John Jaeckel: 6 Hawks who need to step up

Thanks again for everything JJ. Oh FIRST!!!!

Good call JJ I too don't see the Jurco love. If he gets sent to Rockford, new coaching staff maybe can get through to him for call up later in the year. Think that if the defense prospects you mention, just play as they can, Hawks will be ok. In other words, don't try and do too much

Not exactly a news flash, but I'm getting the feeling that we are going to see a bit different playing style from the Hawks this year. Considering the players they have added, I would assume we will see a much more vertical/attacking scheme than the east/west game we've seen for the past two. We have more point shot ability on D. We have bigger and faster forwards, that aren't necessarily highly skilled, but definitely more willing to attack the net.

Kane will still be Kane , but I think having a true trigger man on the other side and not someone who will be looking to defer a lot will create a lot more dangerous opportunities. It likely won't be as amazing/dazzling as it has been, but I believe it will be more effective.

Good blog. I concur with this. I think another key player is Sharpie....Hawks could really use 15- 20 goals from him this year.

If Kero steps up this year, could we see him at 2C with AA playing LW?

Are we going to see a new style or simply a return to the style that won the Hawks 3 Cups, i.e., fast breakouts, quick to puck and puck possession? I hope its the latter because when executed well that style wins championships.

Are we going to see a new style or simply a return to the style that won the Hawks 3 Cups, i.e., fast breakouts, quick to puck and puck possession? I hope its the latter because when executed well that style wins championships.
- hankscorpio

Style depends on talent. Hawks won championships because they simply had better players than they do now.

Wouldn't one argue that a guy like Panik needs to step up this year? He had a career year with 44 points but with the loss of Hossa a guy like Panik who was up in the top 6 last year is going to need to step it up and provide more offence.

It took me 5 minutes of wondering why Schmaltz and Forsling are going to where sweater number 21 which I thought was retired.

Enough interwebs for me today.

If Kero steps up this year, could we see him at 2C with AA playing LW?
- tvetter

A step up for Kero would him being a consistent bottom 6 player. He was alright in short bursts, but mediocre in others.

Style depends on talent. Hawks won championships because they simply had better players than they do now.
- kwolf68

Not completely true. The most talented team does not always win. See Washington Capitals.

Hawks had the right talent for the right style when they won.

One could argue that both Crow and Kane need to step up as both lost their "partner" over the summer. The Hawks need both to perform as last year but they will have to do it alone.
Crow might have to play 60+ games and still have enough left to perform in the playoffs.
Kane will have to score with out the protection provided by Panarin's shot. He'll see more pressure and no matter who plays the other wing, that player will not be a factor in the opposition's battle plan to defend the Hawks 2nd line.

As we read John's latest thoughts I want to be careful not to eschew fellow bloggers that any or each of those six Blackhawks will lead us to the Cup this season. That would be really drinking the cool aid.

But I want to go in a different direction here. Be ready for a surprise switch to a different angle on recognizing our men who skate steel on cold ice.

A few years ago the thought struck me, why doesn't our championship teams get a nod of recognition, even if in a backhand way.

When I arrived on a flight into Tampa a few years ago, as we were taxi-ing passengers were greeted by the welcome to Tampa greeting by none other than Vincent Levallier. Did he say, "Vincent Lecavallier of the Stanley Cup Tampa Lightning welcomes you...."

I cannot recall his exact kind words. But how about if we heard that after our Blackhawks won three Cups. : "This is Jonathan Toews of your Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks welcoming you to Chicago...."

Whom can get this done. McDonough. Mayor Emmanuel? It would be a coup de gras for a chutzpah airline like United to step up its customer relations? Ah, but I am sensitive to this board therefore not going off in a tangent.

Continuing that story about the Tampa greeting, later on I asked Wiz if his wife was taken back by this greeting when they returned home. "No, she guessed he was a hockey player," Wiz explained. Really. What ever led her to that conclusion. I know Wiz cheers for the Bears too. But after his wife i just think his next biggest passion is hockey!

So imagine landing in Chicago and hearing Toews voice greeting passengers. Whom does your wife, girlfriend, accompanying friend guess is Jonathan Toews?

Haven't heard that name before, you say. You could tell her that it is the new candidate running for T Preckwinkle office. Or say it is a Blackhawks player.

But to say this next spring is to have been drinking too much cool aid.

One could argue that both Crow and Kane need to step up as both lost their "partner" over the summer. The Hawks need both to perform as last year but they will have to do it alone.
Crow might have to play 60+ games and still have enough left to perform in the playoffs.
Kane will have to score with out the protection provided by Panarin's shot. He'll see more pressure and no matter who plays the other wing, that player will not be a factor in the opposition's battle plan to defend the Hawks 2nd line.
- Weakglovehand20

The blog clearly says that it's focusing on the younger/newer guys who need to progress. Here's the quote: "the Hawks have invested heavily this offseason and last in young players with some NHL experience—who are now being asked, if not expected, to quickly mature as professionals."

Though tbh Kane and Crawford have arguably been the best players/MVPs for the Hawks over the last two seasons, so it's not really about stepping up for them. They just need to maintain their good play (which both have done no matter the defense in front of them or the winger opposite them since like 2013).

Not completely true. The most talented team does not always win. See Washington Capitals.

Hawks had the right talent for the right style when they won.
- hankscorpio

IMO the right coach to get the talent going is key. Lots of teams lose because the coach can't get it done with a talented roster.

