John Jaeckel: Decision Time

First!

Stan Bowman. Can we trust him?

Panik still on line 1, why can't they bump him to 4 and move someone up? There must be a better winger for Toews somewhere in their org?

Desjardins Rasmussen Tootoo
Mashinter


God I hate that bottom 4. That can't stay that way.

Feel better if Hino made it Tootoo and Mash

Panik still on line 1, why can't they bump him to 4 and move someone up? There must be a better winger for Toews somewhere in their org?
- Garnie

You can make that statement, but alas, I think you would be wrong.

Not to worry though, if, by the mid way point of the 1st period of Wednesday night, the Hawks haven't scored, there will be shufflin starting

John Jaeckel: Decision Time
- John Jaeckel

Still like something like this better;

Panarin - Toews - Kane

Motte - AA - Hossa

Schmaltz - Krugs - Hartman

Desi - Moose - Panik

Still like something like this better;

Panarin - Toews - Kane

Motte - AA - Hossa

Schmaltz - Krugs - Hartman

Desi - Moose - Panik
- vabeachbear

That lineup puts more skill on each line, JJ's projection is pretty bereft of scoring in the bottom six. I think Q goes with pairs, Toews with bread, AA with Kane, Kruger with Hossa to start at least. 1 kid or Panik on left per line.

agreed.

Desi was injured during the game - per multiple writers on Twitter last night after the game. Said Q admitted it reluctantly. Anyone hear anything more about it?

@MarkLazerus at 9:44
Andrew Desjardins hurt himself blocking a shot in the third period. Q didn't offer any specifics on the severity. #Blackhawks

@ChristopherHine at 9:44
Joel Quenneville (very reluctantly) said Andrew Desjardins was injured toward the end blocking a shot.

Desi was injured during the game - per multiple writers on Twitter last night after the game. Said Q admitted it reluctantly. Anyone hear anything more about it?

@MarkLazerus at 9:44
Andrew Desjardins hurt himself blocking a shot in the third period. Q didn't offer any specifics on the severity. #Blackhawks

@ChristopherHine at 9:44
Joel Quenneville (very reluctantly) said Andrew Desjardins was injured toward the end blocking a shot.
- Marlowe

I just watched the game an hour ago and didn't see anything. My bet is he is injured so it saves a roster spot. Didn't think he looked all that good. This is a way of stashing him until really needed.

Hey but that's the conspiracy part of me thinking. I always think this kind of thing is going on.

Stan Bowman. Can we trust him?
- HockeyBatman

He got you 3 Stanley's....now he he doesn't know what he's doing?

Lets be real on Bowman. He got them two Cups. The first one was Dale Tallon's. Bowman stripped them and rebuilt it both in 13 and 15. He also had nothing to do with the core thats in place. Still, he deserves credit for some of his draft picks (Shaw, Saad), international signings (Panarin), yet like all GMs he has his share of mistakes. Still, I can't really complain at the job he has done overall.

Lets be real on Bowman. He got them two Cups. The first one was Dale Tallon's. Bowman stripped them and rebuilt it both in 13 and 15. He also had nothing to do with the core thats in place. Still, he deserves credit for some of his draft picks (Shaw, Saad), international signings (Panarin), yet like all GMs he has his share of mistakes. Still, I can't really complain at the job he has done overall.
- golfbard

Being real is understanding that Tallon was the GM, but Stan took over at the start of the season. Tallon laid the groundwork for that team (and the salary cap nightmare) while Stan steered the ship during the season.

We can't say Stan would have done it on his own if he had built the team or not. We also can't say that Tallon would have done things the same with the roster during that year and if the Hawks will would have still won.

What is so difficult about just giving credit to both guys? They both deserve credit for the Hawks getting there.

Hey JJ I don't know if I was watching the same game last night but I really thought our guys played well considering they were playing a full or at least semi full blues roster and held their own both shot wise, scoring chance wise, and for the most part were able to cover for each other's mistakes that you knew were going to happen!

I thought this was gunna be a 4-0 game but it turned out to be a 2-1 game with an unfortunate clean face off win goal and PPG in order to beat us! And idk Crawford I didn't think had to bail us out that much I mean their were only 21 shots on him! I mean we had not much offensive possession but that was expected and we still maintained the ability to generate some offense in the limited zone time we had! I thought Motte almost scored when he tried to bank the puck off Allen and idk overall yes there were plenty of mistakes but you had to think the boys were a little nervous playing that game against big boys and still maintained the ability to win so battles imho!

Will the Tallon vs Stan argument ever just go away? Sadly, probably not.

JJ, your projected opening day lineup is probably correct (sans Hjalmarsson for game#1). The bloom definitely came off the Fortin and Forsling rose last night. They look a lot less ready when playing actual NHL'ers.

