John Jaeckel: It's Left Wing, Stupid

JvR is port side... first...

I was hoping when you said it would be a broken record that not all of it would be a broken record haha but all this has been said before. Wait to see what happens I guess. Thanks for the updates John, Do you think it will be a lot closer to the deadline before things start picking up and we have a better idea of if something will happen? and eventually actually seeing something happen?

"The hole is on the port side."

I like it...can I borrow it JJ?

Love JVR too. I would rather get him than anyone. Although if Avs retained enough of Duchene I would have to think harder.

John Jaeckel: It's Left Wing, Stupid
- John Jaeckel

- Nucker101

can she shoot

Respectfully, I don't understand how so many who follow so closely don't acknowledge the cap and what it's done to EVERY single team. EVERY team has holes and they all try and plug them within the vice grip of the cap.

The Hawks need a top 6 LW. Respectfully, not a revelation. But let me ask do these teams who are in the playoff hunt have holes in their top 6? Are they worse off in their top 6 than the Hawks? Players in the top 6:

ANA: Cogliano

CAL: Tkachuk, Brouwer, Frolik

DAL: Eakin, Rousell, Ritchie

FLA: Jokinen, R. Smith

LA: Pearson, Brown, Gaborik

MIN: Zucker, Neiderreiter, Tuch

MTL: Byron, Dennault, Desharnais

NSH: Arvidsson, Watson, C. Smith

OTT: Ryan, C. Smith, Dzingel

PITT: Cullen, Guentzel, Rust

STL: Perron, Lehtara

TB: Killorn, Namestikov, Point

WSH: Lewis


Let me ask do any of the listed clubs have a top 4 of Kane, Panarin, Hossa, Toews? Do they have a top 3 of Keith, Seabs, Hammer? A two time cup winning goalie? Some have as good a, b or c but IMO not across the board.

Some of the above have injuries and some choose to use a top 6 Hossa type on the 3rd line for balance but it still remains every team has guys who don't belong in the top 6 or defensive top 4.

My point(s) today is the same as it was when the season started. Due to the cap it's not how much better a team gets it's how much less worse due to losses cuz of the cap. Every team has holes. Every team will have to fill holes with rookies who are not ready. Every team will try to fit square pegs in round holes.

Do the Hawks need a top 6 LW? Of course they do. Are they the only ones with holes? Absolutely not. Should the Hawks fill as many holes as they can without gutting the system? IMO yes but don't gut the thing. Make the team better with improvement of your own players, make the team better with a bonafide vet 3rd liner, make the team better with a legit #4 Dman, make the team better with a 2LW, but realize before you gut that every team has holes.

JJ, spot on. And further to your point about Wirtz & Co having a substantial financial interest in sustaining deep runs, keep in mind the rise of the Cubs. For the first time in nearly a decade, the Hawks are not the "it" team in Chicago -- and the impact is quite visible in the crash of the secondary market for Hawks tickets and the sale of Hawks merchandise. McD understands that the organization needs to not only make a splash, but achieve some measure of success as a result of said splash in order to remain top of mind for Chicago sports fans (and thus financially successful).

Respectfully, I don't understand how so many who follow so closely don't acknowledge the cap and what it's done to EVERY single team. EVERY team has holes and they all try and plug them within the vice grip of the cap.

The Hawks need a top 6 LW. Respectfully, not a revelation. But let me ask do these teams who are in the playoff hunt have holes in their top 6? Are they worse off in their top 6 than the Hawks? Players in the top 6:

ANA: Cogliano

CAL: Tkachuk, Brouwer, Frolik

DAL: Eakin, Rousell, Ritchie

FLA: Jokinen, R. Smith

LA: Pearson, Brown, Gaborik

MIN: Zucker, Neiderreiter, Tuch

MTL: Byron, Dennault, Desharnais

NSH: Arvidsson, Watson, C. Smith

OTT: Ryan, C. Smith, Dzingel

PITT: Cullen, Guentzel, Rust

STL: Perron, Lehtara

TB: Killorn, Namestikov, Point

WSH: Lewis


Let me ask do any of the listed clubs have a top 4 of Kane, Panarin, Hossa, Toews? Do they have a top 3 of Keith, Seabs, Hammer? A two time cup winning goalie? Some have as good a, b or c but IMO not across the board.

Some of the above have injuries and some choose to use a top 6 Hossa type on the 3rd line for balance but it still remains every team has guys who don't belong in the top 6 or defensive top 4.

