John Jaeckel: Shades of 2010-11

Bowman is a wicked GM and has made the most out of his cap crunching situation. Im sure his Dad helped him with those deals.

Completely agree JJ. As a long-time Hawks fan, at this point I just wish for continued success. I understand they cannot win the Cup every year. However, I would love at least one more parade in Chicago to convert all those dynasty doubters. This Hawks team is a dynasty regardless of the outcome for this year.

I came to the same conclusion in my post last night. The present team looks like ou 2011 team. You are also right on about our veteran players all look tired from 3 gruelling years of deep playoff runs. ( except for Kane and remember he was out 8 weeks just before the conclusion of the season. Yes it indeed it looks like. a rebuilding year which might be a good thing.

Im not hitting the PANIC button yet---3 Cups in 6 years--gets you that-They didnt expect to lose Saad---But got a good return--Dano will be fine,,give him time,,The Problem is MY GUY--Hossa has lost a step--maybe a step and a half,-if they can find a LW who scores goals im all in,,,TT/Dano/Young Kids--do it..

let me throw this out there,,,,


What could you get for Kane right now????---A Bundle--Still people in the Hawks front office have soured on him,,,they are scared that they cant trust him,--

Hawks still will make playoffs--but a Title run,,,,,

I have lowered my expectations this year.

While I still think they could be dangerous come playoff time, this team as constructed doesn't have a prayer in hell of winning 16 games, and probably not even 12. They could win 4, and possibly 8 with the right matchup and 50 or 33 playing lights out.......but there are far too many holes that need fixing .

The truth is Bickell shouldn't have been dealt last year in season. The bloom was off the rose and he was a marginal top 9 guy then. Procrastination on that, as well as his deal in 2013 have gravely hurt Bowman and put further stress on his cap balancing.

Again, when this team is a viable cup contender you have depth 1-9, and 10-12 create a mismatch problem.

This year.......you have 5 legit top 6 players, and the gap between those 5 and the remaining 7-8 guys is far too wide.

we can sit here and make excuses for 56/86 all day long. IMO, 86 needs to be with 81/19 for him to have any chance of being what those in "teuvo time" land hyped him to be. He isn't good enough to anchor a 3rd line and make those around him better.

56 looks destined to be a quality top 9 energy player. Nothing more, nothing less.

From there guys like 65,28,16,11 NHL regulars are hurting you. All have had dismal seasons. You are trying to work in younger guys and for every 67, you have a 52 or a Braun or a ND kid who aren't ready.

I don't think there is a quick fix here. We can blame Saad's agent and Saad for being greedy, but the kid deserved to get paid, and how Bowman didn't see that train coming early on is disappointing to me. Replacing 20, is where the Hawks are failing miserably.

I honestly see options either rat the deadline or this summer:

1. You package Teuvo with 29 to clear his salary and get a decent top 4 NHL d man or LW who can be a top 6 player.
2. You trade 50 to clear his salary to do the same, and that is ONLY after you are sure 33 is real deal and not a flash in the pan.

I couldn't agree more. JJ

BTW, Great write up!

Im not hitting the PANIC button yet---3 Cups in 6 years--gets you that-They didnt expect to lose Saad---But got a good return--Dano will be fine,,give him time,,The Problem is MY GUY--Hossa has lost a step--maybe a step and a half,-if they can find a LW who scores goals im all in,,,TT/Dano/Young Kids--do it..

let me throw this out there,,,,


What could you get for Kane right now????---A Bundle--Still people in the Hawks front office have soured on him,,,they are scared that they cant trust him,--

Hawks still will make playoffs--but a Title run,,,,,
- HossaGuy

Ugh....I don't see how they trade Kane. Not unless you are going full rebuild.

yes, Kane is an idiot off the ice, but you know what.....he's still getting better and better and the only way an organization can put up with idiots off the field/ice is being VERY special on it. Which Kane is.

Kane is the best player in the NHL right now. hell, he may have won the art ross or hart last year before he broke his clavicle.

For me to accept trading Kane it would take a monster return....maybe a superstar for superstar trade Ovechkin or Malkin for him.....but even then....hard to find a better clutch player in the NHL right now.

This Hawks team, to a certain point, reminds me of last years Kings team. They just look out of gas late in games. 3 years straight of making it to conference finals or better has taken its toll on the team. They still look dangerous at times but they just don't seem finish games like they have the past few seasons. Although I wasn't happy LA missed playoffs it wasn't all that bad cause I knew they were going to get the rest they needed and it has shown. And no, I am not saying the Hawks will miss playoffs. Just to be clear.

Great blog by the way

Nice write-up JJ. I enjoyed reading it.

Great article!

Yes I am a solid Blues fan what do I know? For me I get what you're saying, but I NEVER EVER count the Hawks out. When the playoffs arrive they ways shift into another gear. Just get there ....

I would LOVE TO HAVE YOUR PROBLEM a year or three..just sayin

This Hawks team, to a certain point, reminds me of last years Kings team. They just look out of gas late in games. 3 years straight of making it to conference finals or better has taken its toll on the team. They still look dangerous at times but they just don't seem finish games like they have the past few seasons. Although I wasn't happy LA missed playoffs it wasn't all that bad cause I knew they were going to get the rest they needed and it has shown. And no, I am not saying the Hawks will miss playoffs. Just to be clear.

Great blog by the way
- KINGS67

I agree, with personnel changes and playing a lot of hockey it does take a toll. The Kings grinding style took a toll on them as well. I still think the Hawks are dangerous if they make the playoffs because of shear skill and talent.

