John Jaeckel: Vesey Post-Mortem

John, honestly, thanks for all the info on the Jimmy Vesey situation. The info was great, especially hearing Scotty Bowman gave a personal phone call - I thought that was cool.

Now... If Hudler signs elsewhere, then where are the Hawks? What CAN they do in your opinion?

One more thing, you hear anything about Alexandre Fortin, out camp standout? Just curious... I'll leave that alone then

Nice write up, JJ.

I really think the Hawks will be fine. I like the young guys we have (Motte, Hinostroza, Schmaltz, etc.). I believe one (or all) of those guys hold the answer to some of the lineup "questions."

Great Coverage.....11th

Maybe, conversely, he was swayed by the advice of a Boston "Bro" who as recently as a couple of years ago thought defecating in a stairwell was a good idea.

Hmmm. Calling the character of NHL players into question....

Something about glass houses comes to mind.

...or maybe we look to trade crow for a 1lw...
Still too many ?'s til we see these guys play a game r two. Never seen Lundberg play. Any youngies got the gumshun to step up? Need some games.

DONE WAITING FOR VESEY. NOW WAITING FOR SEASON. GO HOCKEY!

JJ thanks for the Intel. On everything. Appreciate the insight form you and Al, 6628, Mr Ricochet, Wiz...(you get the idea). Pretty clear as you point out in today's blog and have been pointing out for a while (going back to last season) there is a need for more 5x5 scoring. Hope the Hawks land Hudler or someone else who can help in the top 6. We need more than Kane's line scoring consistently.

Also agree with Mr Ricochet, VA Beach and others that the Hawks (Q especially) may be forced to be more patient and more creative when what they have is not optimal, is untested (in the NHL) and may not fit the previous model.

Do you think they will sign Hudler? If not what other options are there? What about the French Canadian from the prospect camp - is he even an option for this year?

Let be honest, if we did not solidify our D people would be talking us off the ledge on losing Vesey.

Okay so people said he was an NHL ready guy. Maybe. Bottom line is the kid is a coin flip on whether he does anything. Stan needs to find a steady compliment to help out in the top 6. Considering what is out there (barring a trade), Hudler seems like the best fit. Or maybe Stan has a trade tucked away that we are not aware of.
(Yak?)

Here is to the coming training camp and a rink full of very motivated Hawks.

If there is a cloud in this, it is that so many of the asute visitors here predicted correctly that Garth would prove he needs to continue to sit in a corner...as he bascially ripped Vesey,

again re-wrote history and now completely changed his Veseu player evaluation because he didn't play nice and sign with Buffalo.

and the fans are giving to him.

Time to let the youngsters in Rockford come up and play. Pittsburgh did it and now the Hawks can do it.

Speaking of the Rangers I played golf with Brad Richards last week and the Rangers are paying him until 2026!

Even if the Hawks do sign Hudler there is a lot of new bodies on this year's roster. I think there will be some growing pains for the first few months until the young kids and new euros learn to play Q's way. All we can hope is we don't fall too far behind in the central, pull off a great second half like Pittsburgh did this year.

I will say it again, Vesey is big and will able to score.

I am just not sure the NY pivots help aid that process as well as so mnay of the other teams centremen would have.

I will say he is extremely confident that the Rangers and his abilities will lead him ahead as an NHL star because the Rangers certainly don't have many young guys competing for big fat large contracts, just vets who are on their way out.

and I will say this about the hawks / NHL:

There is a reason you have a farm team and actually develop players.

A developing player in your farm and their numbers in the AHL doesn't necessarily typecast their upside, their roles, or who they continue to develop.

Skill & speed & shot are the new bullet points to get and stay in the bigs.

The thing Vesey would have brought was a bigger man who had them, as they are a bit more difficukt to unearth.

I have a feeling the Blackhawks don't decide their season & post season chances based in the negative "cast in stone" opinions I read here all summer.

The engine in the new NHL is up ice quick defenseman, their passes, their jump and what happens energetically once the 5 man unit is set up in the attack zone.

And I think their is a mix of youth upfront who will do theri best to click and help that attack...

Nice write up as always John...

now that the Vesey sweeps are over the Hawks and others have turned their attention to Hudler...the question is can they land him? Otherwise some of the other remaining UFAs such as a Brandon Pirri are out there...yikes.

If not Hudler have the Hawks come to the Kids can play moment. And then the question is can some young motivated kids help this squad. As you mention there are no Saads in the pipeline this year and with the loss of Saad and now Shaw and Teuvo where's the secondary scoring going to come from?

As Marlowe mentions Q will have to show patience with his young guys this season and give them a longer leash. But are these players as far along as those kids with the Pens last season that Sullivan mixed in? I think that group of younger players the Pens added were farther along... And the Pens just added the kid from Notre Dame - wondering where the Hawks were on that one?

Positives - the defense has been upgraded and possibly among the best groups we've seen here in some time and the goaltending remains top notch.

So now the Hudler watch officially begins...should be an interesting few days here.

So Vesey chose with his heart I didn't realize his heart was in NY with Hayes, I thought it was Boston. His loss time for us to move on and win another Stanley Cup.

