John Jaeckel: 2014-15 What Ifs
- John Jaeckel

Would a diminished Hossa be a blessing in disguise? He's going to decline at some point, and whenever that is will determine how severe a cap hit the team is going to take for the foreseeable future. If he goes down sooner rather than later, and subsequently retires, is it easier to deal with? Or would they rather eat the higher recapture and have several more years of good Hossa and try to bring along a replacement? I can't decide which scenario is better (assuming the team can still contend if he's not as good this year as last).

It is a given that he is going to be a key element of the team/powerplay????

I think you have the words given & slight possibility mixed up.....
- carcus

No...I chose my words correctly.

What IF...

the hawks find $ 750,000 for sign Paul Bissonnette,

only to stop the HockeyBuzz fans from worrying about toughness?
- wiz1901

What if no player is added for toughness? Instead the Labrie and Mashinter type get in select games? Is that ok, is that going to mean our core players are not especially bruised and banged up throughout the season.

The point has been made about a tired, banged up team in the playoffs last season. So with no toughness regular skater added, is there increased odds that Jackman and Backes or someone on another team runs Toews or Seabrook a few more times? And then you have a concussed player entering the playoffs.


Wake up. Get insurance. Be tough enough.

I do not know that Labrie, Mashinter, Bass is the answer?
Good enough answer? What do you say, wiz and others?

On a side note, I agree with Rick's assertation that Johns is not ready......maybe not ready this entire season. He needs to be in Rockford.

And those who knock Rundblad.....other better options please. Is there room to add a veteran dman? No. Besides, add a veteran and is he slow and not fit well in a puck moving and or keep away system Chicago tends to use? Is there a better opportunity to grow and improve with Rundblad than see the slower Rosival victimized? Well that is debatable. Q tends to like veterans. Q is not this great all world coach; each of his decisions is not always correct.

Young dmen take time to develop. It has been noted on this board to use 350gp as a gauge. That is, NHL games. So as for Runblad, use him primarily on the pp and protect him with the under 20 or 15 TOI. Maybe, maybe he will develop into a better quality dman this season. If the experiment fails,then perhaps Cuminsky?

And about Clendening on PP. Does he run a PP? Did he shift to
LW on the pp last half of Rockford's season?

Late add: Dahlbeck becomes the sixth dman, and Rundblad is traded or released. Hard to imagine any GM surrender much if Rundblad is dealt again

What if no player is added for toughness? Instead the Labrie and Mashinter type get in select games? Is that ok, is that going to mean our core players are not especially bruised and banged up throughout the season.

The point has been made about a tired, banged up team in the playoffs last season. So with no toughness regular skater added, is there increased odds that Jackman and Backes or someone on another team runs Toews or Seabrook a few more times? And then you have a concussed player entering the playoffs.

Wake up. Get insurance. Be tough enough.

I do,not know that Labrie, Mashinter, Bass is the answer?
Good enough answer? What do,you say, wiz and others?

On a side note, I with Rick assertation that Johns is not ready......maybe not ready this entire season he needs to be in Rockford.

And those who,knock Rundblad.....other better options please. Is there room to add a veteran dman? No. Besides, add a veteran and is he slow and not fit well in a puck moving and or keep away system Chicago tends to use? Is ther a better opportunity to grow and improve with Rundblad than see the slower Rosival victimized? Well that is debatable. Q tends to like veterans. Q is not this great all world coach; each of his decisions is not always correct.

Young dmen take time to develop. It has been noted on this board to use 350gp as a gauge. That is, NHL games. So as for Runblad, use him primarily on the pp and protect him with the under 20 or 15 TOI. Maybe, maybe he will develop into a better quality dman thus season. If the experiment fails,then perhaps Cuminsky?

And about Clendening on PP. Does he run a PP? Did he shift to
LW on the pp last half of Rockford's season?
- jhawk59

They are probably as good as Bissonette...maybe not on Twitter but they are just as good on the ice.

Then again, to think that a guy that has barely sniffed the NHL is going to make an impact on the Hawks PP is really digging deep into someone's stash of some really potent leaves or flowers or what-have-you.

Does anyone really think Q is going to trust the point on the PP to Rundblad? I'm set for another season of shinpads and off-target whiffs by #2, another season of blasts into the goalie's chest by #10 or odd-man breaks created by an inability to keep the puck in at the point. And also set for another season of minimal time for PP unit 2 (presuming #8 is still around) with Leddy and Seabrook getting the call.