If this is going down a trade Kane route, I'll see myself out now.

Im not hitting the PANIC button yet---3 Cups in 6 years--gets you that-They didnt expect to lose Saad---But got a good return--Dano will be fine,,give him time,,The Problem is MY GUY--Hossa has lost a step--maybe a step and a half,-if they can find a LW who scores goals im all in,,,TT/Dano/Young Kids--do it..

let me throw this out there,,,,


What could you get for Kane right now????---A Bundle--Still people in the Hawks front office have soured on him,,,they are scared that they cant trust him,--

Hawks still will make playoffs--but a Title run,,,,,
- HossaGuy

If this is going down a trade Kane route, I'll see myself out now.
- EnzoD

I'll be right behind you.

I don't have to like Patrick Kane the person, to like Patrick Knae the player......and he's getting better and better the older he gets. Not sure we have still seen his ceiling.

Amazing what happens when he gets a legit center to play with him........and not a Dave Bolland, Or Michael Handzus, or Andrew Shaw, or god knows who else he has been paired with.

They just look out of gas late in games. 3 years straight of making it to conference finals or better has taken its toll on the team. They still look dangerous at times but they just don't seem finish games like they have the past few seasons.

They finished games pretty strong in CA last week.

This isn't about a worn out core - though it may be later in the year. IMO this is more about turnover - 7-8 roster spots have new faces depending on who plays. It is also about line imbalance. Forcing 2 kids under 22 (TT and Dano) from RW to LW and now a young D man to play his offside.

IMO - push vets to play LW and let Dano and TT play their natural positions. If TT is injured (and he looks like it) then sit him until he is healthy. Maybe send him to Rockford for a stint at RW before coming back up.

The line imbalance is shortening the bench too much. That is what will cost this team in "finish" down the line. Stan may still be able to address this in trade this year but the cost may be too steep.

They finished games pretty strong in CA last week.

This isn't about a worn out core - though it may be later in the year. IMO this is more about turnover - 7-8 roster spots have new faces depending on who plays. It is also about line imbalance. Forcing 2 kids under 22 (TT and Dano) from RW to LW and now a young D man to play his offside.

IMO - push vets to play LW and let Dano and TT play their natural positions. If TT is injured (and he looks like it) then sit him until he is healthy. Maybe send him to Rockford for a stint at RW before coming back up.

The line imbalance is shortening the bench too much. That is what will cost this team in "finish" down the line. Stan may still be able to address this in trade this year but the cost may be too steep.
- tredbrta

So you are going to have 56 and 86 play RW on the 3rd and 4th line, because you sure as hell aren't going to move proven top players like 81/88 to accommodate them.

They finished games pretty strong in CA last week.

This isn't about a worn out core - though it may be later in the year. IMO this is more about turnover - 7-8 roster spots have new faces depending on who plays. It is also about line imbalance. Forcing 2 kids under 22 (TT and Dano) from RW to LW and now a young D man to play his offside.

IMO - push vets to play LW and let Dano and TT play their natural positions. If TT is injured (and he looks like it) then sit him until he is healthy. Maybe send him to Rockford for a stint at RW before coming back up.

The line imbalance is shortening the bench too much. That is what will cost this team in "finish" down the line. Stan may still be able to address this in trade this year but the cost may be too steep.
- tredbrta

I can't add anything to this, exactly where i'm at.

But then some Stanley Cup bonuses (that Bowman should have known about) kicked in

Toews winning the Conn Smythe was the key blow. Anyone watching the Nashville series knows if Campbell doesn't return to the line-up, they don't get out of that series.
Who votes for the Conn Smythe? Obviously people who do not understand ALL aspects of the game.

I'll be right behind you.

I don't have to like Patrick Kane the person, to like Patrick Knae the player......and he's getting better and better the older he gets. Not sure we have still seen his ceiling.

Amazing what happens when he gets a legit center to play with him........and not a Dave Bolland, Or Michael Handzus, or Andrew Shaw, or god knows who else he has been paired with.
- SteveRain

Pretty obvious that there is absolutely no achievable return that would replace Kane. I can't imagine the front office considering it unless there were negative off ice reports. We know they must be watching him very closely. This offense without Kane would be non-existent.

Pretty obvious that there is absolutely no achievable return that would replace Kane. I can't imagine the front office considering it unless there were negative off ice reports. We know they must be watching him very closely. This offense without Kane would be non-existent.
- tredbrta

agreed. this team would be in lottery pick territory without Kane this year.

And I'm not a Kane apologist or Kane lover.......just know he's their best player right now and has made 72/15 that much better.

Pretty obvious that there is absolutely no achievable return that would replace Kane. I can't imagine the front office considering it unless there were negative off ice reports. We know they must be watching him very closely. This offense without Kane would be non-existent.
- tredbrta

Stamkos!

BINGO

Next column... what do you suggest to SB to do?

So you are going to have 56 and 86 play RW on the 3rd and 4th line, because you sure as hell aren't going to move proven top players like 81/88 to accommodate them.
- SteveRain

You know, if all they did was move Hossa lines would be more balanced;

81 - 19 - 56
72 - 15 - 88
65 - 67 - 86
11 - 16 - 28

Seems like 1 guy (and a vet real pro) out of position makes more sense then having like 5 of them playing the wrong position.

Stamkos!
- spatso

Hey, who gave you permission to come here and steal my conspiracy theory!