John Jaeckel: A Dose Of Reality (And Luck)

1st...Thanks for the verbage JJ
We still havent lost in regulation though, cmon, lets stay positive!
Go Hawks!

The holes are still the same...... Bad PP. Really bad PP. 4 on 3 in OT and you cant get a goal ? Dammmit.

Still a nice run to be on with this crazy schedule and from what Ive seen the playoffs will ne wode open as well every team has holes. Thats why the Hawks better figure out the power play

The problem is while the Hawks are in first overall few want to look at the weaker aspects of the Hawks game even though those aspects are evident as they will be glaringly so when, not if, when, the Hawks pile a few losses together. Waiting for a losing streak or the trade deadline isn't the time to make adjustments because you tend to overpay. Look at the roster now, identify the gaps and address them.

My take on the "legality" of Saad's goal: the net, although lifted off the ice, was still "attached" to the ice thru the posts when the puck crossed the line.

Some say Saad earned the chance. Well, if it's really about 'earning' the chance, what about, oh, Kruger, who was AMAZING on the penalty kill last night (yet again), and, like I and others have noticed in the past, has at least a little electricity in his hands?


I hope this isn't the way Q determines who shoots after Toews and Kane like it's some kind of reward for playing well. There has to be someone else on the roster Q could use as the third shooter that can put a move on a goalie.

Chalk up last night to the once again hard-headedness of Q.

There hasn't been a lot to complain about this year with Q's mix-o-rama of lines (typically leading to at least 1 too-many-men penalties).

But I do have several bones to pick with the guy about last night (and more so, the direction he seems to be going).

1. Why do Leddy and Rozsival get only about 12 min TOI in an OT game?
2. Why do you continue to piss us off with Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith on the points of PP unit 1?
3. When is someone, anyone of the coaches going to instruct #2 and #7 to move the puck up quickly out of the D zone, ESPECIALLY on a PP?
4. WTF are you doing putting 4 forwards that ALL want the puck on their blade in the OT?
5. When are you going to realize that they call Oduya the PIZZA MAN for good reason? He looked weakest of all the defenders out there and served up another puck on the 2nd goal by REVERSING THE PLAY.

I am mostly pissed off this morning. And mostly pissed off about the return of the horrific PP strategy. Unit 2 should be Unit 1 -- at least with Leddy at 1 point, they've got a guy who has figured out HOW TO RUN THE PP! Hustle back to get the puck when it's dumped in your own zone and carry it up -- WITHOUT HESITATION or PASS IT accurately and quickly to a forward to make the zone entry clean. On the rare occasions when that hasn't happened, know enough to dump the puck into the zone in a way that allows your forwards to retrieve it and have a chance at setting up.

IMO, Q and Tampon are at fault for last night's giving away a win (1st in regulation), then in OT. When you do decide to put a D man on the ice on the PP in the OT, who do you put out there? Arguably the WORST guy we have who CANNOT make a decision to save his life, Duncan Keith. He's incapable of carrying the puck into the zone himself and never can decide exactly what to do with it. And then you've got his eyesight and timing problems to deal with as he just cannot get the puck on net.

I was pissed off last night and am still pissed off this morning just replaying the end of the game in my mind.

Much like last spring and summer, the critical focus remains on the peripheral. The biggest weakness the team has shown is the PP, where your top players, core players, players that were here in 2010 fail to produce. Hey I am not saying it is easy, but outside of general scheme, the guys on the ice have to figure stuff out. The one thing that many have pointed out is why Duncan Keith is out there?

My solution/adjustment would be this.

1. Get Leddy more time and add Rosival

2. More importantly, and I believe this is strategy wise, whether PP or even strength, I see our dman hesitate at the point moreso than other teams. If we can shift the phycology to blasting a way a bit up there, it will loosen things up down low.

3. You have to attack off the rush a little more on the PP. When PP get all organized and plod down, this is for all teams, it allows the defense to set up. The element of surprise again can help loosen things up.

Creative players do best with a little impromptu stuff, mix it in is all I am saying.

My take on the "legality" of Saad's goal: the net, although lifted off the ice, was still "attached" to the ice thru the posts when the puck crossed the line.
- StLBravesFan

Two things nobody talked about,

1st, the ref never whistled the play dead. The puck was loose the whole time.

