John Jaeckel: Notes On A Trainwreck

John Jaeckel: Notes On A Trainwreck
- John Jaeckel

Nothing I didn't expect.

Goose stepping to Chelsea Dagger is about the funniest thing you've ever written.

I am to the point where I'm hoping for the meltdown to continue, as it's probably the only way the change that is needed will happen. Q needs to go now, and next year at this time if the team is not in dramatically better shape then Stanbow needs to follow.

Trainwreck is an understatement.

IMO:

Bickell seemed to write his ticket out last night with his (lack of) play.

I think every other team's asking price just went up when it comes to a deal with the Blackhawks after seeing (again) how weak they are in certain areas.

I still cannot figure out Cra(p)wford. He plays a solid game vs. Vancouver although he still manages to stab at the puck with his glove hand (I think in the offseason he needs to take up a game of catch) and then gets lambasted vs a lowly Edmonton team.

bleh.

''Funny how things come full circle. It was the first Edmonton Debacle in November that caused me and a few others to have some serious doubts about this team. We were branded Negative Naysaying Nellies by the One Goal True Believers. "This team is just going through what all good teams do. Stan will fix it. Blah, blah, blah."

How ya feelin' now?''

Do you enjoy this in some sick way because you get to pour salt in the wounds of passionate fans simply because your opinion happened to be right(ish) this time? Congrats, you've been vindicated.

I'd love it if you stopped polarizing this fanbase into rose colored glasses wearing hippies, and truth seeing realists... thanks in advance.

the more i think about the idea of Q dressing Scott in the first game of back-to-backs the angrier i get. it is clear that keith and seabrook are overworked and then you pull that nonsense?

furthermore, his comments after the game about how they have to hit more. that makes no sense for HIM to say that. it makes sense for me or any other fan to say "i wish they would hit more" but for the coach? YOU'RE THE COACH! YOU ARE IN CHARGE! DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE LACK OF HITTING!

maybe Q is fed up with the organization and going through the motions waiting to be fired.

I am to the point where I'm hoping for the meltdown to continue, as it's probably the only way the change that is needed will happen. Q needs to go now, and next year at this time if the team is not in dramatically better shape then Stanbow needs to follow.
- Ogilthorpe2

Agree 100%

I am to the point where I'm hoping for the meltdown to continue, as it's probably the only way the change that is needed will happen. Q needs to go now, and next year at this time if the team is not in dramatically better shape then Stanbow needs to follow.
- Ogilthorpe2

Agreed.

the more i think about the idea of Q dressing Scott in the first game of back-to-backs the angrier i get. it is clear that keith and seabrook are overworked and then you pull that nonsense?

furthermore, his comments after the game about how they have to hit more. that makes no sense for HIM to say that. it makes sense for me or any other fan to say "i wish they would hit more" but for the coach? YOU'RE THE COACH! YOU ARE IN CHARGE! DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE LACK OF HITTING!

maybe Q is fed up with the organization and going through the motions waiting to be fired.
- dr_boloney

He also said that he doesn't feel a trade is needed, that this club had a good run going and they just have to get back to that..

''I say, blame an entire organization that is also top heavy, loaded with functionaries, apparently overlapping responsibilities and oodles of arrogance and self-congratulation. Need proof? Just one example: Team President John McDonough actually has a special, personal hockey adviser (Al McIsaac)— who isn't the GM or Sr. VP Hockey operations (the Bowmans) who also report to him.''

Like in any organization there is a trickle down effect of the personality and philosophy of those at the top, reflected on the ice.

''Funny how things come full circle. It was the first Edmonton Debacle in November that caused me and a few others to have some serious doubts about this team. We were branded Negative Naysaying Nellies by the One Goal True Believers. "This team is just going through what all good teams do. Stan will fix it. Blah, blah, blah."

How ya feelin' now?''

Do you enjoy this in some sick way because you get to pour salt in the wounds of passionate fans simply because your opinion happened to be right(ish) this time? Congrats, you've been vindicated.

I'd love it if you stopped polarizing this fanbase into rose colored glasses wearing hippies, and truth seeing realists... thanks in advance.
- nathanjf

The truth hurts doesn't it.

''Funny how things come full circle. It was the first Edmonton Debacle in November that caused me and a few others to have some serious doubts about this team. We were branded Negative Naysaying Nellies by the One Goal True Believers. "This team is just going through what all good teams do. Stan will fix it. Blah, blah, blah."

How ya feelin' now?''

Do you enjoy this in some sick way because you get to pour salt in the wounds of passionate fans simply because your opinion happened to be right(ish) this time? Congrats, you've been vindicated.

I'd love it if you stopped polarizing this fanbase into rose colored glasses wearing hippies, and truth seeing realists... thanks in advance.
- nathanjf

Your premise is all wrong. I am a truth seeing hippie.

Sorry to have urinated on your Lucky Charms this morning.

Red Light District likely has a blog up that will blame everything on Michal Frolik and John Scott, if that's more your cup of kool aid.

the more i think about the idea of Q dressing Scott in the first game of back-to-backs the angrier i get. it is clear that keith and seabrook are overworked and then you pull that nonsense?

furthermore, his comments after the game about how they have to hit more. that makes no sense for HIM to say that. it makes sense for me or any other fan to say "i wish they would hit more" but for the coach? YOU'RE THE COACH! YOU ARE IN CHARGE! DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE LACK OF HITTING!

maybe Q is fed up with the organization and going through the motions waiting to be fired.
- dr_boloney

I saw that too. If that doesn't scream that Q has lost this team, I don't know what else does.

