John Jaeckel: 2 Down, 46 To Go

first

feels like 2010 , the way the lines are rolling

First?

First! Still need a center to win draws and play the pk! Move kruger to the third line and take shaw back to the wing where he can feelance more.

So glad to see Hossa showing no ill effects from the concussion.

Hawks will be tough if they stay healthy this year.

Watch out for Tarasenko tomorrow night. Blues added an all-star caliber (at least) forward with this kid.

Watch out for Tarasenko tomorrow night. Blues added an all-star caliber (at least) forward with this kid.
- John Jaeckel

That kid is going to be an absolute stud sooner rather than later. More reason to suspect that the Blues might end up on top this season.

Not sold on Shaw at 3rd line center. Move him to wing, Kruger to 3rd line C. Juggle the 3rd and 4th line wings a touch.

Maybe even move Shaw to take Carcillo's spot and drop Saad to 3rd line

Hawks looking real good so far.

Marian Hossa looks like a man on a mission. He is poised for a breakout year post-concussion.

Exactly JJ, 2 down and 46 to go....

I would have started Crawford for a few reasons last night, but Hawks were lucky it didn't matter. I didn't mention Rozsival and you are correct...really strong game and great passes on a few occasions.


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Ray Emery inspires zero confidence. Need to find an improved back up right away and a guy that can steal the job if Crawford poops the bed.

Kruger is a pretty fine player all around and even showed some punch yesterday.

We can pick apart the line-up, but will look really fussy, since they have come to play at a high level and are very quick in all phases.

I am "sold" on what I saw on the ice...from all.

Each and everyone was excellent even with mistakes, save for Emery who fought the puck all game.

Anyone can attempt to pick apart Bickell Shaw, Stalberg, Kruger, Hammer or any of the defenders, but the bottom line they are all paying fast, with fast reaction, sticks and passes.

I think the very fact that they can suit up 13 forwards who all can score, and move and still have Mayers in the wings speaks choruses.

I tire of the "we need a centre" who all the dumb fans can look at his scoring stats in the lineup.

Any one who doesn't see who very very good Kruger is, or how very good Bolland is not worth arguing with...

Oh, and if you watched the NBC broadcast with the Phoenix based announcer (pete & repeat...did the one guy say anything with out coming back 5 minutes later to say it again?) well, I thought their "breakdown" of what caused the goals on the hawks to be almost "fantasy-like" and not what was happening on the ice, and if fact most of the play calling was descriptively inaccuate.

Rozsival has always been a solid player, but I really thought how from the start he seemed to have a familarity with Hossa. I am not sure if they played as youngsters but that it is a good thing...

John Jaeckel: 2 Down, 46 To Go
- John Jaeckel

Good observations. There were several times I yelled at the TV for Kane to get his ass back in the defensive end when they are up 2 goals in the 3rd, but man he looks good on the offensive side of the ice.

Emery was brutal. Phoenix maybe deserved one of the goals they got (the Doan one). He wasn't even called on to really make any tough saves, yet every puck towards his net had a chance of going in, or being served up as a great second chance. Realistically it was probablly a 4-1 game.

Seabrook had an off game and Keith mixed some very good play with his ability to treat the puck like a grenade at times, as did Oduya. Hjarm was a beast, by far the best d-man on the ice. Leddy and Rosival had solid games for a 3rd pair.

Kruger and Shaw need to be switched. I like Shaws hustle, but let him learn the 3rd line center position with the 4th line. Kruger is showing he is ready to play the NOW.

Finally, in regards to Phoenix and Mike Smith, I think you saw closer to the real Smith last night than what you saw last year. Career wise he is an Average tender who is large and covers the bottom of the net and handles the puck well, but has always been a little suspect in other areas of his game.

I'm impressed so far with how they are rolling four lines. What I noticed were some subtle changes. For example, I'm noticing a little more dump and chase so far. I'm noticing the defense is a little more committed to taking away shooting/passing lanes. Obviously a helluva lot more movement on the Power Play (that gave me half a chub).

Emery was pretty bad last night. They NEED Crawford to have a good year. Also, Kruger still can't win a dam face-off. Saad looked to get better later in the game.

hey, two wins on the road is a good thing. Yeah there were some things to be concerned about, but when you look around the league, ( Vancouver, Detroit, the Rangers, Philly) you have to be happy with where the Hawks sit.

