John Jaeckel: Turning Point at TD?

1st?

JJ what does the call up of another goalie for the Hogs mean for the big club? Is it another sign that they are considering moving Crow? Or just a sign they aren't happy with Carruth? Or both?

EDIT: signing Darling to a cap friendly number and the expansion draft requirements are two mighty big variables for the cap wizard to work around.

So handcuff the dads like a chain gang and drag them with everywhere the hawks play.

JJ, great blog. Definitely Crow is on my mind and of course speculating is fun but in your opinion is moving Crow in the summer realistic? I would say yes and I agree that Darling is ready to be a number one in the NHL if not with the Hawks. Will the Hawks have the guts to pull the trigger? I'm all for it.

One more thing. You hear anything about them wanting to add a veteran defenseman? It showed up in one of the Canadian mainline hockey writers talking about it and on the ESPN trade deadline league wide summary piece. I initially dismissed it, but 2 mainline hockey sources having it makes me pause. I'm with you - they need a LW for Toews more. But I thought they needed D help bad and they went out and got 3 Fs last year instead so what do I know?

While watching the first period I noticed Boston wasn't generating very many high quality shots. Most of their shots were just thrown at the net from whatever angle they managed to get. I counted at least 4 shots from the side wall that Darling(and any NHL goaltender would have) easily directed into the corner.

This isn't to say the Hawks were any good in the first 20 minutes, just that the shot totals were blown up by some very weak shot attempts. The trendy thing is to say the same thing about the Hawks when they blow up their shot totals with outside shot attempts(like in the Minnesota game), so the same has to be said when other teams do the same thing.

Those shutdown lines

2013: Bolland-Kruger-Frolik

2015: Desi-Kruger-Shaw

There were shots last night that I just know Crow does not stop!!
Plus, 19 looks lost, I know a great deal of this is confidence but he kills so many plays...Even on the PP with Kane, he makes weak choices, wide angle shot attempts etc...I've way more confidence in Panik and Hartman coming into the zone with the puck then 19....Is it possible that this dream top six winger that will magically turn 19 into his former self just that, a dream??

Great read as always John. The Bruins are on a bit of a downside this season, but this is always a tough matchup for the Hawks and are still a very solid club.

No question Darling was great last night. I would think he's going to get some more starts here with CC having a bit of a slump post surgery. And the new Hossa line has paid dividens...I've also been really impressed with Kempny, who seems to bring an edge to his game and the body. Something we only see from Seabs on the backend.

Could the tonic of a left wing be what ales Toews. I still have to believe his back is an issue despite what he's said. So Vanek/Sharp/JVR/Landy...etc...options are out there.

The reality is you're going to have to move either Crawford or Seabs in the offseason to accommodate the Panarin deal. I would think 7s deal is going to be harder to move.

One more thing. You hear anything about them wanting to add a veteran defenseman? It showed up in one of the Canadian mainline hockey writers talking about it and on the ESPN trade deadline league wide summary piece. I initially dismissed it, but 2 mainline hockey sources having it makes me pause. I'm with you - they need a LW for Toews more. But I thought they needed D help bad and they went out and got 3 Fs last year instead so what do I know?
- Marlowe

Hockey writers in Canada know Scotty Bowman's recipe for winning in the playoffs has always been having lots of good defenceman, especially veterans who can chew up minutes and not make any grevious mistakes.

Even if they aren't super thrilled with Campbell, Kempny, Rosy and Forsling, I really doubt another defenceman is a priority at this point. In fact, they probably will be moving some of their Rockford D guys in a package if they do some trading.

I think moving CC a Seabs if you can is the obvious choice moving forward and getting younger. Kane and Panarin are world players and something to build around. As well Darling seems up to the task if they can resign at a good price.

This is still a very good team but not sure adding a Vanek would make any difference to the Toews line and would worry about giving up too much for a rental.

Toews no longer playing like Toews is the biggest issue moving forward both for the playoffs and in the coming years. What to do with a franchise icon who for whatever reason went from a warrior who carried the team on his back to a player who is invisible on most nights.

According to the Tribune article, the Hawks gave up 8 high danger scoring chances in the 1st period, among the 17 shots. But don't forget, a scoring chance may not turn out to be a shot on goal.

That said, they yielded only 5 shots, and no high danger chances, in the last 20 minutes. This against a desperate Boston team that is fighting for their playoff lives, and coming off 2 bad losses. So the Hawks can shut it down when they need/want to.

