John Jaeckel: Watch What Bowman Does Next

Nice write up. I feel like Hudler could be a big help for the Hawks. What are the chances they can sign him? Do they have the cap room for the type of contract he's looking for?

Unless you're Jim Benning and coming out and telling the truth, I don't take Stan's words from last week without a grain or two of Kosher salt. I think there's going to be at least one move, if not two.

NINJA EDIT: Before the season starts, that is.

It seems as if Bowman is holding off on signing anyone until Vesey decides where he wants to go. Maybe? Maybe not.

Good description of the current Hawks. Three or four rookies in the lineup equals rebuild mode for the Hawks for sure.

It seems as if Bowman is holding off on signing anyone until Vesey decides where he wants to go. Maybe? Maybe not.
- golfbard

Could be.

Unless you're Jim Benning and coming out and telling the truth, I don't take Stan's words from last week without a grain or two of Kosher salt. I think there's going to be at least one move, if not two.

NINJA EDIT: Before the season starts, that is.
- HelloFriend

Ah! Stan is a true politian... But at least he is " not under oath ".

It seems as if Bowman is holding off on signing anyone until Vesey decides where he wants to go. Maybe? Maybe not.
- golfbard

Two reasons why I doubt it:

(1) I don't think he hope that anyone still out there - Richards? Hudler? - will still be there in 4 weeks

(2) Vesey may be a better prospect than, say, Schmaltz or Motte or put-your-own-favorite-name in there, but he's still a prospect - a college player who has not played one minute with or against professionals; I doubt that Bowman is counting on Vesey for solving any problems at a championship level this year. (Perhaps that should be "HOPE he isn't".)

One thing about our situation THIS year JJ, in comparison to last year. Is that our defence is extremely deep. Keith, Seabrook, Hammer & now Campbell are about as good a top 4 as their is in the league. It is FAR easier to address a couple of winger spots as we approach the trade deadline. Don't get me wrong. Not saying we are Cup ready. Just pointing out that the options out there....whether by trade or with young guys....are much better patching the forward group than the near impossibility of solidifying a weak or shallow defence. Barring injury, I think we are a playoff team already....6th, 7th in west or so. A couple of forward additions....we are right in the Cup hunt!

(Although, if Preds get some goaltending....I really like what they are building there...)

Nice write up, JJ.

I was watching some old Hawks VHS's the other night. They covered the '90-'91 and '91-'92 season. Such good stuff.

You forget how good JR was. Hands, speed, scoring touch, and physicality. Such a spark plug and complete player.

Nice write up, JJ.

I was watching some old Hawks VHS's the other night. They covered the '90-'91 and '91-'92 season. Such good stuff.

You forget how good JR was. Hands, speed, scoring touch, and physicality. Such a spark plug and complete player.
- Hank3Henshaw

And traded for Zhamnov....still makes me ill to think of it....

Hijacking the thread (as usual)

I found this article very informng and so will you.

It says (as I have for years) Shea Weber just aint that special,
and teams may be slipping back to eye test and not analytics.

https://sports.yahoo.com/...erfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Two reasons why I doubt it:

(1) I don't think he hope that anyone still out there - Richards? Hudler? - will still be there in 4 weeks

(2) Vesey may be a better prospect than, say, Schmaltz or Motte or put-your-own-favorite-name in there, but he's still a prospect - a college player who has not played one minute with or against professionals; I doubt that Bowman is counting on Vesey for solving any problems at a championship level this year. (Perhaps that should be "HOPE he isn't".)
- StLBravesFan

Vesey is the same age that Panarin was when he arrived last season keep that in mind. He isn't a 18-19 year old rookie.

It seems as if Bowman is holding off on signing anyone until Vesey decides where he wants to go. Maybe? Maybe not.
- golfbard

And Vesey would be just another rookie. Probably not the answer for the prayers either?

And traded for Zhamnov....still makes me ill to think of it....
- hawk35

I know. Not to mention the departures of Chelios and Eddie.

Kind of funny to think how good the Hawks were in the late 80's and through the mid-90's until they were dismantled.

And Vesey would be just another rookie. Probably not the answer for the prayers either?
- MjulQvist

I would agree unless Stan and his scouts are convinced he is a must-have who is ready now. I'm of the belief that he is a prospect until proven otherwise.

(JR for zhamnov still makes me sick as well.)

I do disagree with one thing in the write-up, sir. If's and when's and but's is all that pittsburgh had this year... they had rob scuderi at the beginning of their year...
they fired their head coach- mid-year! their $6MIL goalie gets hurt...