And of course, another season of the statue play call for 5 on 3's, reminding me of the 3 Stooges short "Rhythm and Weep" where Curly nailed his shoes to the roof preventing him from jumping off the building.

One can only hope Dineen runs the PP, is a 3 Stooges fan and has seen this short and seeks to prevent its ongoing 5-3 repeat.

- savvyone-1

Your love for Leddy is as irrational and encompassing as my hate for Sharp.

My only expectation for Runblad is this... I expect Runblad to be given a legit chance to make the team. From there, who knows.

I don't think Runblad has any inside track on a job. If he can't play they will send him packing to Rockford or elsewhere and eat the loss of the draft pick. The kid is playing for his NHL career this month, he better be prepared and ready to perform or the competition will leave him out in the cold.
- RickJ

Absolutely Correct!!!! totally agree

At McCarran, leaving Las Vegas.

Blackhawks, Bruims & Kings are co-favorites to win the 2015 Stanley Cup (8-1).

Stuff will happen during 82 games, probably both positive and negative. But overall, I like the hand the Blackhawks have drawn.

If a few of the Hawks' superstars have down years or injuries, they'll have the arduous task of needing their other superstars to play at their same superstar level. What a drag!

If a few of the Hawks' superstars have down years or injuries, they'll have the arduous task of needing their other superstars to play at their same superstar level. What a drag!
- jmatchett383

If a few of the Hawks' superstars have down years or injuries, they'll have the arduous task of needing their other superstars to play at their same superstar level. What a drag!
- jmatchett383

Boy it sucks to have so many superstars

Boy it sucks to have so many superstars

- Cup-Bearer

I'm sure it does. You guys are god damn spoiled.

I'm sure it does. You guys are god damn spoiled.
- jmatchett383

I dont think it takes an outsider to see that. But here we tend to forget.

For advanced stats aficionados only. Hammer tops the list.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...o-look-at-nhl-defencemen/

What if no player is added for toughness? Instead the Labrie and Mashinter type get in select games? Is that ok, is that going to mean our core players are not especially bruised and banged up throughout the season.

The point has been made about a tired, banged up team in the playoffs last season. So with no toughness regular skater added, is there increased odds that Jackman and Backes or someone on another team runs Toews or Seabrook a few more times? And then you have a concussed player entering the playoffs.


Wake up. Get insurance. Be tough enough.

I do not know that Labrie, Mashinter, Bass is the answer?
Good enough answer? What do you say, wiz and others?
- jhawk59

It's not a question is whether or not the "minor pro-punchers" will be enough...

It's a question of what fits under the cap, who's here now, and if there is any openings in the forward group or enough room to add a 14th forward once a deal is made to get under the cap.

As it stands, there are 13 forwards that are on with contracts that have to pass through waivers to be sent down. I can't see one of them that the team would sent to Rockford anyways. Unless one of those guys is traded, there isn't a spot there.

That leaves a 14th forward slot. If Bowman can't make enough cap room in a trade, it's possible that the Hawks start with a roster of 22. It may stay that way for long stretches. Which means they are carrying the 13 forwards they have now.

And those who knock Rundblad.....other better options please. Is there room to add a veteran dman? No. Besides, add a veteran and is he slow and not fit well in a puck moving and or keep away system Chicago tends to use? Is there a better opportunity to grow and improve with Rundblad than see the slower Rosival victimized? Well that is debatable. Q tends to like veterans. Q is not this great all world coach; each of his decisions is not always correct.

Young dmen take time to develop. It has been noted on this board to use 350gp as a gauge. That is, NHL games. So as for Runblad, use him primarily on the pp and protect him with the under 20 or 15 TOI. Maybe, maybe he will develop into a better quality dman this season. If the experiment fails,then perhaps Cuminsky?
- jhawk59

Maybe Rundblad works out? Maybe he doesn't? The point is the guy is definitely on the bubble now and what he does in training camp may ultimately decide what the organization does with him.

The point of young defenseman needing time to develop has been discussed to death. Yes, they need time to develop. However, you're dealing with a player who has exhausted his entry level time and is on a one way contract. So Rundblad is at a point where he has to show that he can be counted on (for the most part) right now, or he sits in the press box. He can not be sent to Rockford in fear of a waiver claim to work on his game. He's stuck in a place where there is not the time or space to develop a player on the big club. Especially when this team is a contender.

