John Jaeckel: Flames-Blackhawks preview

Definitely no matter what, the Hawks need to walk away with 2 points tonight. Doesn't matter how or how pretty it is, but it is important to beat teams you should beat.

Hawks just need to keep working on the PK, building confidence. Simple clears, winning faceoffs in the defensive zone and pressuring the points.

The offence has been there so far but need to bring down the goals per game. Do that and they should be able to win this game.

Hawks just need to keep working on the PK, building confidence. Simple clears, winning faceoffs in the defensive zone and pressuring the points.

The offence has been there so far but need to bring down the goals per game. Do that and they should be able to win this game.
- BlackhawkDown

Great post, simple, to the point, and bang on.

And to be fair, the Hawks have periodically struggled in past seasons, including the Cup years, with breakouts. Point being, they can get better there through repetition, coaching, familiarity.

Faceoffs are a different story. Getting Desi back, who is about a 50% guy when used, may help. But the FO may have to address that issue in a more meaningful way later on this season.

42.9 on the PK.... thats awesome.

42.9 on the PK.... thats awesome.
- z1990z

If only that was our PP % too.

lol i thought it was a mistype can it be true Richard Panik is leading the league in goal scoring! nice this reminds me of the Patrick Sharp trade, lets hope it turns out half as good!

If one Hawk PK guy just stood next to one PP guy at the point, that would make it a four on three and probably more effective than 40 freaking per cent.

Hawks just need to keep working on the PK, building confidence. Simple clears, winning faceoffs in the defensive zone and pressuring the points.

While I agree with you, over the last few years the Hawks haven't pressured the points/puck. Their strategy is to take away the passing/shooting lanes. Some of the problem is the Hawks defensemen aren't physical and lose the position battle in front of the net. It can be very frustrating, especially when teams pressure the hell out of the Hawks PP.

Hawks just need to keep working on the PK, building confidence. Simple clears, winning faceoffs in the defensive zone and pressuring the points.

The offence has been there so far but need to bring down the goals per game. Do that and they should be able to win this game.
- BlackhawkDown

Bringing down goals against per game means on the PK - both by playing the PK better, and by not giving up so many PP opportunities - they've given up only 8 goals 5X5 in 6 games, including 3 Saturday nite to Toronto.

lol i thought it was a mistype can it be true Richard Panik is leading the league in goal scoring! nice this reminds me of the Patrick Sharp trade, lets hope it turns out half as good!
- SaskHawkFan

Not quite ready to go there quite yet, but even the early returns suggest this trade was a fairly big win for Chicago.

While I agree with you, over the last few years the Hawks haven't pressured the points/puck. Their strategy is to take away the passing/shooting lanes. Some of the problem is the Hawks defensemen aren't physical and lose the position battle in front of the net. It can be very frustrating, especially when teams pressure the hell out of the Hawks PP.
- Antz96

There is no position battle in front of the net. Absolutely none. They just ignore the screening player and that's how they've been scored against almost every PK. Clear out the net for god's sake.

Perhaps the baseline for comparison would be Frolik for Skille? The Sharp trade would probably be the best case comparison, and yes, way too early for that.

Edit: I was trying to quote JJ's post. Sometimes the quote function doesn't work.

Flames have more goals on the PK this year than the pp.

They don't have D men that are built around that philosophy. Seabrook and maybe Kempny? They preach active sticks, quick feet, and positioning. Idk why the coaching staff made the switch to this PK style we don't have pylons that will clear the net. When the D does get nasty around the net we usually get called for it.


The PK has scared me since we switched to the crappy passive box. It leaves it so much more up to luck and puck bounces. I'd also rather not see the team's most important 2-way players be repeatedly asked to get down and block shots. I'd rather have them using up energy skating aggressively instead of being rubber eaters. Anyone think Hossa wants to be blocking point bombs instead of skating at guys aggressively?

the HNIC announcers said the other night that if the hawks kill the next 35 pp without giving up a goal, they would only get to 80% PK.

I haven't watched every game but, how many of those losses would've been wins if the PK was at their usual level? One for sure, possibly two?

