John Jaeckel: Re-arranging Deck Chairs Versus Changing Course

First!!!!

We had another guy that did that in ben smith

didnt always find the back of the net, but nobody worked harder down low and took the puck to the net as much as Smith, except for Toes

Need to move 20 back on the top line with 19 and 81... At least we will have one line that will score. 23 hasn't been the same player since his return from injury. Also, the PP was pathetic last night! What are they like 0 for their last 29!?!?

TT to the top line with toews and hossa could be amazing .....

All true JJ. BUT, on the flip side I believe the NYR are the team to beat in the EAST. With thae addition of Yandel to that D-man group of Staal, Boyle, McDonagh and Giradi.....and that speedy and skilled forward group of Zuccerello, Nash, St. Louis, Brassard, Krieder, stephan and others...it made for a great match-up. I expect the Rangers to go far....and two solid goalies to boot. It was a matchup of two very good playoff teams. Maybe we see them in the FINALS!!!

Need to move 20 back on the top line with 19 and 81... At least we will have one line that will score. 23 hasn't been the same player since his return from injury. Also, the PP was pathetic last night! What are they like 0 for their last 29!?!?
- tboucher77

Something subliminal there about Zero and #29

Something subliminal there about Zero and #29
- vabeachbear

This!!!!!

Here is my $0.02:

When watching the hawks even my wife now screams SHOOT THE PUCK at the TV.

23 is never ever going to be the person he copies - 88. He should stop trying and keep the puck moving. When he stick handles everyone else stops waiting for 23 to stop messing around - gives the D time to collapse

10 - 50% of his shots are in the breadbasket - never going to score like that.

19 - getting worn out with someone always leaning on him since they fear few others. not as fast on the back check at this point in the season

2 - please no more slap passes, please, please, ill buy your charity's hats

32 - OMG since paired with 2 has seems to be on the ice even more - he is this years Zeus

65 - coasting, not trying to get to the front of the net - coaches orders? or thinking he does not need to any longer with a solidified role on the team.

44 - hoping he gets into game shape soon

80 - great hustle - hope he stick for a few years

50 - 1 reg goal in 2 games with only a SO W to show for it - not cool on the other 19 players part

4 - injured? seems off

5 - there has to be better options

3rd 4th lines had usually made one great contribution per game, not seeing it

I am nervous this is a one and done effort...

Eh. Tight game between two good teams. I don't know about reading anymore into it.

Crawford was tremendous again.

I think the PP time skewed things a bit but generally speaking I think you would like to see Vermette on the ice a bit more.

Whatever. Either way, there isn't a whole lot to dissect here except that the Hawks are still doing a poor job at suppressing shots and they lost because their power play is abysmal.

I'd be concerned if they don't take points this week against the Yotes and Sharks. The Islanders and Rangers back to back next week will be tough.

Eh. Tight game between two good teams. I don't know about reading anymore into it.

Crawford was tremendous again.

I think the PP time skewed things a bit but generally speaking I think you would like to see Vermette on the ice a bit more.

Whatever. Either way, there isn't a whole lot to dissect here except that the Hawks are still doing a poor job at suppressing shots and they lost because their power play is abysmal.

I'd be concerned if they don't take points this week against the Yotes and Sharks. The Islanders and Rangers back to back next week will be tough.
- fattybeef

CC better remain tremendous.

With minimal offense and a dreadful PP, the Hawks will only go as far as Crawford can carry them.

10 and 91 were part of the worst line last night and they both see PP time

I just do not get it. The PP is so awful and predictable you might as well roll out the fourth line and see what they can do.

John Jaeckel: Re-arranging Deck Chairs Versus Changing Course
- John Jaeckel

When was the last time you saw a Hawk forward really take the puck to the net - with a massive 4 human collision as the result - not in my recent memory.

When there is no threat of that happening or when forwards just have a quick peak at the opposition goalie and skate away, the defence has a very easy time closing down the house. Blackhawks - you gotta want to break down the front door to create havoc in the offensive zone. It might hurt, but it's effective and gets results when your Pretty Boy Floyd manoeuvers and unscreened 35 foot shots aren't working so good.

What's the point of Carcillghost being In the line up? He was invisible.

I liked the second line, thought they created the most offense

Had the hawks converted on the power play, they could have taken the game in regulation. It's getting to the point that the PP is just 2 minutes which makes it harder for the other team to score, which is good I guess but hawks need to convert. At least the PK was strong

Hawks aren't playing well enough right now to make any noise in the playoffs, good thing the playoffs are still over a month away.