Let the games begin.

Being real is understanding that Tallon was the GM, but Stan took over at the start of the season. Tallon laid the groundwork for that team (and the salary cap nightmare) while Stan steered the ship during the season.

We can't say Stan would have done it on his own if he had built the team or not. We also can't say that Tallon would have done things the same with the roster during that year and if the Hawks will would have still won.

What is so difficult about just giving credit to both guys? They both deserve credit for the Hawks getting there.
- breadbag

Well said.

Hey JJ I don't know if I was watching the same game last night but I really thought our guys played well considering they were playing a full or at least semi full blues roster and held their own both shot wise, scoring chance wise, and for the most part were able to cover for each other's mistakes that you knew were going to happen!

I thought this was gunna be a 4-0 game but it turned out to be a 2-1 game with an unfortunate clean face off win goal and PPG in order to beat us! And idk Crawford I didn't think had to bail us out that much I mean their were only 21 shots on him! I mean we had not much offensive possession but that was expected and we still maintained the ability to generate some offense in the limited zone time we had! I thought Motte almost scored when he tried to bank the puck off Allen and idk overall yes there were plenty of mistakes but you had to think the boys were a little nervous playing that game against big boys and still maintained the ability to win so battles imho!
- akuroski

I thought Crawford was very good, liked the Kruger line a lot. Up and down by a lot of guys.

A few uncertainties up front. With the exception of the Panarin-Anisimov-Kane line. But man, I do like that defense. Top 6 is really nice. I would venture to guess they would have to rank in the top 3-4 teams as far as Top 6 D-men go.

I think this team should be a Top 6 Western team, and they can look to tweak the LW and other issues as the season wears on. If Crawford and darling can provide their usual solid net presence...I think this defense make the Hawks a pretty good team. And with the individual talent up front, and the best 2nd line in hockey......the Hawks don't take me as CUP contenders YET.....but a playoff team even as presently constructed!!!

Can't wait for the start!!!!

Will the Tallon vs Stan argument ever just go away? Sadly, probably not.

JJ, your projected opening day lineup is probably correct (sans Hjalmarsson for game#1). The bloom definitely came off the Fortin and Forsling rose last night. They look a lot less ready when playing actual NHL'ers.

Let the games begin.
- EbonyRaptor

I wrote a blog a year or two ago that I think captured this well. You can credit Mike Smith (and Marshall Johnston and Rick Dudley), too. He drafted Keith, Seabrook, Byfuglien. 3 Cups don't happen without the first guy, other two had a lot to do with Cup 1, and Seabrook the other 2 as well.

I think the LION'S SHARE of the credit for all three still has to go to Tallon. Because Bowman's job—although well done from '12-15—was a LOT easier because of the core Tallon assembled, with a huge assist from Smith.

Taking Toews over Kessel. Trading Matt Freaking Ellison for Sharp. Brandon Bochenski for Versteeg, drafting Hjalmarsson, Ruutu for Ladd, signing Campbell. Scotty Bowman had a lot to do with hiring Q, drafting Kruger and signing Hossa. But that's Scotty. NOT Stan.

So really, you have four "masterminds" who all deserve some measure of scredit.

JJ's projected lines:
Panik Toews Hossa
Panarin Anisimov Kane
Motte Kruger Hartman
Desjardins Rasmussen Tootoo
Mashinter
(Hinostroza)

I think that is pretty much what we will see. Everyone has earned their role rather than being in a position of slim pickings for Q to cobble together a lineup. As much as I like projecting and dissecting lines, I could go to war with that to start the season. They're not 100% ideal but they're solid enough to make us competitive as we see how the new guys pan out. I'm sure the lines will evolve, too, so what is penciled in on Wednesday won't be what we see by the quarter-pole.

If Desjardins is truly injured, then the 4th line could look like:

Hinostroza Rasmussen Tootoo
13/14 Forwards: 2 of Mashinter, McNeill, Kero, Schmaltz (and I'm guessing in that pecking order)

Sorry guys I was just making a Batman joke, didn't mean to reignite StanBo vs Tallon vs Mike vs Beating a Dead Horse some more. Let's all just get excited for hockey

You can make that statement, but alas, I think you would be wrong.

Not to worry though, if, by the mid way point of the 1st period of Wednesday night, the Hawks haven't scored, there will be shufflin starting
- vabeachbear

I don't mind Panik, just not sure he's a first line guy.

Isn't up and down play what you'd expect from these guys getting their first taste of a real competition???

Rosy is clearly done
Both rookies make the team and split time as number 6
TVR is number 4 or will play number 5 to support the rooks
TVR needs more love on this board since his game continues to improve and he seems to win most board battles[img][/img]