He also said that he doesn't feel a trade is needed, that this club had a good run going and they just have to get back to that..
- pri$ey

Agreed times a millions. Any sort of rebound now would lead to false implications that we are OK. We're not.

We'll see what this team is made of tonight. If they don't come out and play a full 60 minutes and steamroll the Flames tonight after that garbage last night people need to go. Take your pick Q and any player with the exception of Toews and Hossa.

On paper this team looked like it could pose a legitimate threat to the Stanley Cup this season.
But that was 5 months ago.
Before we knew that Bickell and Frolik would be chronic underachievers, the former of which plays with no heart, the latter of which simply can't freaking put the puck in the net. Before we knew that Leddy isn't ready for the type of minutes he's been getting. Before we knew Q would shuffle lines more than the last few years. Before we knew that Q "wishes" the guys would hit more. Dude, YOU'RE THE COACH!! It's your job to make sure they hit
And the problems continue...whatever the heck is wrong with Kane, Kruger going soft after a promising start, the defensive debacle from hell...This team started with such promise, and now look...Sam Gagner dumps 8 points on 'em. Stanbo, when the heck are you making the trade we all hope will "save" our Hawks?
If you don't do something soon, you'll need to, with more alacrity than now, start worrying about how to "save" your job.

We'll see what this team is made of tonight.
- jhawk159

note: not trying to pick on you but...

how many times are we going to write/say this? at a certain point, you've already found out what this team is made of.

Your premise is all wrong. I am a truth seeing hippie.

Sorry to have urinated on your Lucky Charms this morning.

Red Light District likely has a blog up that will blame everything on Michal Frolik and John Scott, if that's more your cup of kool aid.
- John Jaeckel

Exactly my point. I slight you, so I must be on the other axis of the globe. Funny, that you're the one who is so sensative about people putting words in your mouth. I don't disagree with anything in your blog, except that you seem to enjoy getting to stoke your ego at the expense of fans (as passionate as you) who prefer to look at their team a different way. It's sad.

Where does Scotty Bowman fit into this mess? This situation has to be making him nuts, and I wouldn't be surprised if he "retires". As the saying goes - "Pride goeth before the fall"

Also JJ, can you provide some perspective on the season Crawford is having vs. what Carey Price experienced in his second year (I think). That was when Montreal was callling for his head and Halak was the "savior". I am not comparing Craw to Price - just trying to figure out expectation, talent, etc.

We'll see what this team is made of tonight. If they don't come out and play a full 60 minutes and steamroll the Flames tonight after that garbage last night people need to go. Take your pick Q and any player with the exception of Toews and Hossa.
- jhawk159

Q first. It's easier and cheaper to try swapping in/out a head coach than it is to move a core player. If a new direction provided by a new head coach doesn't work, then Bowman has to look at the "core."

John Jaeckel: Notes On A Trainwreck
- John Jaeckel

Well put, all the emotion aside, the doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is insanity thought played over and over in my head last night.

All the bad goals aside, I was most disheartened by the teams full blown meltdown when it was a 1 goal game with 15 minutes left.

The only solace I will take from this is that perhaps some of these guys will be humbled enough to commit to learning how to win. A few do, but many have false confidence from being on a great squad a few years back. Lets face it, the team is still young in many ways. And sadly there is no sign of maturing.

Lastly, totally hate all the crowd stroking and quirky crap that goes on with the team. We are Chicago fans, some of the most educated sports fans. We don't need to be sold with BS, we buy and sell what we see our guys do on the ice/field.

Exactly my point. I slight you, so I must be on the other axis of the globe. Funny, that you're the one who is so sensative about people putting words in your mouth. I don't disagree with anything in your blog, except that you seem to enjoy getting to stoke your ego at the expense of fans (as passionate as you) who prefer to look at their team a different way. It's sad.
- nathanjf

Whatever man. Wow. Lighten up.

I saw that too. If that doesn't scream that Q has lost this team, I don't know what else does.
- EKolb13

At that point all that could have been done is to start a fight with a player who never fights....Remmey wanted Gagne to get the record.....I could see Q. doing the same.

Q. had the toughest guy in the NHL on the bench and on the ice in the late going...Did it make a difference?

If any Hawk started a fight they would have been suspended for sure...In the case of Scott it wouldn't matter though.

This team as currently constituted probably will not get past the second round of the playoffs. we need a stud d-man bad. And I do agree that the front office first needs to quit the Jedi mind tricks and start looking at this team realistically. Remember... we were all so excited that we saved 7 mill on Campbell, but what good does it do if that money's not spent, as seems to be the case?

But.. does anyone think that the Oilers can give the Hawks a run for their money in a 7 game series right now? Remove those feelings of frustration and cynicism. Think carefully. Now relax. No firesale is necessary.

Where does Scotty Bowman fit into this mess? This situation has to be making him nuts, and I wouldn't be surprised if he "retires". As the saying goes - "Pride goeth before the fall"

Also JJ, can you provide some perspective on the season Crawford is having vs. what Carey Price experienced in his second year (I think). That was when Montreal was callling for his head and Halak was the "savior". I am not comparing Craw to Price - just trying to figure out expectation, talent, etc.
- ksilvy58

The same place he was when Carcillo, OD, Lepisto were signed and Frolik was given a nice raise to be a goal scorer.

You might want to check Scotty's record as a GM.