The problem with 19 was highlighted on the NHL Network game recap last night. They showed a defensive zone play, the one that the Bruin hit the short side post. The right wing (sorry, don't remember who) had a chance to stop Chara as he came to the puck near the blueline along the boards. But instead of putting the body on Chara to impede his forward progress with the puck, he tried a stick check, and missed. Towes was then forced to defend both Chara and the man in the corner, covering for the right wing. Ended up with a shot off the post.

The problem is 19 is being forced to do too much, as he drags around his linemates. Panik, for one, is horrible on the defensive side. Put Toews back with a couple of vets, and I believe most of his troubles go away, both in the offensive and defensive zones.

So handcuff the dads like a chain gang and drag them with everywhere the hawks play.
- 6628

I think moving CC a Seabs if you can is the obvious choice moving forward and getting younger. Kane and Panarin are world players and something to build around. As well Darling seems up to the task if they can resign at a good price.

This is still a very good team but not sure adding a Vanek would make any difference to the Toews line and would worry about giving up too much for a rental.

Toews no longer playing like Toews is the biggest issue moving forward both for the playoffs and in the coming years. What to do with a franchise icon who for whatever reason went from a warrior who carried the team on his back to a player who is invisible on most nights.
- Hawkster

So where do you propose Cro and Seabrook get moved to? Their contracts make a trade unlikely without taking back a bad contract.

Hockey people know Cro is a very fine netminder but they also know Ben Bishop, Fleury, Jimmy Howard and even guys like Steve Mason, Varlomov and Ryan Miller are available short term too.

How about this - play Darling a lot before the TDL and make him the guy available in an effort to acquire a good young forward with an affordable contract. The acquiring team could probably then sign him for around $3M to be their #1 if they think he is the real deal. (I'm thinking teams like Buffalo, Winnipeg, Calgary, Arizona even Tampa Bay).

But I don't expect anything to happen this season, the Hawks are set in goal for now and just keep winning, even if the way they do it is ugly.

One more thing. You hear anything about them wanting to add a veteran defenseman? It showed up in one of the Canadian mainline hockey writers talking about it and on the ESPN trade deadline league wide summary piece. I initially dismissed it, but 2 mainline hockey sources having it makes me pause. I'm with you - they need a LW for Toews more. But I thought they needed D help bad and they went out and got 3 Fs last year instead so what do I know?
- Marlowe

If the Hawks can squeeze nearly $6M of pro-rated cap space at the deadline, it would make more sense to add 2 players at $3M than only 1 at $6M (like Sharp). Let's say they add Vanek and a solid stay at home defenceman with size. Then the rumours about them seeking a D and a LW make sense.
This allows them to now replace 2 players instead of just 1 (say Tootoo & Rozsival), again helping the cap situation and improving team depth.

There were shots last night that I just know Crow does not stop!!
Plus, 19 looks lost, I know a great deal of this is confidence but he kills so many plays...Even on the PP with Kane, he makes weak choices, wide angle shot attempts etc...I've way more confidence in Panik and Hartman coming into the zone with the puck then 19....Is it possible that this dream top six winger that will magically turn 19 into his former self just that, a dream??
- Joeron

He plays for Columbus right now unfortunately.

To be fair, Toews has to step up and drive the offense. I don't know if he got injured in the World Cup or what, but he played pretty well in the World Cup... then again, he had a star studded team with him.

If he keeps playing with the pace and aggression that he has shown recently, I would think Schmaltz gets a few game tryout with Toews. Someone on Toews line needs to be able to handle the puck and Panik and Hartman seem to lose the puck quite easily (or not even be able to handle it in the first place). I'm not saying he is the answer by any means, but it looks like his his time in RFD did him well. Less floating and positionally better.

When Kruger comes back I think they put him with Ras and Panik again, and maybe push Schmaltz to a higher line for a bit (absent a trade of course).

If he keeps playing with the pace and aggression that he has shown recently, I would think Schmaltz gets a few game tryout with Toews. Someone on Toews line needs to be able to handle the puck and Panik and Hartman seem to lose the puck quite easily (or not even be able to handle it in the first place). I'm not saying he is the answer by any means, but it looks like his his time in RFD did him well. Less floating and positionally better.

When Kruger comes back I think they put him with Ras and Panik again, and maybe push Schmaltz to a higher line for a bit (absent a trade of course).
- Chunk

I had the same thoughts this morning. Schmaltz is looking better each game and Panik simply cannot hang on to the puck well enough for a front line player. I have no problem with Hartman on that line tho.
Kruger/Panik/Rasmussen is a nice third line with size and the ability to chip in the odd goal.