I've heard from a lot of people today who are ready to jump. By the same criteria applied to the Hawks, the Preds and Kings should probably not even bother showing up for the playoffs and instead blow up their teams and start over with more grit and depth. Yet, if you ask those very same people if they want to play the Kings in the playoffs -- who are playing far worse and might not even make it in -- they say no, the Kings are as tough as any team in the West.

So the lesson here is: If it's your team, the season is done and over. But if it's another team, watch out for them in the playoffs!

10 and 91 were part of the worst line last night and they both see PP time

I just do not get it. The PP is so awful and predictable you might as well roll out the fourth line and see what they can do.
- waitforawhistle

And Rozsival on the PK. Thought that was fantastic.

Hawks aren't playing well enough right now to make any noise in the playoffs, good thing the playoffs are still over a month away.

I've heard from a lot of people today who are ready to jump. By the same criteria applied to the Hawks, the Preds and Kings should probably not even bother showing up for the playoffs and instead blow up their teams and start over with more grit and depth. Yet, if you ask those very same people if they want to play the Kings in the playoffs -- who are playing far worse and might not even make it in -- they say no, the Kings are as tough as any team in the West.

So the lesson here is: If it's your team, the season is done and over. But if it's another team, watch out for them in the playoffs!
- RomanF

Sounds about right..

Or....the complete opposite may be the case.

Or...in my case... pessimistic but I'll be watchin' and hoping for the best.

Who the hell knows...it's NHL hockey after all.

AMEN

Same issue all year... and vs LA last May/June

HELLO STANBOW?????????

especially in an NHL that is now being officiated a lot more like it was before the 2004-2005 lockout than it has been any time since.
- JJ

the horse is dead

John Jaeckel: Re-arranging Deck Chairs Versus Changing Course
- John Jaeckel

Nice article JJ. Completely agree -- except for one point, Carcillo. He simply hasn't brought anything IMO. Unfortunately, I'm no longer seeing any benefit with him in the lineup

The Hawks are displaying maddeningly ineffective offense and don't appear to have adjusted to the realities of looser officiating this year...and there almost always seems to be one pass too many in the offensive zone.

The Hawks desperately need to simplify their game, work harder as too many seem to just be going through the motions, and win important battles in key areas. Kruger and Toews consistently seem the exceptions.

especially in an NHL that is now being officiated a lot more like it was before the 2004-2005 lockout than it has been any time since.
- JJ

What I don't understand is the league acknowledged during that lockout that all the interference and holding detracted from the game - and caused a viewership drop-off.

If this is the case - then why let play revert back to it??

I see another lockout in the next 3-4 years on the horizon for this league. You can't maintain a TV deal with any network when people are not tuning in. NHL higher ups just don't get it.

And the next lockout could be very painful - with 6-8 teams contracted.

And the next lockout could be very painful - with 6-8 teams contracted.
- dahawks8819

I have a hard time buying the idea that the league will just fold on 1/5 to 1/4 of its existing teams. How do you figure that 6-8 teams will be gone come the end of the next CBA?

the horse is dead
- TheCaptain19

Call it crying? The data says otherwise. Memorize this...

http://thehockeywriters.com/nhl-fatal-flaw/

Referees Are Allowing More Obstruction

Season Average Interference Minors By Team Per 82 Games
2011-12 29.76
2012-13 40.60
2013-14 30.98

I’ve included 2011-12 for a reason, even though it appears to buck the trend. The explanation for the numbers jump in 2012-13 is simple: coming out of the 2012 lockout, the NHL instructed its refs – literally – to call more interference penalties.

After your Wings get tackled out of the playoffs this year and next you can refer back to it and cry. The Wings do play the obstruction game pretty well but rely on quite a few similar "perimeter" style players that will suffer if the current trend continues. Many east teams have the size to take advantage of all of the non calls. We already know the West does.

Need to move 20 back on the top line with 19 and 81... At least we will have one line that will score. 23 hasn't been the same player since his return from injury. Also, the PP was pathetic last night! What are they like 0 for their last 29!?!?
- tboucher77

no! #10 needs to be with toews, they got to get him going. Sharp on the 3rd line with richards and carcillo is pathetic.

23...agree...that hand might be bothering him

PP=2/28 both Toews goals and 5/41 since for the last 13 games since that long home stand began with 11 of those on home ice

AMEN

Same issue all year... and vs LA last May/June

HELLO STANBOW?????????
- jjcbeme

gee and it was just a week ago that he was the GM of year on this board....what do you blame him for now??