If this team was the Buffalo Sabers, that would be a different story. The only thing they're playing for this season is to be entertaining enough to draw attendance, but bad enough to land one of the first two picks in the draft. It's the perfect place for an over-aged development project to learn and make mistakes.

And about Clendening on PP. Does he run a PP? Did he shift to
LW on the pp last half of Rockford's season?
- jhawk59

Yes, he's capable of running a PP. No, he did not play LW on the PP.

Late add: Dahlbeck becomes the sixth dman, and Rundblad is traded or released. Hard to imagine any GM surrender much if Rundblad is dealt again
- jhawk59

I'd take a pick in return for Rundblad, if it comes down to that and there is a team willing to deal for him. It beats waiving him and letting him get claimed for nothing.

What if no player is added for toughness? Instead the Labrie and Mashinter type get in select games? Is that ok, is that going to mean our core players are not especially bruised and banged up throughout the season.

The point has been made about a tired, banged up team in the playoffs last season. So with no toughness regular skater added, is there increased odds that Jackman and Backes or someone on another team runs Toews or Seabrook a few more times? And then you have a concussed player entering the playoffs.


Wake up. Get insurance. Be tough enough.

I do not know that Labrie, Mashinter, Bass is the answer?
Good enough answer? What do you say, wiz and others?

On a side note, I agree with Rick's assertation that Johns is not ready......maybe not ready this entire season. He needs to be in Rockford.

And those who knock Rundblad.....other better options please. Is there room to add a veteran dman? No. Besides, add a veteran and is he slow and not fit well in a puck moving and or keep away system Chicago tends to use? Is there a better opportunity to grow and improve with Rundblad than see the slower Rosival victimized? Well that is debatable. Q tends to like veterans. Q is not this great all world coach; each of his decisions is not always correct.

Young dmen take time to develop. It has been noted on this board to use 350gp as a gauge. That is, NHL games. So as for Runblad, use him primarily on the pp and protect him with the under 20 or 15 TOI. Maybe, maybe he will develop into a better quality dman this season. If the experiment fails,then perhaps Cuminsky?

And about Clendening on PP. Does he run a PP? Did he shift to
LW on the pp last half of Rockford's season?

Late add: Dahlbeck becomes the sixth dman, and Rundblad is traded or released. Hard to imagine any GM surrender much if Rundblad is dealt again
- jhawk59

So let me get this straight. You want to add a player who is bad at hockey and good at punching in order to deter would-be illegal hits on star players. Is that right?

If a guy can hit you, he's going to hit you. If he wants to hit you illegally, he knows he's going to hit you illegally, and no John Scott, Dan Carcillo, Paul Bisonnete or Joey Kocur is going to stop him before the fact. All you're doing is putting bad hockey players on the ice in place of good hockey players.

This whole notion of "he's going to think twice about running a guy because Mashinter is there" is garbage. Guys will do what they do, and they don't care if they get jumped (they actually like when you balance out their dumb penalties with your own), and if you get out of position chasing after them for the rest of the game with bad hockey players, then he's done even more damage.

Toughness is a guy playing hurt or going 5 periods into a playoff game. It's about taking hits and getting back up and playing the same way, getting in the way of a Shea Weber clapper, or making a good strong pass, even when you know you're gonna get blown up. It is NOT about "sending messages."

So let me get this straight. You want to add a player who is bad at hockey and good at punching in order to deter would-be illegal hits on star players. Is that right?

If a guy can hit you, he's going to hit you. If he wants to hit you illegally, he knows he's going to hit you illegally, and no John Scott, Dan Carcillo, Paul Bisonnete or Joey Kocur is going to stop him before the fact. All you're doing is putting bad hockey players on the ice in place of good hockey players.

This whole notion of "he's going to think twice about running a guy because Mashinter is there" is garbage. Guys will do what they do, and they don't care if they get jumped (they actually like when you balance out their dumb penalties with your own), and if you get out of position chasing after them for the rest of the game with bad hockey players, then he's done even more damage.

