John Jaeckel: And Now For Something Completely Different

First.

haven't popped in for awhile what do you know i get to be FOIST!!

yes sir lets wave those red-black-white-yellow pom poms....solve the 1LW problem and all is good....

Go hawks! Positive vibes!

Glass definitely half full--- and losing Shaw is just the continuing cost of doing business in the cap era--- at least the Hawks have won 3 Cups-- some teams are under the cap knife without winning anything-- and some will soon have to pay the piper without even sniffing a Cup--

So all in all not so bad---

Has the NHL ever considered a over the cap luxury tax like the NBA?

and fantastic movie references John!!!!!

I just can't see Brad Richards playing 2C. He has lost a lot of speed in the last few years and I see him as a more perimeter type centre. Anisomov might not be the quickest of players, but he makes up for that by banging down low and get the loose pucks out to Kane and Panarin. If he isn't doing that he is screening the goalie. Brad Richards doesn't do those things. I feel AA's hard work really elevated that line last season. The big downfall on Anisomov is his faceoff percentage. I hope he works with Yannick this off season to try and get his percentage close to the 50% mark.

"For the first summer in four years, the Hawks hit the greens, the gyms, the backyard hammocks, early. "


Let's just hope a certain someone doesn't start hitting the frat parties and nightclubs early...

Seriously though, it should be good for your crew to hit the reset button early this year. Playing an extra 1-2 months of hockey every frigging year has to take a toll. Not that I'd know, as a Canucks fan.

Was looking at the prospect camp that starts tomorrow. Couple observations;

1. Team C looks like the roster for Rockford, assume they'll pound the other teams.

2. Team A for everyone who keeps saying Stan only drafts smurfs, that's some big boys on that team.

http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=113540&navid=DL|CHI|home

>Very well said, JJ
>Would add that having Soupy back will make Keith even better
>Duncs will regain some of his puck-carrying mojo by being reminded of it by watching Soupy
>Have to say that there are currently NO elite teams in the NHL -- only a few real stinkers
>There isn't a single team out there that "has it all"
>One of the key reasons the Pens won the Cup was because their largely average D shuttled the puck into 50/50 areas in the neutral zone and no-name Pens forwards consistently won those pucks with speed
>With all NHL rosters depleted, thanks to Bettman, we will see a lot of attempts at this style of play this year around the league
>Lastly, this is the year of the Q -- what can he do with what he winds up with?

Let's just hope a certain someone doesn't start hitting the frat parties and nightclubs early...

There is a certain other 'KANE' who is taking plenty of the headlines in Buffalo at the moment--- while Patrick Kane is in Chicago-- taking care of business

>Very well said, JJ
>Would add that having Soupy back will make Keith even better
>Duncs will regain some of his puck-carrying mojo by being reminded of it by watching Soupy
>Have to say that there are currently NO elite teams in the NHL -- only a few real stinkers
>There isn't a single team out there that "has it all"
>One of the key reasons the Pens won the Cup was because their largely average D shuttled the puck into 50/50 areas in the neutral zone and no-name Pens forwards consistently won those pucks with speed
>With all NHL rosters depleted, thanks to Bettman, we will see a lot of attempts at this style of play this year around the league
>Lastly, this is the year of the Q -- what can he do with what he winds up with?
- SnapitUpstairs

If nothing else, it should pair Duncs back with Seabrook, and bring down his mins every night, which can't hurt.

I just can't see Brad Richards playing 2C. He has lost a lot of speed in the last few years and I see him as a more perimeter type centre. Anisomov might not be the quickest of players, but he makes up for that by banging down low and get the loose pucks out to Kane and Panarin. If he isn't doing that he is screening the goalie. Brad Richards doesn't do those things. I feel AA's hard work really elevated that line last season. The big downfall on Anisomov is his faceoff percentage. I hope he works with Yannick this off season to try and get his percentage close to the 50% mark.
- HossBoss

What about Richards skating on the LW with Toews and Hossa? Wasn't that the idea that was floating around?

This team could use a little sandpaper, other than that I think the Hawks are looking good.

Was looking at the prospect camp that starts tomorrow. Couple observations;

1. Team C looks like the roster for Rockford, assume they'll pound the other teams.

2. Team A for everyone who keeps saying Stan only drafts smurfs, that's some big boys on that team.

http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=113540&navid=DL|CHI|home
- vabeachbear

Noticed the same thing--- lots of big bodies on all of the rosters-- with the exception of the highly touted prospects in Motte, Debrincat. Hinostroza

Gotta think 1 or 2 of those big boys develop to be serviceable-- Bondra-- Hayden--Knott?

What about Richards skating on the LW with Toews and Hossa? Wasn't that the idea that was floating around?
- EKB13

Richards plays above the faceoff circles...Toews/Hossa need someone to play below the circles and below the goal line. That's isn't Brad Richards.

What about Richards skating on the LW with Toews and Hossa? Wasn't that the idea that was floating around?
- EKB13

If Richards would come cheap. That is a better option than they currently have. I still think Bowman has something up his sleeve and they are going to wait until after the prospects camp. I feel now that Soupy signed cheap and that will now slot Kempny to be a 5/6D that TVR is dealt. He will likely be picked up by Las Vegas next year if he doesn't get dealt. TVR and say a McNeil could get a player you could slot in at 1LW, maybe not a high scoring winger, but somebody that could certainly help Toews and Hossa.

The 1LW dilemma is that in order for Toews' line to play the way they did a couple seasons ago when Saad was the 1LW - they need a Saad type player and there is no Saad type player available. The Saad type player, or F1, has to have the speed and size to get to the puck in the o-zone before the opponent can start back up ice. And he has to complement Toews and Hossa in the cycle game they play so well.

Vesey projects to be that type of player but who knows if he signs with the Hawks. Anisimov may be effective enough is that role to make it work, but then a big hole is created at 2C where AA's size and style of play is the perfect complement for 88/72. Brad Richards or other realistic 2C options will probably not play that down low screen the goalie game as well as AA does - so AA fixing the Toews line diminishes the 88/72 line.

Richards plays above the faceoff circles...Toews/Hossa need someone to play below the circles and below the goal line. That's isn't Brad Richards.
- Al

exactly---- not a good fit there-- with those players

Richards plays above the faceoff circles...Toews/Hossa need someone to play below the circles and below the goal line. That's isn't Brad Richards.
- Al

Good point. Thanks Al.

What about TVR, McNeil for Hartnell with a portion of Hartnell's salary retained?

20th

Good point. Thanks Al.
- EKB13

...That's the rub for finding any left wing for that line. Toews and Hossa need a puck chaser, asking them to work the boards constantly leads to diminishing returns. That's why Shaw played on their line and someone similar is needed.

What about TVR, McNeil for Hartnell with a portion of Hartnell's salary retained?
- HossBoss

It would need to be a big portion...

...That's the rub for finding any left wing for that line. Toews and Hossa need a puck chaser, asking them to work the boards constantly leads to diminishing returns. That's why Shaw played on their line and someone similar is needed.
- Al

Surely its been discussed here-- but what do you think about Panik playing that role--- as he did late last season--- perhaps with more time with the team and practice-- to clearly define his role-- I'm not saying he is projected as a 1LW-- but if he can be coached to play the role--- he has size-- speed-- and has shown some good board work from my eyes-- not the best finisher-- but---