John Jaeckel: What I learned on my Florida vacation

Very exciting game.

JJ, In the unlikely event that AA is not ready for the playoffs, what would be your best option for his replacement (or would you simply retool all of the lines)?

Call me stupid (and I'm sure many will), but I would give Desi a shot there in the next couple games to see what happens. He goes to the net, is defensively responsible, and has a little bit of offense to his game. They've tried almost everything else... why not?

JJ, In the unlikely event that AA is not ready for the playoffs, what would be your best option for his replacement (or would you simply retool all of the lines)?

Call me stupid (and I'm sure many will), but I would give Desi a shot there in the next couple games to see what happens. He goes to the net, is defensively responsible, and has a little bit of offense to his game. They've tried almost everything else... why not?
- Chunk

I would still like to give Kero a chance to see what he can do. By no means to I think Kero is a legit 2C, but as a short-term replacement I think that of all the available options Kero's game most closely resembles Anisimov's.

I would still like to give Kero a chance to see what he can do. By no means to I think Kero is a legit 2C, but as a short-term replacement I think that of all the available options Kero's game most closely resembles Anisimov's.
- DarthKane

I thought he had a pretty good game yesterday, considering what he was asked to do. I like Kero's game, but if history tells us anything, Q leans on vets in the playoffs (That said, he did play TVR in the Finals). I guess I was just looking at the worst case scenario and wonder what would be the best course of action.

Vinnie Kero Hartman was a line i liked a lot. Put that back into the chemistry playset.

They need AA back for line 2, run 8-19-14 as line one, Hartman-Kero-Hossa line 3, and Desi-Kruger-Tootoo/Ras/Jurco/Hayden line 4. Those top 2 lines were rolling over teams in Febuary.

Question for anyone who actually gets to watch Rockford:

How has Motte been playing. I heard a while back he got injured, but I thought he was pack playing again. Any notable progress?

They need AA back for line 2, run 8-19-14 as line one, Hartman-Kero-Hossa line 3, and Desi-Kruger-Tootoo/Ras/Jurco/Hayden line 4. Those top 2 lines were rolling over teams in Febuary.
- JRoenick97

Any Anisimov update?

They need AA back for line 2, run 8-19-14 as line one, Hartman-Kero-Hossa line 3, and Desi-Kruger-Tootoo/Ras/Jurco/Hayden line 4. Those top 2 lines were rolling over teams in Febuary.
- JRoenick97

Agreed about the top 3 lines, but I'm not sure how the 4th line shapes up.

I would go with Kruger and Rasmussen, but I'm not sure who plays the other wing. Desjardins is probably most likely, but if they finish strong maybe Jurco or Hayden sneak in there.

John Jaeckel: What I learned on my Florida vacation
- John Jaeckel

Did you go to Disney World at least, JJ?

Agreed about the top 3 lines, but I'm not sure how the 4th line shapes up.

I would go with Kruger and Rasmussen, but I'm not sure who plays the other wing. Desjardins is probably most likely, but if they finish strong maybe Jurco or Hayden sneak in there.
- DarthKane

Yeah, I assume it would rotate dependent on the opponent and how we were doing.

These last 6 regular season games are more crucial for getting the level of play elevated and consistent more so than points in the standings. Hopefully Q moves out of the tinkering phase soon and settles on lines and then lets them play together for some games heading into the playoffs. Obviously Q can't put the playoff lineup together until Anisimov is back, but he should be able to have the 8-19-14 and 38-16-81 lines together from now until the playoffs and possibly even the 4th line depending on who he wants to center the 2nd line while AA is still out.

The point is, Q has had ample time to tinker and experiment, it's now the time to construct the playoffs lineup and let them play together for a handful of games before the playoffs start.

Remember when Hawk fans wouldn't trade TT for Drouin a few years back?

The one positive I have seen these past two games in Florida? Panik

Seriously, this guy is a beast and he's already in playoff mode. We know he's big yeah but his strength is off the charts. I think as JJ had alluded to before in a previous blog a lot of the chirping directed his way after the whistle is simply guys frustrated who can't deal with him physically, he is a wrecking ball out there and his hands and scoring touch have improved in leaps and bounds over the season.

Let's keep him in the Indianhead for the foreseeable future please STAN.

Remember when Hawk fans wouldn't trade TT for Drouin a few years back?
- Antz96

Clearly a mistake....but don't forget that was mostly when Drouin was holding out and his attitude was being called into question.

The one positive I have seen these past two games in Florida? Panik

Seriously, this guy is a beast and he's already in playoff mode. We know he's big yeah but his strength is off the charts. I think as JJ had alluded to before in a previous blog a lot of the chirping directed his way after the whistle is simply guys frustrated who can't deal with him physically, he is a wrecking ball out there and his hands and scoring touch have improved in leaps and bounds over the season.

Let's keep him in the Indianhead for the foreseeable future please STAN.
- Ballam

- DarthKane

I mean he even had Jagr looking up from the ice thinking "WTF just hit me?"

Clearly a mistake....but don't forget that was mostly when Drouin was holding out and his attitude was being called into question.
- DarthKane

Yes, and that was the reason he was attainable. Didn't something similar happen with TT? I thought I remember seeing that the reason he came over was he was able to bargain a spot on the team instead of Rockford. It makes sense since he didn't light the A on fire (or NHL) and was promoted to a bottom 6 role which did not suit his playing style.

Yes, and that was the reason he was attainable. Didn't something similar happen with TT? I thought I remember seeing that the reason he came over was he was able to bargain a spot on the team instead of Rockford. It makes sense since he didn't light the A on fire (or NHL) and was promoted to a bottom 6 role which did not suit his playing style.
- Antz96

But TT played where he was asked to play, he didn't hold out.

Hindsight is 20/20, but at the time taking on Drouin's situation would have been a bit of a risk. Plus, TT outplayed Drouin in the 2015 playoffs and that was fresh in people's minds.

Drouin is a star in the making. Game-breaking talent and made Oduya and Seabrook look like they were skating in mud....

Drouin is a star in the making. Game-breaking talent and make Oduya and Seabrook look like they were skating in mud....
- EnzoD

Seabrook has been knee-deep in mud most of the season. Time will tell on Oduya.

Clearly a mistake....but don't forget that was mostly when Drouin was holding out and his attitude was being called into question.
- DarthKane

Hindsight is always 20/20, especially when removed from context.

Hopefully the chemistry experiment puts Campbell in the pressbox for a few while Kempny gets to find his legs. Soupy looks timid and weak on the puck while his skating seems to be on a rapid decline. On the flipside, TVR has been fairly consistent as a 3rd pairing, keeping it simple.

But TT played where he was asked to play, he didn't hold out.

Hindsight is 20/20, but at the time taking on Drouin's situation would have been a bit of a risk. Plus, TT outplayed Drouin in the 2015 playoffs and that was fresh in people's minds.
- DarthKane

I thought he delayed coming over because he didn't want to play in the AHL. It definitely was a risk, but there was already a half season of play to determine TT wasn't going to be that guy from the playoffs anytime soon. It was a gamble, but a low risk one when you consider they had to know it was TT's last season with the Hawks last year.