Period 1

Defense optional...Hawks up a goal.

Often heard whilst enjoying a Chèvre Chaud.
- John Jaeckel

Or a Chien Chaud at the Big O.

Cooold beer.....biere froide!

I really don't get why so many people always feel the need for these "gotcha" moments on here, trying to one-up you or anyone else who provides us with rumors. Don't let the haters get you down JJ, I appreciate all the work you do. Negotiations are fluid and ongoing, an rarely are the finished deals exactly what they started out as (I.E. asking about Tatar and settling for Jurco). All I do know is that your rumors make the TDL my favorite time of year! Whether or not they materialize, I enjoy the ride
- Hawksandhabs11

I don't get it either and it's really annoying. Did the Hawks "seriously" want Hanzal? It sure seems like it. Were they "serious" contenders to get him today? If I'm at an auction and I bid $200,000 on something that gets sold for $250,000, am I a serious bidder? Well, I sure think so.

I recall a few scoops JJ reported first. I don't remember anything that JJ said was not going to happen, actually happening. He'll say, "the talks have stopped,... for now." But when he says, "The Hawks aren't interested in X," they aren't.

In trying to figure out the lay of the land in an uncertain world, that's super valuable intelligence.

It's a great blog, JJ, you do a really great job. I appreciate it every single day.

Is that Jake Allen's normal mask or a temporary one? Looks very plain to me.
- bigcube75

The graphics are very subtle. They're ingrained in the paint job. When light hits it the Blues logo appears.

Period 1

Defense optional...Hawks up a goal.
- ArlingtonRob

Looked like the StL goal went five hole? Darling was otherwise very good in that period but that one seemed stoppable.

Who? Duchene? My info. was his having some term left appealed to the Hawks who were looking (at first anyway) to avoid a rental.
- John Jaeckel

Completely agree and perhaps I misconstrued your question "how so?" to onehundred's statement below.
Ladd and Vermette were his two biggest deals at deadline....and neither guy is a Duchene type deal.

Meaning Duchene is not that type of deal because he's not a rental and younger. Again maybe I read into wrong?

But then again, TVR has a bag of QuikKrete on one of his lower extremities.
- John Jaeckel

Yeah that wasn't one of TVRs better moments to say the least...

JJ,your doing a great job for all of us who follow the Hawks,keep it up.Its a lot of fun to hear what going on with the Hawks.I enjoy expressing my opinion with Hawk fans.Go Hawks go

57 is brutal.
- navybear33

Q seems to luv the guy. I'm just hoping he's gone in the expansion draft.

I watched the Kings / Ducks game yesterday - and although it was his first game back since his injury at the start of the season - Quick looked like... Quick. He was moving from post-to-post and making solid blocks and saves.

Perhaps he had some post-game complications that prompted LA to make the deal for Bishop?

I'm confused then because only about half the teams in the league have a single 225+ forward on it, much less two like the Wild did. How many team have two or more? The Wild obvs, but the Jets (Wheeler, Thorburn, Matthias) and Oilers (Lucic, Maroon) are the only two I can think of off-hand.

If you adjust your definition down to 220, then there's more, but I would think any forward over 215 is pretty big. I mean, the average size for forwards in the NHL has been between 198-200 the last three seasons.
- L_B_R

Sure 215 is big no doubt, to me, my opinion, the guys who really can/do have a big impact in a 7 game playoff series are guys who are unusually bigger and can skate and and are willing to throw their weight around, getting checked by someone who is 10-15 pounds heavier isn't as big a deal when getting checked by a player who's 30 to 40 pounds heavier.

I don't get it either and it's really annoying. Did the Hawks "seriously" want Hanzal? It sure seems like it. Were they "serious" contenders to get him today? If I'm at an auction and I bid $200,000 on something that gets sold for $250,000, am I a serious bidder? Well, I sure think so.

I recall a few scoops JJ reported first. I don't remember anything that JJ said was not going to happen, actually happening. He'll say, "the talks have stopped,... for now." But when he says, "The Hawks aren't interested in X," they aren't.

In trying to figure out the lay of the land in an uncertain world, that's super valuable intelligence.

It's a great blog, JJ, you do a really great job. I appreciate it every single day.
- matt_ahrens

Thanks Matt. I really appreciate it. Some people don't like what I do for their own "highly personal" reasons. You can't please everyone. I will own up when I'm wrong. And yes, sometimes I am. But I won't when I'm really not "wrong" per se, as in this instance.

Scott Burnside‏@ESPN_Burnside 5m
The Minnesota Wild, already the top team in the Western Conference, bolstered their Stanley Cup chances by... http://es.pn/2lVaMKw

The media has anointed the new darlings of the league......


- ILGolfer

Dude you are absolutely on fire this afternoon and tonight...first the Blues bus, the stripes quote and now this...well played sir!!!! God I miss John Candy he was fantastic...

57 is brutal.
- navybear33

32 is worse

JR starting to look a little Roger Daltreyish

Yeah that wasn't one of TVRs better moments to say the least...
- SimpleJack

All d-men make the odd brutal play now and then. All of them. I like TVR in the role he's in.

32 is worse
- etchtech

I think there's universal agreement on this.

But then again, TVR has a bag of QuikKrete on one of his lower extremities.
- John Jaeckel

Q's response to TVR lack of getting the puck out of the zone.......

We're going to continue to give up our fair share of chances as long as Hammer is out.

Hopefully we also continue to keep up the impressive speed and puck possession game we've been playing offensively.

TvR
- TommyHawk

Here's the thing don't try to stickhandle through three opposing players at your own blue line...WTF!!!!

Stan, Jim Nill on line 2 regarding Oduya...

I hope Stan adds on defense and if you get Boyle great.

Looked like the StL goal went five hole? Darling was otherwise very good in that period but that one seemed stoppable.
- John Jaeckel

Darling has been terrific...it's everyone around him that concerns me.

Easy zone entries and plenty of space=shooting gallery

All d-men make the odd brutal play now and then. All of them. I like TVR in the role he's in.
- John Jaeckel

Definitely he's a solid bottom pair defenseman. We probably asked him to do to much last season as a #4.

JR and Jones talking up Hanzal.

I just remember the 2014 WCF when the Kings big centers overwhelmed the Hawks. Adding Anisimov helped. And clearly it was why they went out and got Vermette in 2015.

Right now, the Hawks really could use a another centerman who can win draws, preferably a guy who can handle the rough going.

We're going to continue to give up our fair share of chances as long as Hammer is out.

Hopefully we also continue to keep up the impressive speed and puck possession game we've been playing offensively.
- SimpleJack

Oh yeah...there's that problem as well.

Definitely he's a solid bottom pair defenseman. We probably asked him to do to much last season as a #4.
- SimpleJack

Yup.