2nd, the ref/replay officials can determine if the goal falling off played any role in goal going in. It is obvious that the momentum of the puck was still going in, even in slow motion. They never played a real time replay, with the whistle, which would likely have shown the puck over the line before the whistle blew...

Back to standing around on the PP I see. The only person who moves is Kane, and the other team is figuring out that if you dont draw out to Kane nothing opens up.

Perimeter passes, alllllll night long.

We had a 4 on 3 for what, a total of 3+ minutes last night?

The problem is while the Hawks are in first overall few want to look at the weaker aspects of the Hawks game even though those aspects are evident as they will be glaringly so when, not if, when, the Hawks pile a few losses together. Waiting for a losing streak or the trade deadline isn't the time to make adjustments because you tend to overpay. Look at the roster now, identify the gaps and address them.
- paulr

The Hawks do have weaknesses as do the rest of the teams in the league such as the power play, 2nd line center and lack of a power forward and with all that they still haven't lost in regulation yet. With the Hawks playing so well I'm sure Bowman will be reluctant as ever to make a deal. Can you imagine the outcry if he makes a deal while they are on a streak like this and then after the deal they start leveling off? Bowman was reluctant to make a deal when the Hawks desperately needed one last year after the 9 game losing streak so I just can't see him making one now.

Topic of Luck

Anyone who has been around sports knows that luck is always an element of the game. When it goes your way, you take it, when its not, you work to make it change.

Was it luck that allowed the Hawks to beat Preds in 2010 to even get a shot at a cup? You bet. It does not cheapen anything.

Was it luck last night that Seabrook tipped shot in his own goal, or that Cogliano made a double tip?

Lockout and all, the Hawks have been in every game this year. 13 games in, and had a chance to win them all. That is no small feat. Finding ways to win games you shouldn't . All these things can not be discredited or discounted. These are traits of a good team.

To all the Al Bundy's out there, this will never be your Polk High 2010 team. Just let it go.

Two things nobody talked about,

1st, the ref never whistled the play dead. The puck was loose the whole time.

2nd, the ref/replay officials can determine if the goal falling off played any role in goal going in. It is obvious that the momentum of the puck was still going in, even in slow motion. They never played a real time replay, with the whistle, which would likely have shown the puck over the line before the whistle blew...
- TrueGrit

Another thing is if the war room ruled it as a goal then there is zero doubt it was a goal. I have seen some of the video that the war room is privy too and the TV feeds don't have the angles, clarity or the ability to slow down and zoom in like they do.

Should just learn to wait for JJ's wrap. Feel like I'm writing a post twice.

Saad was the best player on the ice. Sorry Saad haters. But it's true.

Patrick Kane has some of the best hands in the league. He missed too. This argument that Hossa, 0 for 9 last year, is a better choice is futile. Shootouts are luck. Again, if you're arguing about who should be the THIRD shooter in a shootout, you're probably missing the reason they lost the game....

Here comes the mockery from JJ again but takeaways were 17-6 in favor of Anaheim. While this stat doesn't trump everything else, I'd say the fact that Anaheim was allowed to have the puck that much more than the Hawks, especially in the third when Joel ( way too often this year.) decided to "sit" on a shaky 2-1 lead.

Crawford made huge saves last night. Maybe his best game.

While there are trouble spots on the Hawks, And in no way should they be glossed over, take a look at what's goin on with "contenders" St. Louis and San Jose...... Those are problems. The hawks simply have some things that need fixing.

The Hawks do have weaknesses as do the rest of the teams in the league such as the power play, 2nd line center and lack of a power forward and with all that they still haven't lost in regulation yet. With the Hawks playing so well I'm sure Bowman will be reluctant as ever to make a deal. Can you imagine the outcry if he makes a deal while they are on a streak like this and then after the deal they start leveling off? Bowman was reluctant to make a deal when the Hawks desperately needed one last year after the 9 game losing streak so I just can't see him making one now.
- jhawk159

If Bowman is worried about outcries, he is in the wrong job. His job is to be proactive to put the right mixture together to try to win a cup, not to maintain an early season unbeaten streak.