Style depends on talent. Hawks won championships because they simply had better players than they do now.
- kwolf68

Judging by what Ulf Samuelson did with the Rangers, I believe we are going to try and play fast ........ more like how we did during the championships

https://youtu.be/YmagU3ZwGyU

How much upside does Panic have? As a scorer? Hmm. Jurco emerging to play similar to Hossa style would be a nice surprise.

Kempny and maybe Ruuta draw my attention as players Samuelson might mold. Both have enough pro experience, so the adjustment to NHL might be possible particularly soon for Kempny.

You can talk all you want about Scmautz but his compete level when the physicsl tone is established only conjures up the memory of TT. Now if Schmautz finally figures out in a couple of years his path to money and success comes with a bigger physicsl sacrifice, now that would be a real surprise

Late edit: I am going to assume Forsling is not ready yet. A turnover machine? I just think he needs to play and get that repitition of reacting automatically where and how to move puck on a dump in. The success rate at this usually takes a couple years or longer. Playing with responsible lines and defense partner can mask his ability and know how in this area of the game. So his nice shot may be belongs in Rockford for a while, although working with a Samuelson is a tonic I have been preaching this summer for the young dmen. Forsling, however, works on experience while receiving plenty TOI in Rockford but less ice in Chicago. Coach Q is firm in that you have to show you deserve playing time.

Good blog. I concur with this. I think another key player is Sharpie....Hawks could really use 15- 20 goals from him this year.
- kwolf68

15-20 goals shouldn't be an issue if he is healthy. Last season he scored 8 in 48 games which is about 13-14 goal pace for a full season, but we know he played hurt for stretches and never got his game going. Season before that he put up 20 goals in 76 games. I think Sharp can still shoot and score if he is anywhere near 100% healthy.

Those 8 goals last season came on him scoring at about half his usual shooting% and if that bouncing back somewhat and he puts pucks on net, he can score some goals. I think we'll see Sharp loading up shots at the left point or that side of the ice on the PP.

How much upside does Panic have? As a scorer? Hmm. Jurco emerging to play similar to Hossa style would be a nice surprise.

Kempny and maybe Ruuta draw my attention as players Samuelson might mold. Both have enough pro experience, so the adjustment to NHL might be possible particularly soon for Kempny.

You can talk all you want about Scmautz but his compete level when the physicsl tone is established only conjures up the memory of TT. Now if Schmautz finally figures out in a couple of years his path to money and success comes with a bigger physicsl sacrifice, now that would be a real surprise
- jhawk59

Nice thing about Panik is he has a decent shot and he goes in for rebounds. Two things that help guys score efficiently on their chances. Chance are probably low that he has any more upside then we've already seen, but he can pounce on opportunities.

A step up for Kero would him being a consistent bottom 6 player. He was alright in short bursts, but mediocre in others.
- L_B_R

With all respects for your stats and efforts, I have to think your sample size on Kero is a bit small. I have been watching hockey for 55 years and I too spent a lot of effort on the game. Having backed off a few years ago and only attending maybe a half dozen games a year I am now just a slug who watches on tv on a regular basis. While attending those games for the last couple of years there has been four players who I had never seen or heard of but watched for one game and said to the people I was with half way through the game "who is that guy? he can play". (not Mcdavid or Matthews)
Those four, in order, were Darling, Kero, Arvidsson, Guentzel. I'm no genius, but once a guy catches my eye I follow him to see how he reads the play and anticipates. (Darling an exception of course). Then continue to watch the other lines and all of a sudden the same guy catches my eye with a play again later in the game.
The jury might still out on Kero, but I'm in his corner and I believe he'll be a regular in the show somewhere at some point. It wouldn't surprise me if another GM wanted him involved in a trade with the hawks.

With all respects for your stats and efforts, I have to think your sample size on Kero is a bit small. I have been watching hockey for 55 years and I too spent a lot of effort on the game. Having backed off a few years ago and only attending maybe a half dozen games a year I am now just a slug who watches on tv on a regular basis. While attending those games for the last few of years there has been four players who I had never seen or heard of but watched for one game and said to the people I was with half way through the game "who is that guy? he can play". (not Mcdavid or Matthews)
Those four, in order, were Darling, Kero, Arvidsson, Guentzel. I'm no genius, but once a guy catches my eye I follow him to see how he reads the play and anticipates. (Darling an exception of course). Then continue to watch the other lines and all of a sudden the same guy catches my eye with a play again later in the game.
The jury might still out on Kero, but I'm in his corner and I believe he'll be a regular in the show somewhere at some point. It wouldn't surprise me if another GM wanted him involved in a trade with the hawks.
- 6628

Obviously I know the game a bit better than computers. Sorry for the double clutch.

Ulf will try to get the guys to do something similar to what the Hurricanes do with their D. High pressure, tight gaps to try and force turnovers.

Upside of it is that it works really well with the sort of defensively forwards the Hawks have made a priority.

Downside is that if your D men aren't on their toes at all times they'll get burned badly. It's really hard on guys that don't move well laterally.

Judging by what Ulf Samuelson did with the Rangers, I believe we are going to try and play fast ........ more like how we did during the championships

https://youtu.be/YmagU3ZwGyU
- chuckdahammer

So then one of the third pair dmen would be.someone who is good at moving the puck. Or is not a turnover machine. Does this speak more to experienced Pokka or Gustafsson then Rutta or Forsling? It might depend in a short camp whom one of Bowman, Q, Samuelson takes a liking to. It might be that the player they like is just the early flavor they like.The puckmover third pair dman could be changed out often. If it is Rozival it will be a turnstile. He is not L Murphy like in coverage and just now too slow.