John Jaeckel: Meditations On A Goof

First, really, four hours after post!

It's a chance for the players to let loose and have some fun before the final stretch before the real season begins. Hope the Hawks in attendance enjoy it and the ones at home are refreshed.

Didn't watch everything. But would agree that the players seemed to be enjoying themselves............Or the dive call will be much harder to call going forward due to some very good acting on the players part.

Also Voracek using Gaudreau as a prop after Johansen's shootout was hilarious.

Rasmussen re-called from Rockford: http://icehogs.com/news/icehogs/?article_id=4529

Rasmussen re-called from Rockford: http://icehogs.com/news/icehogs/?article_id=4529
- EKolb13

So what's your evaluation of him as a player?

+1 for Shakespeare reference in a hockey blog, JJ. After the surreal spectacle during intermission, where the Panthers' and Ducks' mascots flashed more expert charisma than Milbury and Jonesy, I was reminded of Midsummer Night's Dream. Would Milbury be game to don a huge donkey head mask coming back from break, flanked by his new goofy friends, and deliver the "Bottom's Dream" soliloquy? Columbus being a college town, I'm sure the fans would get the reference......

and if they don't - Tappen as a smoking-hot Titania!

Keep the skills competition and do away with the game. Ridiculous, the defensemen wouldn't even use their sticks to knock away cross ice passes. Not saying any one needs to put an opponent through the boards, but at least try a little. If they did, it could be a highly entertaining 6-5 game, rather than the BS that took place this afternoon.

On an up note, CC had the best game of any tender in the shooting gallery.

What was the final score ? Actually there are some out there that would actually like to see the game go that way, 20 goals a game & no contact! ...... So would I, if they lowered the tix to a fin a game, I guess it was good for the fella's to have some laughs over the weekend. ........... No on to the 2nd half of the season , " big boy/ refs put your whistles away" , type games, no more coasting, bring us some serious trade discussions JJ! I like the idea of Zach Kassian being picked up, if...... And don't scorch me till I say my piece, yes the kid needs a boot in the ass some times, but he has shown some flashes of nastiness with talent. I believe at 1.5, feasible to fit in, he hasn't had the right fit yet with Buff/Vanc. Because he isn't cut out to be "The man", and carry the load. He'd be a good bottom 9 player if you tell him just play and don't worry about the other crap, we have guys for that. The kid can also handle him self very well in a fight against the top heavy's if need be of the league. Where Bryan Bickell fits into this then is, let's face it, he is not cut out to ride shotgun , rather just let him be a big body , throw some checks, score some garbage goals and don't worry about fighting because obviously he ain't cut out for it, since the Jets game his checks other than a couple were of the pillow talk nature. He can then hide behind Shaw, Kassian, Carcillo and others. The next factor with getting the most out of Kassian is factoring in the coaching staff, Bowman has a knack for finding these type players with potential, bringing them in to work with our coaching staff and bringing out what other teams didn't do. Lastly where would you want to play ? In Chicago or Vancouver/ Buffalo? I think you know that answer men. Zack Kassian on a Quennville coached team ( the whole organization has good coaches, I am impressed with the Rockford kids also!)would get 20 goals & provide a huge degree of nastiness while freeing the 4 million dollar man to just play and not worry about scrapping anymore.

Rasmussen re-called from Rockford: http://icehogs.com/news/icehogs/?article_id=4529
- EKolb13

Hey Ek how's the kid playing? Kind of surprised McNeill or Hartman didn't get a look...

Hey Ek how's the kid playing? Kind of surprised McNeill or Hartman didn't get a look...
- DK002

Watched him this summer at the rookie tournament, as well as a couple AHL games.

He is not flashy but someone that Q would love - big, versatile, and got those Swede smarts!

He's a bit older, 24 years old and 6'3/205 lbs so he's NHL ready in his physicality.

With that being said, my money was on McNeill for the next call up.

Watched him this summer at the rookie tournament, as well as a couple AHL games.

He is not flashy but someone that Q would love - big, versatile, and got those Swede smarts!

He's a bit older, 24 years old and 6'3/205 lbs so he's NHL ready in his physicality.