John Jaeckel: A Dose Of Reality (And Luck)
- John Jaeckel

Good read. Thanks.

Topic of Luck

Anyone who has been around sports knows that luck is always an element of the game. When it goes your way, you take it, when its not, you work to make it change.

Was it luck that allowed the Hawks to beat Preds in 2010 to even get a shot at a cup? You bet. It does not cheapen anything.

Was it luck last night that Seabrook tipped shot in his own goal, or that Cogliano made a double tip?

Lockout and all, the Hawks have been in every game this year. 13 games in, and had a chance to win them all. That is no small feat. Finding ways to win games you shouldn't . All these things can not be discredited or discounted. These are traits of a good team.

To all the Al Bundy's out there, this will never be your Polk High 2010 team. Just let it go.
- TrueGrit

So instead of wanting to see the Hawks use 2010 as a benchmark to try to get the team to that level you're happy to have SB overlook the obvious short comings, cross his fingers and hope?

The problem is while the Hawks are in first overall few want to look at the weaker aspects of the Hawks game even though those aspects are evident as they will be glaringly so when, not if, when, the Hawks pile a few losses together. Waiting for a losing streak or the trade deadline isn't the time to make adjustments because you tend to overpay. Look at the roster now, identify the gaps and address them.
- paulr

NO team is trading good players now,period.

Don't know how anyone could have a problem with Saad getting a go in the shootout.

Absolutely nobody besides 88 &19 has proven to be competent or at all interested in the shoot out. Given the coin flip nature of the event, why not throw a skilled, complete unknown out there? A rookie shooter against a rookie goalie.

Not scoring with a ton of 4 on 3 time against a bad PK is way more troubling than Saad taking a shootout.

NO team is trading good players now,period.
- wiz1901

And you know this how????

Well written JJ & right on.
I was at the game last nightand boy were there alot of koolaid drinkers in the concourse. Rocky must have made a lot of $$ on black hawk koolaid !
Agree, yes the streak is nice , but as i have said before, teams will start rampin it up shortly! same crap as always, world class skaters, too cute at times, not enough "ASS" in the corners & in front of the nets for "Dirty" goals!
the power play is terrible " thank you kompon!" about another week they'll be singin " woa,woa woa, jamie"s cryin!" no front of the net presence! 4 God Darn minutes of PP in the end and ZIPPO!!
this summer you had guys like Marc Crawford out there who were stanley cup winning coaches before who I am sure wouldn't mind a break and would welcome just being an assistant ,there for the taking and Q comes up with THIS! he already has 1 stiff behind the bench, now he has 2!
On the positive side JJ, I hope the bells are finally ringing in Brian Bickell's head, another strong game by him! if this keeps up , i'm gonna have to get a Bickell 29 jersey! the kid has talent, i think his agent might have said something to him like , "hey kid, carcillo is coming back soon, he's GONNA play somewhere, also, i'm trying to get you some decent $$$ , so get your ASS IN GEAR!"
JJ , as far as the $$ part of the game, both 29 & 25 are up for renewel. if 29 can play all the time like he has been, he could be more useful then "the flyin walenda,25" out there, who only seems to score against the Jackets! SB ain't gonna keep both of them. with kids comin soon, I think right now Bowman is tryin to decide which one to sign or put out there as part of a trade package to get the "elusive #2 center." agree?? yes/no? right now I gotta say Bickell is makin a good case to stay with his Grit! you already have enough Peggy Flemings on the team , so i gotta think Stalberg may be the 1 who gets dangled out there.
also. CC ,"keep it up kid, Roberto , may just have to pick another city with high end pizza places to play in!"
Finally another good game by "the pizza man!" no freebies last night & I like the way that kid skates !!

NO team is trading good players now,period.
- wiz1901

Oh yea? Heard O'Reilly has a one way unlimited destination airfare ticket already printed

And you know this how????
- paulr

Not to speak for Wiz but I think teams probably aren't trading good players right now because most teams think they are in the playoff hunt so most would be buyers instead of sellers.

Oh yea? Heard O'Reilly has a one way unlimited destination airfare ticket already printed
- FourFeathers773

YEP & I hope it has "ORD,CHICAGO" on it!

It was a goal.