Emery looks awful. And when you throw in the fact that he was awful for most of the second half last year, you have to begin to worry if he's finished. He simply can't move that well. That's a bad thing. Doubt he lasts the year.

Brandon Bollig can join the Icehogs while we're at it. 5 min TOI and 7 PIM's. Thanks for playin.

Liked the Kruger's play a lot. Which is odd because he was sort of lackluster during his stint at Rockford. But the biggest surprises have to be Leddy and Hjalmarsson. They've been solid. Don't think you can trade either one of those two the way they're playing right now...

I'm impressed so far with how they are rolling four lines. What I noticed were some subtle changes. For example, I'm noticing a little more dump and chase so far. I'm noticing the defense is a little more committed to taking away shooting/passing lanes. Obviously a helluva lot more movement on the Power Play (that gave me half a chub).

Emery was pretty bad last night. They NEED Crawford to have a good year. Also, Kruger still can't win a dam face-off. Saad looked to get better later in the game.
- eburgio

I think Kruger got kicked out of more faceoffs than he took.

Liked the Kruger's play a lot. Which is odd because he was sort of lackluster during his stint at Rockford. But the biggest surprises have to be Leddy and Hjalmarsson. They've been solid. Don't think you can trade either one of those two the way they're playing right now...
- yahoodi

I really think they were told to not go overboard in Rockford. Avoid super-efforts that might cause injury.
They other thing is you get to be better when you pay with high level players, if you in fact are able to swim...and Kruger is an excellent swimmer.

Yeah...any talk of gutting the defense at thsi point is plain silly........

I think Kruger got kicked out of more faceoffs than he took.
- TheTrob

Yeah....that is why Q puts him out there as the "second f-off man when the faceoff is in the defensive zone"....because he is lousy at it.

Getting tossed means an aggressive attempt at winning the faceoff.

I would start a dump Kruger b/c he gets kicked out of the face-off circle campaign, as it won't fly with me.

LOL...I better stop now and go abck and read what you worte JJ, as I just jump in here first...

Kruger is a pretty fine player all aroudn and even showed some punch yesterday.

We can pick apart the line-up, but will look really fussy, since they have come to play at a high level and are very quick in all phases.

I am "sold" on what I saw on the ice...from all.

Each and everyone was excellent even with mistakes, save for Emery who fought the puck all game.

Anyone can attempt to pick apart Bickell Shaw, Stalberg, Kruger, Hammer or any of the defenders, but the bottom line they are all paying fast, with fast reaction, sticks and passes.

I think the very fact that they can suit up 13 forwards who all can score, and move and still have Mayers in the wings speaks choruses.

I tire of the "we need a centre" who all the dumb fans can look at his scoring stats in the lineup.

Any one who doesn't see who very very good Kruger is, or how very good Bolland is not worth arguing with...

Oh, and if you watched the NBC braodcast with the Phoenix based announcer (pete & repeat...did the one guy say anything with out coming back 5 minutes later to say it again?) well, I thought their "breakdown" of what caused the goals on the hawks to be almost "fantasy-like" and not what was happening on the ice, and if fact most of the play calling was descriptively inaccuate.
- wiz1901

Thank you, with all due respect to JJ and his opinion, many sheep will clamor on any negative idea presented here (even when presented objectively) and the echo chamber volume goes full retard. Then come the unrealistic trade ideas etc.... Hey I am all for "in a perfect world" trade ideas, but much of what people want is near impossible.

It is early, but there is much to be optimistic about Rosival and Brookbank huge upgrades over last year. The condensed schedule will force Q to play more guys than he otherwise would.

This thought came to mind after watching Hossa so far this season:

There is a negative to Hossa starting out this hot. Some fans will say that the hit Torres put on Hossa really didn't matter, since he is playing so well. Why punish a player/team for no reason? I am thinking that the hot start is going to minimize the hit to some folks (and maybe Bettman/Shannahan/the suits in the NHL offices). If Hossa was to have started the season out (or not playing well) the hit would still be talked about.

Could this be an issue moving forward?

Yeah....that is why Q puts him out there as the "second f-off man when the faceoff is in the defensive zone"....because he is lousy at it.

Getting tossed means an aggressive attempt at winning the faceoff.

