John Jaeckel: Organizational Grades 1.0: Forwards

Is it possible to get an overall GPA? Haha.

Nice read John.

Good analysis jj.

Minus a possible move to bring in a power forward, I don't see the hawks doing much with their forwards this summer. In many ways the Hawks will have to wait to see how things develop next year. Is Shaw for real? Will Hayes develop to a more complete player? Can Kruger beef up? Was this a career year or a breakout year for Stalberg? Will Bickell use his size consistently? Is Olsen ready for the NHL? Will Leddy get better in his own zone?

The Hawks have a lot of young kids on their roster, the reliance on them may have hurt them this year, but they gained experience for next year. With the CBA issues over they summer I do not expect the forward to change much. However, depending on how this issues progress I can foresee an active trade deadline summer '13.

>JJ, nice read and analysis
>Is Kane the second line center or not?

Good analysis jj.

Minus a possible move to bring in a power forward, I don't see the hawks doing much with their forwards this summer. In many ways the Hawks will have to wait to see how things develop next year. Is Shaw for real? Will Hayes develop to a more complete player? Can Kruger beef up? Was this a career year or a breakout year for Stalberg? Will Bickell use his size consistently? Is Olsen ready for the NHL? Will Leddy get better in his own zone?

The Hawks have a lot of young kids on their roster, the reliance on them may have hurt them this year, but they gained experience for next year. With the CBA issues over they summer I do not expect the forward to change much. However, depending on how this issues progress I can foresee an active trade deadline summer '13.
- wkol2593

Yes, those are all the relevant questions! In regards to Bickell, greatly improved at the end of the season from the red line in, but he has a lot of improving to do in his own end as well if he wants to stick as a 3rd liner. Still pisses me off that he was watching Brule's backside as he put the dagger in the net with the 2nd goal.
Bickell has to avoid those mental lapses in his own end. Hopefully the light will turn completely on; his physical game will be needed.

John Jaeckel: Organizational Grades 1.0: Forwards
- John Jaeckel

JJ,

What did you think of Stan's presser yesterday? He said you needed to take the regular season and not just the playoffs into consideration when evaluating the year.

How the hell does that mesh with the One Goal marketing campaign?

JJ,

What is going on with Mayers? He seems to be a great teammate and a bargain. Did he piss off somebody?

Thanks again for another year of great insight.

Not yet sold on Hayes and definitely not Bickell. Their ceilings to me look like a poor man's Buff. Big, strong, good hands, can be counted on for only half a season.

If we can bring in some prime grit and get rid of the 35+ yo's, we should be able to compete.

JJ,

What is going on with Mayers? He seems to be a great teammate and a bargain. Did he piss off somebody?

Thanks again for another year of great insight.
- Tanuki

He may have just been tired at his age or maybe Q though it was scoring that was going to crack the Smith and PHO nut and not a 4th line defender. It almost worked as Morison had a goal and if I remember banged one of a pipe and was robbed by smith on a post to post save.

John Jaeckel: Organizational Grades 1.0: Forwards
- John Jaeckel

Superb write up JJ....and pretty much spot on.

I myself would upgrade Sharp to a B. He really stepped up when Tazer went down and was probably a better set up man than trigger man. He was also a +28. And you're right..he had more of a snarl, but his playoff performance was disappointing to say the least.

Brendan Morrison gets a D from me. He failed to bury a golden chance in Vancouver and was again robbed by Smith. And we didn't really see much of him except for the late playoff cameo.

JJ,

What did you think of Stan's presser yesterday? He said you needed to take the regular season and not just the playoffs into consideration when evaluating the year.

How the hell does that mesh with the One Goal marketing campaign?
- NewToHockey

I think we need to clarify with him and be sure we know what the "one goal" is.

Superb write up JJ....and pretty much spot on.

I myself would upgrade Sharp to a B. He really stepped up when Tazer went down and was probably a better set up man than trigger man. He was also a +28. And you're right..he had more of a snarl, but his playoff performance was disappointing to say the least.

Brendan Morrison gets a D from me. He failed to bury a golden chance in Vancouver and was again robbed by Smith. And we didn't really see much of him except for the late playoff cameo.
- philco28

It was almost like he really didn't want to play here when he arrived.

It was almost like he really didn't want to play here when he arrived.
- mvp0207

The Nucks/Hawks culture shock had to have weighed on him initially.

I'd upgrade Sharp and Bolland. Both guys played hurt - a lot. Sharp likely needing hand surgery this off season, still put a lot of goals in the net. Bolland, as usual, was money in the post season.

Stan........

I think we have found our talent evaluation problem, and it is Stan. That press conference did nothing but show how absolutely clueless that guy is about hockey. His comments about Kane as a center were the most revealing about Stan's thought process.

I don't pretend to be an expert by any means, but I also am confident that if I were the GM I would do a better job - and I would be happy to do it for what I make doing what I do for a living now (with a nice bonus clause of course, based upon outcomes). I will qualify that with saying that I am not aware of what the internal constraints may or may not be on Stan from above him - authority to spend as a one example. But c'mon....