So where do you propose Cro and Seabrook get moved to? Their contracts make a trade unlikely without taking back a bad contract.

Hockey people know Cro is a very fine netminder but they also know Ben Bishop, Fleury, Jimmy Howard and even guys like Steve Mason, Varlomov and Ryan Miller are available short term too.

How about this - play Darling a lot before the TDL and make him the guy available in an effort to acquire a good young forward with an affordable contract. The acquiring team could probably then sign him for around $3M to be their #1 if they think he is the real deal. (I'm thinking teams like Buffalo, Winnipeg, Calgary, Arizona even Tampa Bay).

But I don't expect anything to happen this season, the Hawks are set in goal for now and just keep winning, even if the way they do it is ugly.
- RickJ

I said "if you can"....did not say they would able to and never said it would have to be this season. And ok the Darling scenario perhaps works but the team is still in a cap crunch next season with the Panarin contract....so how does the team move forward?

Reality is they have two very large and long contracts (19 & 7) to two players who are underperforming in regards to their salary and which is handicapping the depth of this team and will be for many more years. CC is still all world but the team may no longer be able to afford him.

End result is a mix bag of results with a good team but probably no longer a cup contending team.

Depends what the FO wants, loyalty to players and holding on to bad contracts or being risk takers and realizing when mistakes have been made?

So something like this:

Panarin-AA-Kane
Hartman-Toews-XXX(trade acquisition)
Hinostroza-Kero-Hossa
Rasmussen-Kruger-Panik

....so maybe we should be looking for a RW instead of a LW? Or maybe move Hartman to RW?

scottack: >>The problem is 19 is being forced to do too much, as he drags around his linemates. Panik, for one, is horrible on the defensive side. Put Toews back with a couple of vets, and I believe most of his troubles go away, both in the offensive and defensive zones.<<

Reducing toews issues to this does not pass the test. He had Hossa all last year and he has been matched Kane and Panerin at times...also he get PP opps.

I have focused on him (as much as the cameras allow) he is not playing at the compete level intensity he HAS played at. His passes are off both receiving and giving, his board play is weak by toews standards, his shot selection and accuracy is off (when he does get them). Of course I am not saying at 27-28 he is done...thats foolish but there is more going on here than who is linemates are.

his last 80 regular season games (going back to 1/1/16) he has 21 goals and and 29 assists...and I would guess 1/2 those goals came in OT and PP.

I said "if you can"....did not say they would able to and never said it would have to be this season. And ok the Darling scenario perhaps works but the team is still in a cap crunch next season with the Panarin contract....so how does the team move forward?

Reality is they have two very large and long contracts to two players who are severely underperforming in regards to their salary and which is handicapping the depth of this team and will be for many more years.

End result is a mix bag of results with a good team but probably no longer a cup contending team.

Depends what the FO wants, loyalty to players and holding on to bad contracts or being risk takers and realizing when mistakes have been made?
- Hawkster

Guess it depends on how you look at this squad this season - they don't look very impressive most nights, every game is a one goal nail biter, Toews is having the worst season of his career etc. Yet they are a good team because with their goaltending they haven't let their poor stretches last more than 2 or 3 games; bad teams lose 5 or 6 in a row or go 2-8 in a 10 game span. Hell, they are making Minnesota win just about every night to stay with them in the standings, and that's with 5 or 6 rookies in the lineup.

Dumping players like Seabrook because of his contract isn't risk taking or admitting a mistake if the return is next to nothing, it's a sure way of turning the team into an also ran - who's going to replace him, Ville Pokka or Rozsival? That's the type of thing the Islanders, Bruins and even the Blues have done and look how they are trending.

No longer the dominant team but still near the top of the NHL.

Those shutdown lines

2013: Bolland-Kruger-Frolik

2015: Desi-Kruger-Shaw

Sorry, quotes not working, so I made my own.

Bolly and Frolik could dent the twine with a shortie, too! Shaw, as well, in 2015.

And, the Kruger-Frolix or the Desi-Kruger pair was some reliable penalty killing that would usually take the first 40-second and last 40-second shifts. Less time for Toews and Hossa to have to be out there.

But it also really magniifies the obvious hole on Jonathan Toews’ line, where Richard Panik and Ryan Hartman provide a lot of effort, but not much results.

-JJ

Jonathan Toews is the hole on that second line and whoever plays with him watches their production go down it. Look what happened when Hossa and Kane were moved to play with other teammates. You could put Ovechkin on his wing and Toews will still need to win a board battle to keep a play going or complete a cross ice pass, and up to this point he's shown that he either can't or doesn't care to do either of those things.