If you look at Paniks ice time and games played and also factor in 4th line teammates he scores pretty well 5X5. looking at what he did in TOR for 1 year and his games here, it seemed like 20-25 would seem like a reasonable projection when you figure another 50% of ice time and some PP time. I also felt like he passed the eye test for the most part. He is on pace for 82 goals. I would have signed him for at least 2 years if I was Bowman. I know he was thinking what if we cannot protect him but the down side if he goes for 30 goals what do you do? Right now Teows, hossa, Kane, AA, if you add Panik and kruger you still have 1 more FR. PAN, Motte, Schmaltz and I think Hino do not have to be protected. so they guy we would lose right now would be either Pokka, TVR with hart taking the 7th FR spot.

In panik would take a 3 year 5 mil deal would you do it today? I know I would. But bowman does not like to extend guys that are RFA's early and Long term for some reason. would SAAD have taken a 5 year 4.5 mil contract after his 2nd year? my guess is yes. instead he waited and he then wanted 6 x 6 and we traded him for a 3rd line center making 4.5. Bowman under pays the RFA's and over pays the Vets and the rest of the league is doing the opposite right now.

Morin for a bag of pucks would be a big win...

If you look at Paniks ice time and games played and also factor in 4th line teammates he scores pretty well 5X5. looking at what he did in TOR for 1 year and his games here, it seemed like 20-25 would seem like a reasonable projection when you figure another 50% of ice time and some PP time. I also felt like he passed the eye test for the most part. He is on pace for 82 goals. I would have signed him for at least 2 years if I was Bowman. I know he was thinking what if we cannot protect him but the down side if he goes for 30 goals what do you do? Right now Teows, hossa, Kane, AA, if you add Panik and kruger you still have 1 more FR. PAN, Motte, Schmaltz and I think Hino do not have to be protected. so they guy we would lose right now would be either Pokka, TVR with hart taking the 7th FR spot.

In panik would take a 3 year 5 mil deal would you do it today? I know I would. But bowman does not like to extend guys that are RFA's early and Long term for some reason. would SAAD have taken a 5 year 4.5 mil contract after his 2nd year? my guess is yes. instead he waited and he then wanted 6 x 6 and we traded him for a 3rd line center making 4.5. Bowman under pays the RFA's and over pays the Vets and the rest of the league is doing the opposite right now.
- kmw4631

I'd give him a bit more time to show his consistency issues have been resolved, then I would for sure. At that price you'd think he'd be protected in the expansion draft too.

They don't have D men that are built around that philosophy. Seabrook and maybe Kempny? They preach active sticks, quick feet, and positioning. Idk why the coaching staff made the switch to this PK style we don't have pylons that will clear the net. When the D does get nasty around the net we usually get called for it.
- bhawks2241

That's not Q's style. We don't have any of them because they do not fit the Q system.

The PK has scared me since we switched to the crappy passive box. It leaves it so much more up to luck and puck bounces. I'd also rather not see the team's most important 2-way players be repeatedly asked to get down and block shots. I'd rather have them using up energy skating aggressively instead of being rubber eaters. Anyone think Hossa wants to be blocking point bombs instead of skating at guys aggressively?

I don't entirely hate the passive box, but it hasn't worked. I haven't been able to watch many games, so maybe someone can clue me in to what's going on with it. It's a lot of the same guys on the PK, so it's hard to imagine it being an issue with rotations.

@ByScottPowers 5m5 minutes ago View translation
Blackhawks morning skate lines:
Motte-Toews-Panik
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
Hartman-Schmaltz-Hossa
Rasmussen-Kruger-Tootoo

the HNIC announcers said the other night that if the hawks kill the next 35 pp without giving up a goal, they would only get to 80% PK.


I would take that if it led to more wins. I could care less at what the rankings say as clearly they'll be skewed thanks to this awful start.

@ByScottPowers 5m5 minutes ago View translation
Blackhawks morning skate lines:
Motte-Toews-Panik
Panarin-Anisimov-Kane
Hartman-Schmaltz-Hossa
Rasmussen-Kruger-Tootoo
- JRoenick97

Poor Vinny.. can't get out of Q's chateau bow wow

Poor Vinny.. can't get out of Q's chateau bow wow
- golfbard

I'm sure he'll be on his way to Rockford once Desjardins is back.