John Jaeckel: Big comeback? Big turnaround?

1st

You're not kidding JJ, at times this team is painful to watch. Kempny had a better game last night, I don't understand how our defenseman keep losing forwards in front of the net, the second chance opportunities are killing us

John Jaeckel: Big comeback? Big turnaround?
- John Jaeckel

yes and no...but only one early season game..

have not allowed less than 3 goals in 6 games...that is not the blackhawks of old..

they can't have any season long success trying to outscore other teams at a 4 goal per game clip...

bottom line not as good as the goal scoring nor as bad as the goals allowed...

Now now guys, don't get excited....it was the Leafs you know.....

Campbell finally looking like he's shaken off any off-season rust he had. He looked really good last night, created a ton of chances.

MTP line looked really good again. They're getting a feel for each other and I'd say if they're given another 10-15 games to really gel, they will be a force. Toews is snakebitten, but he created a lot of high danger chances last night.

PK... Passive box with no pressure. All of us see the problem, I wonder why the coaching staff is not preaching aggressiveness at the point of attack. At least force the opponent to make a great play to beat you. Don't let them set up and pass the puck around at will.

Those defensive zone lapses in front of the net won't keep happening for much longer. This is a veteran D-corps and they'll sort it out.

3-3 is about where they should be the way they've played.

Seems to me this team isn't cycling the puck in the offensive zone like we've been accustomed to in recent years, leading to minimal time of possession, which in turns leads to little shots/scoring chances. Then in the defensive zone, seems we're much more passive in recent years as well, leading to, you guessed it, more time in the offensive zones by opponents thus leading to us getting outshot and outpossessed. Almost like most of these guys haven't quite got a grasp of Q's system..... again, give them time...there's no way we can continue giving up 3.67 goals a game, this team is too strong on defense to let that continue, to include the penalty kill.

Just want to do a shout out to fellow long suffering cub fans, how about that. Finally, It was weird I felt relief more than anything else last night. Keeping my fingers crossed for 4 more.

And JJ when you say big turnaround do you mean our defenseman chasing the forward the other way

Now now guys, don't get excited....it was the Leafs you know.....
- Old Pappy

Trust me, no one here is excited about last night

Way too many goals against through the 1st 6 games. I understand that many were on the PK, but if it's going to succeed, this team is going to need to win more games 2-1 than 4-3.

The screw up on the first goal can be attributed to new guys plaything together. Or it can be attributed to both guys not taking care of the puck and not understanding the situation. Either way, it can't ever happen, especially in the last minute of a period where you're nursing a 1-0 lead.

Teams are also learning shadow Kane and line 2 struggles to score, great play by Panarin to get the Hawks on the board.

"Today @ 10:17 AM ET
Campbell finally looking like he's shaken off any off-season rust he had. He looked really good last night, created a ton of chances.

MTP line looked really good again. They're getting a feel for each other and I'd say if they're given another 10-15 games to really gel, they will be a force. Toews is snakebitten, but he created a lot of high danger chances last night.

PK... Passive box with no pressure. All of us see the problem, I wonder why the coaching staff is not preaching aggressiveness at the point of attack. At least force the opponent to make a great play to beat you. Don't let them set up and pass the puck around at will.

Those defensive zone lapses in front of the net won't keep happening for much longer. This is a veteran D-corps and they'll sort it out.

3-3 is about where they should be the way they've played."

Well said, this is a new Blackhawks club and they're still in the learning to play together mode. Unfortunately there's not a lot of time for that. I'm hoping they'll come together and gel soon, time will tell.

I know it's difficult to do but Campbell's play where he drives from a bad angle and places the shot right off the left pad is brilliant something that should be worked on consistently in practice. AA left with a wide open net

In the event that Schmaltz is not ready to be 3C this season and goes to the AHL, what are our options? Kruger at 3C and Rassmussen at 4C?

The fourth line has been good as currently composed so don't love the idea of breaking them up but we don't have much to trade for a 3C...

