John Jaeckel: The Effort Was There

That play off the end boards was their biggest play. Again, hate the coaches challenge. Respect the refs.

GO HOCKS

It was a good game , playoff feel indeed .Could have gone either way . HAWKS will win more then they lose if they play like that the rest of the way .Though Kane should have been given a penalty shot ,but them the breaks .Old Wes would have given him a embellishment if he laid on the ice . GO HAWKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe if the 40 million dollar men (Toews, Hossa, Kane, Anisimov, Panarin) can generate more than 4 shots on goal and Hossa and Keith will quit passing it to the other team they won't have to rely on Rasmussen, Hartman and Hinostroza to score goals all the time. Then and only then will the Hawks be as good as they can be.

Didn't catch the game last night, but how about Hitchcock getting fired by the Blues?

As I said at the tail end of the last blog, the coaches and the players need to be responsible. Q had the 4th line, comprised of 3 rookies, on the ice with 3 minutes left, in a tie game, on the road, against a team that is probably the best in the West.

The 3 rookies got manhandled by the Sharks top line, missed a couple of opportunities to get the puck out of the zone, and it ended up in the net.

At the same time, your HOF captain, and HOF right wing, who during SC years were on the ice in the most critical situations, are sitting on the bench. Even though Hossa had a terrible game, I trust him to get the puck out of the defensive zone more than Hino, Kero & Hartman.

Didn't catch the game last night, but how about Hitchcock getting fired by the Blues?
- Hank3Henshaw

The Blues are on a really bad slide, and are on the verge of missing the playoffs.

The Blues are on a really bad slide, and are on the verge of missing the playoffs.
- scottak

not unexpected...goalie woes and mismanagement really hurt this team...

John Jaeckel: The Effort Was There
- John Jaeckel

The effort was there by a few but not everybody. The first period they tried desparately to keep up with a much faster and intense team. The second period was horrible as we slowed down considerably and lost EVERY battle along the boards. Period 3 was road hockey for the most part, just stay tied, play defensive hockey, do not get caught out of position, throw and occasional shot on net, play for a break, etc............ this team has won many games like this all year, and not just on the road. Great goaltending has been the key......not at all last night or of late. Crawford totally out of position often.

Several GLARING realizations continue....... Keith and Hjalmarsson are terrible together and wouldn't check a high schooler standing in the crease. They were miserable and on the ice for the 2 goals and even the first one that was disallowed. For all you Duncan Keith lovers, please watch closely. He makes as many bad plays as he does good ones, and he'll NEVER clear anybody from the crease. Yes he's been a fantastic player for us for many years, but I am not going to blame him if he's truly hurt. I saw a burst from him in the first period like the old days, then never again. If he's injured, give him some time off. I have no problem with Kempny and Forsling getting the time and making the same mistakes Keith is. But Q is in love with his Vets and we all understand that.
What is best for the Playoffs though ??? It's obvious that the Wild will run away and hide now as they're playing great hockey.... AND....... getting every puck bounce imaginable. That's what happens to good teams and it happened to us as well.

Other Glaring deficincies...... Panarin has STOPPED playing hockey !! He was our best player for the year until the contract thing. Is he already dissatisfied with his new deal of 6 Million a year ??? Or is he miffed that he didn't make the all star team ?? Whatever.......... he needs to find it again and soon. TVR ok for the night but is still just a #5 or #6 Dman.
Toews was not himself again and maybe should have taken the time off instead of that fiasco all star competition. Kane was mediocre, Hossa Terrible, Seabrook slow, Campbell.......... FORGET IT !!! Bad and has lost the 3 steps as posted earlier in the week. Desjardins just blah and should hit everything he can get to but doesn't. Is Ben Smith still around ?????????

On the bright side........ the kids ALL hustle but make some terrible turnover mistakes continually. Panik does his thing and hustles, hits, and plays a smart game. If only he had hands..........
Sounds like a mediocre club to me....... lots of points accumulated early season because Crawford was incredible. A 500 team moving forward........
UNLESSS>>>>>>>>>>> a shakeup is in order. Let's see how this CORE reacts tomorrow night in Phoenix.......... the 2nd worst team in the NHL !

Maybe if the 40 million dollar men (Toews, Hossa, Kane, Anisimov, Panarin) can generate more than 4 shots on goal and Hossa and Keith will quit passing it to the other team they won't have to rely on Rasmussen, Hartman and Hinostroza to score goals all the time. Then and only then will the Hawks be as good as they can be.
- kwolf68

these guys are in luv with that cross ice back toward the blueline from the half board...high risk...and few of those connect...

the q blender was in purree mode with the top six...pssed away a fine game craw...

The Blues are on a really bad slide, and are on the verge of missing the playoffs.
- scottak

They shredded that team after last year--lost a lot of guys.

The effort was there by a few but not everybody. The first period they tried desparately to keep up with a much faster and intense team. The second period was horrible as we slowed down considerably and lost EVERY battle along the boards. Period 3 was road hockey for the most part, just stay tied, play defensive hockey, do not get caught out of position, throw and occasional shot on net, play for a break, etc............ this team has won many games like this all year, and not just on the road. Great goaltending has been the key......not at all last night or of late. Crawford totally out of position often.