Toughness is a guy playing hurt or going 5 periods into a playoff game. It's about taking hits and getting back up and playing the same way, getting in the way of a Shea Weber clapper, or making a good strong pass, even when you know you're gonna get blown up. It is NOT about "sending messages."
- Sandus

Converting on PP's when the opposing team takes a penalty would help deter some of the bone-headed thug shenanigans that happen on the ice.

Also, players like Bickell and Shaw need to return some of rough play that the Backes's and Lucic's of the League put on Toews, Kane, and ______. It doesn't have to be a fight or a stupid penalty, but the hits need to be returned tit for tat - either on the opposing team's skill guys or the Backes and Lucic types themselves.

Thanks JJ. I needed a good laugh today.
- carcus

Guess you missed the whole "what if" theme of the blog. Obviously, a few of the "what ifs" were long shots.

What IF...

the hawks find $ 750,000 for sign Paul Bissonnette,

only to stop the HockeyBuzz fans from worrying about toughness?
- wiz1901

They need a player who can fight not a fighter who can tweet.

What if?

The Hawks did not get ALL the bounces in the first 2 rounds last year? Would we still be talking about the one bounce away from the Cup finals?

All the talk about Rundblad or anyone else for that matter, helping the power play assumes that Q will replace Keith on it. NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. The blackhawks PP will run thru Kane on the half wall until he is done playing in Chicago.

Sorry OT but this is amazing....

What if the NFL didn't really see the full lRay Rice attack video 5 months ago? Yes. 5 months ago.

What if Roger Goodell's own words are used against him to send him packing?

"I have stated on numerous occasions that owners, management personnel, and coaches must be held to a higher standard. We discussed this during our meeting, and you expressed your support for that view"

Just another hypocrite?

John Jaeckel: 2014-15 What Ifs
- John Jaeckel

Great blog, but your " what ifs " are cured by great coaching....

What if?

The Hawks did not get ALL the bounces in the first 2 rounds last year? Would we still be talking about the one bounce away from the Cup finals?

All the talk about Rundblad or anyone else for that matter, helping the power play assumes that Q will replace Keith on it. NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. The blackhawks PP will run thru Kane on the half wall until he is done playing in Chicago.
- TrueGrit

What if Dineen is able to run his own PP scheme and Q stays out of it? Perhaps that improves the whole thing?

What if?

The Hawks did not get ALL the bounces in the first 2 rounds last year? Would we still be talking about the one bounce away from the Cup finals?

All the talk about Rundblad or anyone else for that matter, helping the power play assumes that Q will replace Keith on it. NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. The blackhawks PP will run thru Kane on the half wall until he is done playing in Chicago.
- TrueGrit

NO team gets all of the bounces, all of the calls - not in a series, not in a game.

The team that PLAYS better (not IS better) wins almost every series, and the team that is playing better SEEMS to get all of the bounces - because they're in better position to take advantage of them.

Chicago beat St. Louis 4 straight - that's not bounces.

They played better (if only marginally) than Minny, and were in position to take advantage of a bad bounce off the glass in game 6 OT.

NO team gets all of the bounces, all of the calls - not in a series, not in a game.

The team that PLAYS better (not IS better) wins almost every series, and the team that is playing better SEEMS to get all of the bounces - because they're in better position to take advantage of them.

Chicago beat St. Louis 4 straight - that's not bounces.

They played better (if only marginally) than Minny, and were in position to take advantage of a bad bounce off the glass in game 6 OT.
- StLBravesFan

As I have and some of my friends have said for a long time, you create your own luck, your own chances, your own bounces and your own calls. It isn't always true in every second but it is almost always true over the course of a series.

Sorry OT but this is amazing....

What if the NFL didn't really see the full lRay Rice attack video 5 months ago? Yes. 5 months ago.

What if Roger Goodell's own words are used against him to send him packing?

"I have stated on numerous occasions that owners, management personnel, and coaches must be held to a higher standard. We discussed this during our meeting, and you expressed your support for that view"

Just another hypocrite?
- stljam

Not "just another hypocrite" - A $40MM hypocrite.

Now an anonymous law enforcement official told AP that he sent the video to an NFL executive months ago - and apparently has recorded confirmation that someone in the league office received and viewed it.

The questions, to me, are:

Why would anyone in the league office bend over backwards to save the career of Ray Rice?

And - forget the elevator video - everyone saw the video of Rice dragging (not carrying) the woman out of the elevator - how did they think she got that way?