They've given up 12 PK goals in 6 games - surely averaging 2 PK goals per game won't continue. The other 10 goals they've given up aren't much from an average per game perspective but some of those were because our goalies didn't make good plays - either kicking the puck out into the slot or slow to go side to side.

Forsling looks good enough to stick, but he certainly doesn't have much speed and that will probably limit his ability to be more than a solid 3rd pairing d-man. He's probably faster than TvR but not by much.

I don't know if Keith has lost a step or he's still not back to 100% from the surgery but he isn't as fast as he used to be. Hopefully he regains the speed he seems to have lost. And while I'm on Keith - it looks like he's reverted to shin pad target practice again.

Toews looked like his old self in the shoot out last night, but man oh man he's having a hard time putting the puck in the net during game action. He would have more than 2 assists if Panik could catch a pass but his 0 goals in 6 games can't be blamed on his line mates.

In the event that Schmaltz is not ready to be 3C this season and goes to the AHL, what are our options? Kruger at 3C and Rassmussen at 4C?

I'd be okay with this. I think Moose is more than capable of being a 4C for this team and it gives Schmaltz a year to learn his trade in the AHL.

If they don't dramatically improve the PK quickly it's all going to be a moot point by Thanksgiving.

I'd be okay with this. I think Moose is more than capable of being a 4C for this team and it gives Schmaltz a year to learn his trade in the AHL.

If they don't dramatically improve the PK quickly it's all going to be a moot point by Thanksgiving.
- blackhawks30

I'd have no issue with this if it's what the staff decides. I think it's potentially a good thing that Schmaltz sees some action and if sent down then knows what he needs to work on.

From things I've read from people on this board in regard to his current development I have some faith he'll take it to heart and put in the work...unlike say someone like Pirri a few years back who seemingly didn't and was never going to be defensively reliable enough for Q.

Forsling's excellent camp seems a distant memory.
He looked lost out there time and again last night.
He still has tremendous upside, but still a project, as most
young D-men moving to NHL level....are.

Love Keith and Campbell together and like the D Pairings. To someone's comment on "Losing guys in front of the net" Hawks D is smallish and they are being pushed around and pucks are being deflected on the PK and finding the twine...game after game.

Wish we had kept Dunault and traded Kruger last year.

All that being said IMO this Toronto Team is much improved and will make a run at a playoff spot in the East.

Forsling's excellent camp seems a distant memory.
He looked lost out there time and again last night.
He still has tremendous upside, but still a project, as most
young D-men moving to NHL level....are.
- philco28

Forsling needs a little time and patience. This won't be his best season, but he needs to learn on the job. We just need to take the good with the bad, same goes for Kempny.

Love Keith and Campbell together and like the D Pairings. To someone's comment on "Losing guys in front of the net" Hawks D is smallish and they are being pushed around and pucks are being deflected on the PK and finding the twine...game after game.

Wish we had kept Dunault and traded Kruger last year.

All that being said IMO this Toronto Team is much improved and will make a run at a playoff spot in the East.
- Colbyboy

It would have been nice to keep Danault, but Rasmussen can do some of the same things.

It would have been nice to keep Danault, but Rasmussen can do some of the same things.
- DarthKane

Agreed DK
What I should have said is I don't like what Kruger is being paid for what he brings. Danault is being paid $912,000!

Forsling needs a little time and patience. This won't be his best season, but he needs to learn on the job. We just need to take the good with the bad, same goes for Kempny.
- DarthKane

Hopefully we see marked improvement by both at 25 game mark

Trust me, no one here is excited about last night
- vabeachbear

indeed...not excited about anything concerning these 1st 6 games...

if 72/88 repeat or exceed lasts years performance while hossa/toews languish in point production...look out...another quick exit and the young russian price tag will escalate to close to 8 mildo...I dont expect stanbo and panerin to reach agreement on a extension during the season...