My point(s) today is the same as it was when the season started. Due to the cap it's not how much better a team gets it's how much less worse due to losses cuz of the cap. Every team has holes. Every team will have to fill holes with rookies who are not ready. Every team will try to fit square pegs in round holes.

Do the Hawks need a top 6 LW? Of course they do. Are they the only ones with holes? Absolutely not. Should the Hawks fill as many holes as they can without gutting the system? IMO yes but don't gut the thing. Make the team better with improvement of your own players, make the team better with a bonafide vet 3rd liner, make the team better with a legit #4 Dman, make the team better with a 2LW, but realize before you gut that every team has holes.
- Mr Ricochet

Great info Rico.......kudos on the research fine sir.

JJ, spot on. And further to your point about Wirtz & Co having a substantial financial interest in sustaining deep runs, keep in mind the rise of the Cubs. For the first time in nearly a decade, the Hawks are not the "it" team in Chicago -- and the impact is quite visible in the crash of the secondary market for Hawks tickets and the sale of Hawks merchandise. McD understands that the organization needs to not only make a splash, but achieve some measure of success as a result of said splash in order to remain top of mind for Chicago sports fans (and thus financially successful).
- gmurban

Agree GM......but as a fan of both teams, I think even McD knows that ship has sailed. The Hawks could win the SC this year and still take a back seat to the Cubs. To me its still the bigger picture, Baseball vs Hockey.

Doesn't mean they shouldn't do everything in their power to win #4 but the Hawks won't overtake the Cubs in media coverage, merchandise sales anytime soon. Just my opinion.

Why does Toews need so much help? He's a "top 100" player, Why can't he get the job done with the tools given?

Crosby has played with the likes of Sheary, Hornqvist, Dupuis, Rust, insert about any farm hand winger and I don't hear him complaining, just see him producing

Can't he simply "lead" some rookie into being an effective winger on his line?

What gives?

A frustrated GM said that they are only two sellers right now. In the next few weeks that should change.

Respectfully, I don't understand how so many who follow so closely don't acknowledge the cap and what it's done to EVERY single team. EVERY team has holes and they all try and plug them within the vice grip of the cap.

The Hawks need a top 6 LW. Respectfully, not a revelation. But let me ask do these teams who are in the playoff hunt have holes in their top 6? Are they worse off in their top 6 than the Hawks? Players in the top 6:

ANA: Cogliano

CAL: Tkachuk, Brouwer, Frolik

DAL: Eakin, Rousell, Ritchie

FLA: Jokinen, R. Smith

LA: Pearson, Brown, Gaborik

MIN: Zucker, Neiderreiter, Tuch

MTL: Byron, Dennault, Desharnais

NSH: Arvidsson, Watson, C. Smith

OTT: Ryan, C. Smith, Dzingel

PITT: Cullen, Guentzel, Rust

STL: Perron, Lehtara

TB: Killorn, Namestikov, Point

WSH: Lewis


Let me ask do any of the listed clubs have a top 4 of Kane, Panarin, Hossa, Toews? Do they have a top 3 of Keith, Seabs, Hammer? A two time cup winning goalie? Some have as good a, b or c but IMO not across the board.

Some of the above have injuries and some choose to use a top 6 Hossa type on the 3rd line for balance but it still remains every team has guys who don't belong in the top 6 or defensive top 4.

My point(s) today is the same as it was when the season started. Due to the cap it's not how much better a team gets it's how much less worse due to losses cuz of the cap. Every team has holes. Every team will have to fill holes with rookies who are not ready. Every team will try to fit square pegs in round holes.

Do the Hawks need a top 6 LW? Of course they do. Are they the only ones with holes? Absolutely not. Should the Hawks fill as many holes as they can without gutting the system? IMO yes but don't gut the thing. Make the team better with improvement of your own players, make the team better with a bonafide vet 3rd liner, make the team better with a legit #4 Dman, make the team better with a 2LW, but realize before you gut that every team has holes.
- Mr Ricochet

I understand what you are saying, but most of the serious contenders that you listed are deeper than the hawks outside the top 6. And if a top 6 winger isn't acquired so panik and Hartman can strengthen the bottom six, this is a one round, maybe two round team.

The closer Toews gets to 100% healthy, the less he needs a top shelf LW. Having said that, if the second coming of Al Secord fell into our laps, start etching those names on that silver chalice now.

