John Jaeckel: Happy Days

First !!!!!!!!!! Hawks seem like a focused group. Not sure they fall into this trap. Besides Stalberg is good for 2 goals tonight right ?

First! Let's go Hawks today!!!
...not first afterall.

Apology to Q lineup starts right here...step on up mophuckers

Nice overview.

And yes- big credit to the coaching staff so far. Reducing Keith's TOI, improving the special teams and less line juggling... all things the fanbase used to yell about have taken effect this season with good results.

Columbus has shown some fight in the one game of theirs I watched this season. Scrappy with nothing to lose. Hope it makes for a good game today.

John Jaeckel: Happy Days
- John Jaeckel

I will add that a byproduct of all this is that shots against are way down, including prime scoring chances, which they were giving up like nobody's business most of last year.

First! Let's go Hawks today!!!
...not first afterall.
- Studebakerhawk

John Jaeckel: Happy Days
- John Jaeckel

JJ you are vey good at this

Fantastic analysis and so right on the money

Too early for me to put them top 2 or 3 but happy we are talking this way

So many negative posts all summer about trading Hammer and Leddy

The best trade is often the trade you don't make

I hope they start Crawford tonight because if they start Emery it will provide the Jackets with added inspiration

The one thing I am impressed with this young season is the teams willingness to play 60 minute games. The last couple years the team would take periods off each game.

I was having fun trying to come up with ideas why the team is willing to play 60 minutes and this is what I came up with:

If they play 40 minutes a game for 82 games = 3280 mins played a season / player
If they play 60 minutes a game for 48 games = 2280 mins played a season / player

So they are actually playing less time for the same salary. Again, this is just a fun stat, not actual data.

I will add that a byproduct of all this is that shots against are way down, including prime scoring chances, which they were giving up like nobody's business most of last year.
- MartiniMan

Yep, I actually meant to mention that—and it mitigates the G issue. For now.

I think Dunc has been much improved over the last couple seasons, too. Breaking up more plays, using his stick better, better positionally. Sure the reduction in minutes has and will continue to help.

JJ you are vey good at this

Fantastic analysis and so right on the money

Too early for me to put them top 2 or 3 but happy we are talking this way

So many negative posts all summer about trading Hammer and Leddy

The best trade is often the trade you don't make

I hope they start Crawford tonight because if they start Emery it will provide the Jackets with added inspiration
- PEIHawkFan

Thx PEI

Great read but....Sundays not the home opener

Hammer really stood out against Dallas because you heard the Dallas announcer saying "Har-melsson" a LOT.

ahhh...they have their first dreaded trap gme. If we can see it...they and the coaches see it.

With a day in between games....I think they will wack this team that is going no where....suspect offensively and in goal. I don't see them taking the foot off the pedal.

Great read but....Sundays not the home opener
- waitforawhistle

Will fix, thanks. Sometimes when I'm writing these things a million thoughts are going through my head at once. Even if I say earlier in the blog 3 of their first 4 were on the road.

Great read but....Sundays not the home opener
- waitforawhistle

Thought this blog was focusing on what's going right?!

Tracey Myers is 'guessing' it will be Razor between the red pipes 2nite

Great read as always JJ...

Love the speed and the aggressive forecheck so far. KL really kept Dallas in that game the other night.

If the Hawks are winning because of better conditioning during the lockout so be it...other teams may or may not catch up and the big thing is these games count just as much as the ones in two months - so keep piling up the Ws. But they also look like they have a bit of a chip on their shoulder which is good to see.


The other thing has been Leddy and Hammer...they're both on their games. If we get Hammer back to the pre Sabres hit the other year - as in the hit we saw the other night in Phoenix I believe - great. Leddy is really coming on no question the kid was thrown in the deep end of the pool last season. Having him on the third pairing w/ Roszival and getting him PP time have certainly helped.

Trap game for sure - but I think w/ the condensed schedule its really a race and the Hawks as Q has pointed out know this is a 4 point swing against a division rival as well as tomorrow - they should go into the road trip at 6-0.

A power forward would still be nice and another goalie...

So does Emery get the start tonight? And how about a Hat Trick for Stalberg its his favorite team the Jackets?

Chris Kuc ‏@ChrisKuc
Corey Crawford is first #Blackhawks goaltender off the ice in morning skate so it appears he'll start vs. Blue Jackets.

Kaner refocused ?

http://www.chicagotribune...-20130126,0,3309906.story

Yep, I actually meant to mention that—and it mitigates the G issue. For now.
- John Jaeckel

Would you guys, or the Leaf's hurry up and get L8on8o so that he doesn't DESTROY what we got starting to evolve Edmonton? Thanks.

JJ,

Great summary of how things have gone so far and where the team has improved over last year. Right now its pretty difficult to find anything wrong with this team. What is really encouraging to me from what I have seen so far is the following:

1. Saad looks like he's the real deal. I like the way he never gives up on the puck and is responsible defensively. He has excellent vision on the ice and looks to have good skating and shooting skills. To be sure he still needs development but I cant imagine how beneficial it will ultimately be for him to experience playing alongside JT.

2. Kaner. Its still early, but it looks like he may have finally turned the corner in terms of maturity. Its almost like he's saying ("OK, we're done with all the silliness, its time for me to be a serious, elite player in this league"). And while offensively he has been fantastic, it's his commitment to back-checking that he's shown so far that I believe illustrates this as much as anything. Hopefully, this will be a trend that will continue throughout the season.

3. As you mention, Bolland on the 2nd line is really working out nicely. Part of this is the fact that somewhere between last year and the lockout he has found a way to win face-offs. There seems to be very good chemistry between him and Kaner.

4. Leddy. As you point out, he seems to have reached a new level. That end-end rush the other night was phenomenal - reminiscent of Paul Coffey. There aren't too many defensemen in the league that could do that.

5. Crawford. Yes he has had a few moments but overall he seems to be more solid, tracking the puck better and just appears to be more confident than he did last year. He's not an elite goalie but I'm not sure this team necessarily needs one to challenge for the Cup.

And as you pointed out in an earlier blog, the team is just skating circles around their opponents. Positional play has been excellent, and passing has been crisp.

So an excellent start which is key in a short season like this. Hopefully they will remain relatively healthy. Seven of their next 8 games are on the road. It's amazing to consider that the Hawks could almost surely guarantee themselves a playoff spot by as early as mid February by simply going .500 over the next 8 games (7 of which are on the road) considering the predominate # of home dates that will remain following this stretch. Very positive.

Chris Kuc ‏@ChrisKuc
Corey Crawford is first #Blackhawks goaltender off the ice in morning skate so it appears he'll start vs. Blue Jackets.
- philco28

Would it be reasonable to think Crow would start tomorrow as well? It's nice that tonight's game starts earlier (coverage would start 12pm here), so i'm not as backwards for staying up and watching the whole game this time

Chris Kuc ‏@ChrisKuc
Corey Crawford is first #Blackhawks goaltender off the ice in morning skate so it appears he'll start vs. Blue Jackets.
- philco28

I hope he is right because if not I will need to crack open a box of Cabernet to give me the strengh to watch him Flip and flop chasing pucks

Maybe I need to lighten up on Ray