Several GLARING realizations continue....... Keith and Hjalmarsson are terrible together and wouldn't check a high schooler standing in the crease. They were miserable and on the ice for the 2 goals and even the first one that was disallowed. For all you Duncan Keith lovers, please watch closely. He makes as many bad plays as he does good ones, and he'll NEVER clear anybody from the crease. Yes he's been a fantastic player for us for many years, but I am not going to blame him if he's truly hurt. I saw a burst from him in the first period like the old days, then never again. If he's injured, give him some time off. I have no problem with Kempny and Forsling getting the time and making the same mistakes Keith is. But Q is in love with his Vets and we all understand that.
What is best for the Playoffs though ??? It's obvious that the Wild will run away and hide now as they're playing great hockey.... AND....... getting every puck bounce imaginable. That's what happens to good teams and it happened to us as well.

Other Glaring deficincies...... Panarin has STOPPED playing hockey !! He was our best player for the year until the contract thing. Is he already dissatisfied with his new deal of 6 Million a year ??? Or is he miffed that he didn't make the all star team ?? Whatever.......... he needs to find it again and soon. TVR ok for the night but is still just a #5 or #6 Dman.
Toews was not himself again and maybe should have taken the time off instead of that fiasco all star competition. Kane was mediocre, Hossa Terrible, Seabrook slow, Campbell.......... FORGET IT !!! Bad and has lost the 3 steps as posted earlier in the week. Desjardins just blah and should hit everything he can get to but doesn't. Is Ben Smith still around ?????????

On the bright side........ the kids ALL hustle but make some terrible turnover mistakes continually. Panik does his thing and hustles, hits, and plays a smart game. If only he had hands..........
Sounds like a mediocre club to me....... lots of points accumulated early season because Crawford was incredible. A 500 team moving forward........
UNLESSS>>>>>>>>>>> a shakeup is in order. Let's see how this CORE reacts tomorrow night in Phoenix.......... the 2nd worst team in the NHL !
- Hawkytalk

craw was outstanding last night......he made numerous fine stops after unforced TO's...he got beat on ppand pretty nifty play at the end of the third...

wild are not running away with anything...they will have their share of losing hockey in the last 2 months...a correction will come...they ain't that good

craw was outstanding last night......he made numerous fine stops after unforced TO's...he got beat on ppand pretty nifty play at the end of the third...

wild are not running away with anything...they will have their share of losing hockey in the last 2 months...a correction will come...they ain't that good
- bogiedoc

The division is over. Wild are deep & the Bowmans have handed out way to many horrible contracts & have this team a total mess!

Bring back Tallon ASAP!

PAK line invisible. Defense looked overwhelmed. The dog days of January are here and hopefully the Hawks can snap out of it tomorrow and get a streak going. If this keeps up, do the Hawks not add anyone ne at the deadline? Should be interesting.

Result wasn't unexpected. This team has a massive amount of difficulty consistently scoring. You can blame this guy or that guy or whatever else, but this team can't score when it needs to and plays with a panic late in games because EVERY game seems to be a 1 goal affair late.....and then you throw in young players who make mistakes, OR get dominated on the road....and you have a goal differential of just +8, 17-14 since Thanksgiving, 20th ranked PP, 28th ranked PK, and 14th in goals per game. Was anyone truly surprised they lost? Sadly, I just sit and wait for it because this team seems to be waiting to give up a lead, then to burry a team when it has the chance.

Sorry....that's not elite, that's not top echelon. The 8 teams with goal differential of double digits are in that conversation and Minnesota and San Jose are by far the class of the west. The top 4 metro teams ,and Montreal also I would put ahead of the Hawks. Maybe even Edmonton. The Hawks on paper have sexy names and a top portion of the roster that can compete, but their depth and special teams are just a dumpster fire with no end to the burn......

So while some can sit here and keep thinking this team has some magic button to flip to get "right" or play up to their "potential" I could argue they are....they are a decent, but not great hockey team, and those type of teams need a LOT to go right to go on a long spring playoff run. Can they? Of course...never count out this core....but the core needs help and the role guys are far too bi polar to be counted on for any sort of consistent play.

lastly, that little dog/pony show yesterday by Bowman very well could be a sign that he doesn't have enough assets of value OR that he's willing to part with to obtain the pieces this team needs, and every time he OR a media guy gushes over another prospect with a limited sample size claiming they are "getting it" or are the "internal piece to fill a hole" I want to bash my head off a wall.........

Don't sleep on Nashville....they are starting to live up to the preseason hype and have a VERY aggressive GM who may have enough to pry Duchene from the Avs.

Sharks shut down the PAK line.. Toews line again was no threat. Kids are playing hard, but still struggling. 4th line was the best line again. And the D is a mess.

The D is the biggest concern now. The whole group looks lost/tired/unplugged. And why does Q insist on putting 4 and 2 together?? It doesnt work!!!!! And lastly to find 19 hurt his back in the friggin World Cup? Nice. If Im Bowman Im pissed. My star guy..my 10.5 million a year guy playing like crap due to a back injury suffered in the World Cup?