Totally clueless!

All of those mention are better than anyone 19 has played with in 2 years.

Stick to cheerleading.

Love the kid, but just not gonna moan too much about Toews not having a LW...when you consume that much salary it stands to reason there will be less to stock other parts of the roster. Generally, you get what you pay for.

Johhny Oduya. You heard it here first.

Guys, it isn't all about Toews needing a LW but the Hawks needing someone to play LW minutes effectively. The Hawks weakest forward position is LW and they only have 1 guy on LW who is a legit top 6 guy. That is the point. Doesn't matter who they play with or which line, the Hawks need depth (with skill) at that position. Two/Three/Four years back the Hawks had more depth along the LW. When they won the cup in 2015, they had Saad on line 1. Versteeg/Bickell playing on line 2. Sharp on line 3. etc..

Compare that to the LW group lately....

Schmaltz/Panarin/Rasmussen/Hartman....Nothing against them, but this group doesn't have the experience. Panarin is kinda a vet, but still only his second NHL season. Rasmussen in his first Full season, after playing about half the year on the 4th line last year. Hartman is an NHL rookie, but a fairly "ready" one at least. Schmaltz is still a bit too green, but the potential is there. The Hawks can use some depth/experience and skill on the LW side.

Hartman is a prime example of a player's performance improving when properly slotted in the lineup. Solid performance on the 3rd/4th lines, overmatched on Toews left side.

Both Panik and Schmaltz would benefit as well. Scmaltz MAY have a future in the top 6, but he's not ready now.

Respectfully, I don't understand how so many who follow so closely don't acknowledge the cap and what it's done to EVERY single team. EVERY team has holes and they all try and plug them within the vice grip of the cap.

The Hawks need a top 6 LW. Respectfully, not a revelation. But let me ask do these teams who are in the playoff hunt have holes in their top 6? Are they worse off in their top 6 than the Hawks? Players in the top 6:


MIN: Zucker, Neiderreiter, Tuch


PITT: Cullen, Guentzel, Rust


WSH: Lewis


Let me ask do any of the listed clubs have a top 4 of Kane, Panarin, Hossa, Toews? Do they have a top 3 of Keith, Seabs, Hammer? A two time cup winning goalie? Some have as good a, b or c but IMO not across the board.

Some of the above have injuries and some choose to use a top 6 Hossa type on the 3rd line for balance but it still remains every team has guys who don't belong in the top 6 or defensive top 4.

My point(s) today is the same as it was when the season started. Due to the cap it's not how much better a team gets it's how much less worse due to losses cuz of the cap. Every team has holes. Every team will have to fill holes with rookies who are not ready. Every team will try to fit square pegs in round holes.

Do the Hawks need a top 6 LW? Of course they do. Are they the only ones with holes? Absolutely not. Should the Hawks fill as many holes as they can without gutting the system? IMO yes but don't gut the thing. Make the team better with improvement of your own players, make the team better with a bonafide vet 3rd liner, make the team better with a legit #4 Dman, make the team better with a 2LW, but realize before you gut that every team has holes.
- Mr Ricochet

While your point is fair, you probably could have not mentioned the Penguins or Caps. They have the most complete top 6/9 in the league and probably do have 4 players who match fairly well against the Hawks big 4 (especially the Pens). Who is Lewis you mention for the Caps, btw?

And for the Wild, I'm not sure why you're mentioning Zucker and Niederreiter as if they're issues - both are legit top 6 players. I'd love Zucker on the Hawks, he'd be 3rd on the Hawks in terms of points and PPG (Niederreiter would be 4th but Zucker is more well rounded + LW). Not Kane/Panarin levels of production, but damn good and they're only 24/25 so entering prime. Tuch is understandable to mention since he a young rookie.

Agree with the other points, though I too think if they can get at least a middle 6 LW, that would be ideal so they can slot Schmaltz and/or Panik down.

Johhny Oduya. You heard it here first.
- onehundredlevel

Would love to have him back.....

Good blog John. Kempny is built more for playoff hockey and has experience. Kid has some rough edges, but he can play heavy and wheel. He needs the time and should be given it.


Alex Killorn would be a decent add, but it would be nice to have a guy like JVR or Dutch.

Rico and research That stuff most likely comes off of the top of his head

John Jaeckel: It's Left Wing, Stupid
- John Jaeckel

Solid blog JJ. Too bad it's wasted on these mungers.