You would think they would have at least scripted Stan a little better so as to do what they have done so well most of the year from a PR standpoint - say a whole lot of nothing and repeat all the appropriate cliches.

Frustrating.

I think we need to clarify with him and be sure we know what the "one goal" is.
- mvp0207

Isn't it "stroke McD's ego at all costs?"

I'd upgrade Sharp and Bolland. Both guys played hurt - a lot. Sharp likely needing hand surgery this off season, still put a lot of goals in the net. Bolland, as usual, was money in the post season.

Stan........

I think we have found our talent evaluation problem, and it is Stan. That press conference did nothing but show how absolutely clueless that guy is about hockey. His comments about Kane as a center were the most revealing about Stan's thought process.

I don't pretend to be an expert by any means, but I also am confident that if I were the GM I would do a better job - and I would be happy to do it for what I make doing what I do for a living now (with a nice bonus clause of course, based upon outcomes). I will qualify that with saying that I am not aware of what the internal constraints may or may not be on Stan from above him - authority to spend as a one example. But c'mon....

You would think they would have at least scripted Stan a little better so as to do what they have done so well most of the year from a PR standpoint - say a whole lot of nothing and repeat all the appropriate cliches.

Frustrating.
- Return of the Roar

Sharp said yesterday that no surgery is required.

I think we need to clarify with him and be sure we know what the "one goal" is.
- mvp0207

One Goal is deliberately slightly vague— but if fans want to buy tickets based on the belief the One Goal is the Stanley Cup, then they will not quibble with that.

And let's face it, that's really what it implies.

Sharp said yesterday that no surgery is required.
- NewToHockey

Excellent choice of words on his part. Does not mean it is not advised, or won't eventually happen.

If you think like an attorney some times you can make a lot more sense out of what the truth actually may be from this organization.

http://www.chicagotribune...-20120426,0,206501.column

Interesting read from today's Tribune.

In the last few days, Haugh, Rogers and Kuc have followed Eddie in seriously questioning Stan's decision this year. I guess any honeymoon for the front office bought by the Cup win has expired.

The ONE comment form Bowman's presser I found VERY telling:

He basically said with the Hawk talent, how bad the power play was is completely unacceptable. And he put it really pretty directly on coaching and said you have to ask Joel about that.

Wow.

Also thought he was soft-pedalling Crawford a bit: "individually he wasn't very good, but he knows it and he'll work on it."

Also pumping Hutton's tires a bit— I have not seen Hutton pay so i can't personally comment on that. But taking both together it feels to me like he does not intend to upgrade G at the pro level.

I think we need to clarify with him and be sure we know what the "one goal" is.
- mvp0207

Your comment about a physical team being bounced is accurate in Bruins. But you may want to take a look at the team that knocked them out a bit closer. Caps are loaded with size including their star... And size that plays physical. Point being... Good luck in the playoffs without it. Brouwer is good enough to play with Ovechkin and Backstrom? But not with Kane and Toews I guess... Concerns me that maybe Bowman doesn't think it's an important need.

Your comment about a physical team being bounced is accurate in Bruins. But you may want to take a look at the team that knocked them out a bit closer. Caps are loaded with size including their star... And size that plays physical. Point being... Good luck in the playoffs without it. Brouwer is good enough to play with Ovechkin and Backstrom? But not with Kane and Toews I guess... Concerns me that maybe Bowman doesn't think it's an important need.
- ilinkhawk

The Caps are playing their best hockey in a long, long time...

The Bruins are the third team to be knocked out who had gone deep into the playoffs last year....The Bruins looked worn out in the saries and I'm sure the toll had an effect on the Sharks and Canucks too.

JJ,

I concur with your grades and can't wait to see the marks for most of the defense.

Blackhawk management is searching for change. But how much will happen this summer? + XM Interview. My Fox Chicago:chttp://bit.ly/Izgg3k

On Twitter@AlCimaglia

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/ct-spt-0426-haugh-blackhawks-chicago--20120426,0,206501.column

Interesting read from today's Tribune.

In the last few days, Haugh, Rogers and Kuc have followed Eddie in seriously questioning Stan's decision this year. I guess any honeymoon for the front office bought by the Cup win has expired.
- NewToHockey

I really, really like David Haugh's work. Nice guy, too.

The ONE comment form Bowman's presser I found VERY telling:

He basically said with the Hawk talent, how bad the power play was is completely unacceptable. And he put it really pretty directly on coaching and said you have to ask Joel about that.

Wow.

Also thought he was soft-pedalling Crawford a bit: "individually he wasn't very good, but he knows it and he'll work on it."

Also pumping Hutton's tires a bit— I have not seen Hutton pay so i can't personally comment on that. But taking both together it feels to me like he does not intend to upgrade G at the pro level.
- John Jaeckel

...And Quenneville placed most of the PP blame on the players...