For those saying NY is a good team, I'll just say we agree to disagree.

On this college FA issue with drafted players I wonder if the next CBA will further address this? Easy enough for management to add many more "penalties" for drafted college FA in negotiations and labor most times doesn't care much, or at least will fight for, new employees.

Something about skirting rules or finding loopholes that will get the public on your side in a fight for public opinion.

Maybe compensation for any player drafted that goes the Vesey route? The team signing him gives up a pick? Remember the real loser in this is Nashville, although they do get a 3rd(?) round pick, followed by Buffalo who gave up a 3rd to negotiate with the kid.

One more thing, you hear anything about Alexandre Fortin, out camp standout? Just curious... I'll leave that alone then
- 93Joe

They will decide after they see more of him in the prospects tourney, and are sure he wasn't just a flash in the pan. The kid is being patient and understands.

I think the hawks have seven open slots on the 50 player negotiations list.

ON http://www.generalfanager.../teams/chicago-blackhawks

Count the players there (minus Scuderi) and get 43.

the can sign others of their drafts or sign UFA's make two for one trades or simply stand pat.

I will say it again, Vesey is big and will able to score.

I am just not sure the NY pivots help aid that process as well as so mnay of the other teams centremen would have.

I will say he is extremely confident that the Rangers and his abilities will lead him ahead as an NHL star because the Rangers certainly don't have many young guys competing for big fat large contracts, just vets who are on their way out.

and I will say this about the hawks / NHL:

There is a reason you have a farm team and actually develop players.

A developing player in your farm and their numbers in the AHL doesn't necessarily typecast their upside, their roles, or who they continue to develop.

Skill & speed & shot are the new bullet points to get and stay in the bigs.

The thing Vesey would have brought was a bigger man who had them, as they are a bit more difficukt to unearth.

I have a feeling the Blackhawks don't decide their season & post season chances based in the negative "cast in stone" opinions I read here all summer.

The engine in the new NHL is up ice quick defenseman, their passes, their jump and what happens energetically once the 5 man unit is set up in the attack zone.

And I think their is a mix of youth upfront who will do theri best to click and help that attack...
- wiz1901

Indeed but Q doesn't want to quick up it like Sullivan "allowed" in PITT. PITT chipped, lofted, lobbed, banked (Daley) pucks to an area and attacked the "loose" puck in the neutral zone with speed and support. Q doesn't want to chance losing possession, sending pucks to an area, and looks for tape to tape.

In a way the PITT style was amateur like in the get it out regard IMO. Not a bad plan in the flat (earth) cap world where pure defensive skill throughout 6 Dmen is not an option anymore.

I expect Hudler to sign with the Hawks by Monday. Probably for less than he would have cost other teams.

He's probably the better fit anyways. He will step right into a top 6 role and be productive.
Vesey still has question marks and would have been a headache in 2 years anyways when he tries to hit a homerun on his 2nd deal.
Hudler will be happy to be a team guy and win a cup, rather than thinking about his own stat line.

Indeed but Q doesn't want to quick up it like Sullivan "allowed" in PITT. PITT chipped, lofted, lobbed, banked (Daley) pucks to an area and attacked the "loose" puck in the neutral zone with speed and support. Q doesn't want to chance losing possession, sending pucks to an area, and looks for tape to tape.

In a way the PITT style was amateur like in the get it out regard IMO. Not a bad plan in the flat (earth) cap world where pure defensive skill throughout 6 Dmen is not an option anymore.
- Mr Ricochet

In the NFL they employ a zone passing system, the greats use it, the idea is the receiver has to get to this area in order to catch the ball edit within so many seconds, that's what Pitt looked like they were doing as soon as a defenseman would get the puck the opposite forwards job was to do everything he could to get to a spot, at first I thought it was luck but then realized it's by design

Oh well, ya can't win them all. We got Panarin for free last year and Kempny for free this summer, so I'm not going to whine about missing out on Vesey. C'est la vie.

Now that they don't have to account for Vesey's bonuses, I think Hudler is a nice plan-B. Hopefully they can get him for a cap number that works.

I don't believe the youth movement is a default position , in a flat cap era it a reality . And not just in Chicago .And there is something to be said for bring up two three four young guys at a time .

Adding Yak would allow Hoss to drop to the third line and Kane to play with Toews. Who plays #1 LW though? Motte?

Adding Yak would allow Hoss to drop to the third line and Kane to play with Toews. Who plays #1 LW though? Motte?
- ikeane

How would they add Yak? EDM needs D. Who on the Hawks roster that they would be willing to trade would EDM want/take in exchange? IMO getting Yak would add a hole on the backend and not fill the big gaping one on the front. Or am I missing something here? (It does happen a fair bit that I miss things - fortunately there are bigger hockey brains than mine on JJ's blog)

Adding Yak would allow Hoss to drop to the third line and Kane to play with Toews. Who plays #1 LW though? Motte?
- ikeane

14 19 88
72 15 Yak

Panik at #1 LW is not ideal, but he is the best option at the moment. That Russian line could payoff as Yak might turn the corner playing with AA and Panarin.

I think you could land Yak for a 3rd and maybe Sveds.