If the lightning is in the bottle again, the core of 19,88,72,2,7,4,30 is better than the core of Crosby, letang, malkin, kessel... so that trophy still can return here once or twice.

I know. Not to mention the departures of Chelios and Eddie.

Kind of funny to think how good the Hawks were in the late 80's and through the mid-90's until they were dismantled.
- Hank3Henshaw

Yup. But, I guess in the long run, the fall to the cellar paved the way to Toews, Kane and THREE Cups. Too bad the Roenick era couldn't capture ONE. But, worth it grabbing these last THREE,!!

Today @ 10:23 AM ET
Hijacking the thread (as usual)

I found this article very informng and so will you.

It says (as I have for years) Shea Weber just aint that special,
and teams may be slipping back to eye test and not analytics.

https://sports.yahoo.com/...erfeed&utm_medium=twitter

There are certain aspects of analytics i love and some i'm a bit leery on...for instance are Weber's GF% numbers down because of him as a player or because as a team Mtl depended on Subban far more than Nsh did on Weber.

Nsh had Ellis Eckholm generating pts from the backend (18 goals ~70 pts) versus MTL who has Petry Beaulieu/Emelin (7 goals ~35 pts). That could be a huge reason Subbans GF% was far higher than Webers. Interesting to see how it pans out this year.

And Vesey would be just another rookie. Probably not the answer for the prayers either?
- MjulQvist

Prior to last season many people here were skeptical on Panarin, could he adjust to NHL ice, was he strong enough etc. are you more skeptical when it comes to Vesey?

Hijacking the thread (as usual)

I found this article very informng and so will you.

It says (as I have for years) Shea Weber just aint that special,
and teams may be slipping back to eye test and not analytics.

https://sports.yahoo.com/...erfeed&utm_medium=twitter
- wiz1901

I think Shea is good, not the end-all-be-all Defenseman, though. I think he's pumped up a lot for two major reasons:

1. His shot (which has taken on an almost-Herculean status over the years from announcers pumping it up so much)
2. He's one of the last of his kind: big, strong, stay-at-home D man

But when it comes down to the big PK/Weber trade, PK is the superior Defenseman and all-around player in my opinion.

It seems as if Bowman is holding off on signing anyone until Vesey decides where he wants to go. Maybe? Maybe not.
- golfbard

Vessey, well, i think it is a done deal to Bruins, so IF they hawks were to get him to leave the precious NE where he says he wants to stay near his family(...sheesh...is his mother still nursing him?) I think he will surprise and add offense.

I am much more interested if a Doug Wilson type GM is gonna offer Kucherov a RFA offer sheet to throw things off in Tampa.

I think a lot of NHL teams might have to see the tremendous upside and compete in this young vet/ kid...but maybe just maybe like his teammates he is very comfortable with the group, their playoff chances IF the remain intact.

It would add interest to a summer filled with humdrum discussions about the hawks lack of depth...

I don't really think they are ready to launch Bishop, until after giving him and the team one more run where maybe just maybe he won't turn up lame in the playoff and I think their first plan is to trade him away if they can before the draft.

BUT...if someone tries to sign Kucherov, well, that might hurry them sending him elsewhere.

The more quick guns teams have, the more trouble the opposing teams have at defending shift after shift working hard to close, stay close and force out these attackers...so to me Kucherov is a really great add or in TB case, keep over Ben bishop's open ass.

Prior to last season many people here were skeptical on Panarin, could he adjust to NHL ice, was he strong enough etc. are you more skeptical when it comes to Vesey?
- Dabearshawks

KHL is a pro league. NCAA not so.

Yup. But, I guess in the long run, the fall to the cellar paved the way to Toews, Kane and THREE Cups. Too bad the Roenick era couldn't capture ONE. But, worth it grabbing these last THREE,!!


- hawk35

That's true. But those were some long, dark years of bad hockey once the boys got broken up.

Always liked JR's reaction to when the Hawks won their first cup in Philly. People dogged him, but I thought the emotional response was cool.

"...Chicago Blackhawks, man...I didn't get to do that. That's pretty unbelievable... I'm proud. I'm happy"

If the Hawks decide to play the rookies this season, I'm not sure I agree that means a rebuild is underway, at least in the way I understand the term "rebuild". While it's true the window for contending will not stay open forever, I don't believe it's already closed or will within a year. I think a more telling sign of the organizations intentions is whether of not Panarin is extended this summer - if he is not then I think that signals the organization is planning a mini-rebuild after next season with Panarin as a major chip toward that objective.