With that being said, my money was on McNeill for the next call up.
- TyCamScore

IMO, McNeill has earned consideration for a call-up.

My guess is that this time around the Hawks (whether it's Q, Bowman, or both) are looking to try a center, and I would believe that Rasmussen is someone that could fit into their future plans there - for the reasons you posted above.

IMO, McNeill has earned consideration for a call-up.

My guess is that this time around the Hawks (whether it's Q, Bowman, or both) are looking to try a center, and I would believe that Rasmussen is someone that could fit into their future plans there - for the reasons you posted above.
- EKolb13

might this simply be a showcase for a trade where he is part of the package for that elusive 5/6 dman and/or physical wing?

might this simply be a showcase for a trade where he is part of the package for that elusive 5/6 dman and/or physical wing?
- nellie

I doubt it, but anything can happen.

IMO, McNeill has earned consideration for a call-up.

My guess is that this time around the Hawks (whether it's Q, Bowman, or both) are looking to try a center, and I would believe that Rasmussen is someone that could fit into their future plans there - for the reasons you posted above.
- EKolb13

I could be totally off base here but I doubt they could have enticed Rasmussen to sign a contract to just come over and play the season in the AHL without a shot at some NHL playing time (and wages).

Half a season in the AHL and we will call you up to play with the big boys.

might this simply be a showcase for a trade where he is part of the package for that elusive 5/6 dman and/or physical wing?
- nellie

Maybe they view McNeill as top 6 but have a pretty set top 6 and can roulette Rasmussen into bottom 6

I could be totally off base here but I doubt they could have enticed Rasmussen to sign a contract to just come over and play the season in the AHL without a shot at some NHL playing time (and wages).

Half a season in the AHL and we will call you up to play with the big boys.
- RickJ

I am interested to see what Rasmussen can do at the NHL level. I'm not expecting much, but I hope he gets to play a game or 2 before going back to Rockford.

LAK waives Mike Richards

Lombardi starting to panic, needs the cap space now and tired of finding someone to take Mike Richards off his hands

LAK waives Mike Richards

Lombardi starting to panic, needs the cap space now and tired of finding someone to take Mike Richards off his hands
- FourFeathers773

Richards has a cap hit of $5.75MM.

If he clears waivers, they can only hide $900,000 of that if I'm not mistaken - and is anyone going to pick him up and his full hit?

Or am I not correct in my numbers?

Maybe they view McNeill as top 6 but have a pretty set top 6 and can roulette Rasmussen into bottom 6
- ikeane

I'm not so sure what is up with the Hawks and their thoughts on McNeil...Chris Block had an interesting take on it a few weeks ago...here is the link:

http://thethirdmanin.com/...ts-teravainen-more-notes/

And he makes a pretty good point about McNeil's situation

Regarding fastest skater: I also noticed that Team Foligno had the "better" direction (at least for someone that's right-legged). I don't think many people take any of these very seriously, but it would be more fair if each player had his choice. They likely sacrificed that for a more exciting set up having the players alongside each other racing at the end.

Regarding RHS Hardest Shot: Your lower hand is the hand more responsible for generating power, while the top-hand is more responsible for control. It would be reasonable to expect that on average a righty that's a RHS would have a harder shot than a righty that's a LHS (most NHL players are the latter). The same of course would apply to lefties that are LHS, but we all know that there are more right handed people in the world than left handed.

Richards has a cap hit of $5.75MM.

If he clears waivers, they can only hide $900,000 of that if I'm not mistaken - and is anyone going to pick him up and his full hit?

Or am I not correct in my numbers?
- StLBravesFan

U r correct....only 900k of his cap hit is taken off their books....Why didn'y Lombardi buy him out? Do they still have their buyouts? Or did they use them?

U r correct....only 900k of his cap hit is taken off their books....Why didn'y Lombardi buy him out? Do they still have their buyouts? Or did they use them?
- captainserious

Amnesty buy outs are finished. After winning the Cup again, Lombardi didn't put business decisions ahead of player loyalty in this case. Now the Kings are cap strapped and need to add something because they are on the edge of missing the playoffs.

- Elbows15

Yup.