You did not really expect Bowman to say I have a bunch of irons in the fire, and I am talking to these specific teams? He is posturing. He may even believe what he is saying, but I think deep down he knows the team has flaws and that he should do something about it. I expect that he is trying, and has plenty of Front Office voices in his ear giving him lots of wanted (and unwanted) advice.

I am beginning to wonder if they win a single game on this road trip (even the one with Arizona).
Not enough scoring to overcome the defensive lapses happening in every game.

You did not really expect Bowman to say I have a bunch of irons in the fire, and I am talking to these specific teams? He is posturing. He may even believe what he is saying, but I think deep down he knows the team has flaws and that he should do something about it. I expect that he is trying, and has plenty of Front Office voices in his ear giving him lots of wanted (and unwanted) advice.
- hpk90

No question but even though trading a #1 to get a Vermette won them a cup, doing the same (trading a #1) last year gave them nothing........so that risk/reward bombed out.

Plus, lets not forget....it takes two to tango. Bowman can call every GM in the league and ask about this guy or that guy, but if he shows up to a gun fight with a spoon, he isn't going to win. he has to have assets other teams WANT and he's willing to part with.....and then you have the draft variable sitting there as well.

I want the 2 and 7 pairing back as much as everyone else, but we are lopsided right handed D to left handed D, and Hammer is the only one who can reliably play on his off side.

No question but even though trading a #1 to get a Vermette won them a cup, doing the same (trading a #1) last year gave them nothing........so that risk/reward bombed out.

Plus, lets not forget....it takes two to tango. Bowman can call every GM in the league and ask about this guy or that guy, but if he shows up to a gun fight with a spoon, he isn't going to win. he has to have assets other teams WANT and he's willing to part with.....and then you have the draft variable sitting there as well.
- SteveRain

I agree with you wholeheartedly. I have no idea how he is going to pull any of what we think he needs to do (and probably what HE thinks he needs to do) off. Standing pat and not trading anyone does not bother me right now, but I recognize it is a high risk with little chance of paying off in a deep Cup run unless the whole team suddenly gets hot.

I want the 2 and 7 pairing back as much as everyone else, but we are lopsided right handed D to left handed D, and Hammer is the only one who can reliably play on his off side.
- JRoenick97

Pretty sure Kempny is a lefty... oh wait he was scratched.

Was I the only one that thought Craw was not good, He was more lucky. in the 1st he gave up a bunch of rebounds that were just floating slowly out of the crease. If SJ player was there they were tap ins. He fell down on play and luckly the player shoot it right into his pads. he lost his goal and 2 wrap around attempts on to be saved by The refs and Hino if memory serves and the 2 goals he let in he was pretty slow to react to the marlow lift and the other that was a terrible effort on the one that came off hard off the end boards and just try to sprawl out on the ground. He made some point blank stops but if a guy shoots from 30' feet straight into the middle of your chest with no traffic that is not a great stop it was just a very Avg attempt. His numbers said he was fine but I thought he looked shaky.

The effort was certainly there and the term "bad bounce" or bad break applies here to the second, and game winning goal. Game could have went either way. But some of the forwards relied upon for offense, need to start producing on more consistent basis

Was I the only one that thought Craw was not good, He was more lucky. in the 1st he gave up a bunch of rebounds that were just floating slowly out of the crease. If SJ player was there they were tap ins. He fell down on play and luckly the player shoot it right into his pads. he lost his goal and 2 wrap around attempts on to be saved by The refs and Hino if memory serves and the 2 goals he let in he was pretty slow to react to the marlow lift and the other that was a terrible effort on the one that came off hard off the end boards and just try to sprawl out on the ground. He made some point blank stops but if a guy shoots from 30' feet straight into the middle of your chest with no traffic that is not a great stop it was just a very Avg attempt. His numbers said he was fine but I thought he looked shaky.
- kmw4631

If you had to play behind this Hawk "defense" you would look shaky too. For Christ's sake....the second goal you had THREE Hawks on the open side of the net yanking themselves instead of the untouched Sharks who were able to put a puck through all three of them with nary a stick lift attempt. That is YOUR HOUSE!! Defend it!

With the payroll and talent on this team, is it too much to ask that they play like they give a crap more than a few microbursts during any given game? Just wondering how a guy like Mike Keenan would handle this squad right now....Q desrves a fair share of blame here as well. This insistance that they never play a dump and chase game and never use the body, not to mention the lazy power play pace, and the passive PK scheme sends a signal to the rest of the league on how simple it is to muck up the Hawks' game.

Shots on goal against are 20% higher than the last cup season, and while Crawford weathered that storm for a goodly long period of time, the math has caught up. No goalie can be a sub-two goal GAA and .925 svpct when they face 30+ shots EVERY night, with ten plus of them being primo chances due to turnovers, lack of checking or pursuit.

The sad thing is the style of play embraced by Q/executed by the team as a whole is the root cause of the problem. If all they want to do is play sticksies, then play a 1-3-1 trap and at least reclaim the neutral zone. But it is clear that what they are doing now is not working.