like to tell you JJ, im new here but have been reading your blogs for a bit now, great job on here, easily the best blogger on here
- Hawkeyes

Thx and welcome, Eyes. Come on back and join the party.