I would start a dump Kruger b/c he gets kicked out of the face-off circle campaign, as it won't fly with me.

LOL...I better stop now and go abck and read what you worte JJ, as I just jump in here first...
- wiz1901

Wiz, it was a joke.

This thought came to mind after watching Hossa so far this season:

There is a negative to Hossa starting out this hot. Some fans will say that the hit Torres put on Hossa really didn't matter, since he is playing so well. Why punish a player/team for no reason? I am thinking that the hot start is going to minimize the hit to some folks (and maybe Bettman/Shannahan/the suits in the NHL offices). If Hossa was to have started the season out (or not playing well) the hit would still be talked about.

Could this be an issue moving forward?
- powerenforcer

No way in hell that happens. If the season had started on time, Hossa would've been on the shelf for at least a month. No way!!!

Kruger is a pretty fine player all around and even showed some punch yesterday.

We can pick apart the line-up, but will look really fussy, since they have come to play at a high level and are very quick in all phases.

I am "sold" on what I saw on the ice...from all.

Each and everyone was excellent even with mistakes, save for Emery who fought the puck all game.

Anyone can attempt to pick apart Bickell Shaw, Stalberg, Kruger, Hammer or any of the defenders, but the bottom line they are all paying fast, with fast reaction, sticks and passes.

I think the very fact that they can suit up 13 forwards who all can score, and move and still have Mayers in the wings speaks choruses.

I tire of the "we need a centre" who all the dumb fans can look at his scoring stats in the lineup.

Any one who doesn't see who very very good Kruger is, or how very good Bolland is not worth arguing with...

Oh, and if you watched the NBC broadcast with the Phoenix based announcer (pete & repeat...did the one guy say anything with out coming back 5 minutes later to say it again?) well, I thought their "breakdown" of what caused the goals on the hawks to be almost "fantasy-like" and not what was happening on the ice, and if fact most of the play calling was descriptively inaccuate.

Rozsival has always been a solid player, but I really thought how from the start he seemed to have a familarity with Hossa. I am not sure if they played as youngsters but that it is a good thing...
- wiz1901

The issue at center has little to do with Kruger or Bolland...

The question is whether Shaw is a NHL 3rd line center. That line has been good for the most part but it has been Stalberg and Bickell along the walls and scoring. Shaw is decent winger and the jury is still out for me at center.

If Shaw fails and Pirri doesn't get a get out of Rockford card, the Hawks could be still short a true center.


As far as last night, Crawford should have started, Emery looked like he was on a beach for 9 months.

Chicago Blackhawks follow the same script, continue to roll - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News http://bit.ly/V1JkTX

Kruger is a pretty fine player all around and even showed some punch yesterday.

We can pick apart the line-up, but will look really fussy, since they have come to play at a high level and are very quick in all phases.

I am "sold" on what I saw on the ice...from all.

Each and everyone was excellent even with mistakes, save for Emery who fought the puck all game.

Anyone can attempt to pick apart Bickell Shaw, Stalberg, Kruger, Hammer or any of the defenders, but the bottom line they are all paying fast, with fast reaction, sticks and passes.

I think the very fact that they can suit up 13 forwards who all can score, and move and still have Mayers in the wings speaks choruses.

I tire of the "we need a centre" who all the dumb fans can look at his scoring stats in the lineup.

Any one who doesn't see who very very good Kruger is, or how very good Bolland is not worth arguing with...

Oh, and if you watched the NBC broadcast with the Phoenix based announcer (pete & repeat...did the one guy say anything with out coming back 5 minutes later to say it again?) well, I thought their "breakdown" of what caused the goals on the hawks to be almost "fantasy-like" and not what was happening on the ice, and if fact most of the play calling was descriptively inaccuate.

Rozsival has always been a solid player, but I really thought how from the start he seemed to have a familarity with Hossa. I am not sure if they played as youngsters but that it is a good thing...
- wiz1901

Rozsival has been a solid NHL defenceman for a long time. I think the fans in New York ran him out of town because he had a huge contract at the time and they were expecting Nik Lidstrom. He is a much better defenceman than countryman Pavel Kubina (and Sheldon Brookbank for that matter). He"ll earn the $2M Stanley signed him for if he stays healthy. Wouldn't be surprised if Hossa influenced his decision to sign with Chicago.