John Jaeckel: Evidence Mounts: Best Team In The NHL

First!

Right now.

Strong believer that teams follow a competitive cycle. They draft top talent, they add free agents, the achieve elite results. But, they do top out and begin a downward decline that is usually slow and exceedingly painful.

I would suggest that Boston, Pittsburgh and Vancouver are teams that topped out and have had to step back and look at a different way of achieving the top wrung of the elite bracket. The new teams on the block like Tampa, Islanders and LA have their own definitions of elite.

When teams begin to flare out in terms of the competitive cycle it is almost always in the second half of the season or playoffs. The grind of a bunch of years of going deep into the playoffs and the age of some key performers start to show. In some ways the up and coming teams may be just more hungry.

I think this is the Hawks last shot. Price of oil is in free fall, the Canadian dollar is down more than 20% from when the last player contract was signed with the NHLPA. Cap will drop more than anyone dares predict for next year. Hawks will need to move players.

I don't think they can get out of the West this year. But, I think they need to go all in because this is likely their best shot before having to do a bit of a rebuild. They are one season away from becoming the Penguins west. Two huge contracts being supported by a constantly diminishing roster of talent, great regular season that hits wall when challenged by 4 strong lines of a younger hungrier team.

JJ nice writeup

if not the best certainly the most enjoyable to watch with their style of play

I think stain rain said and i agree Q won't change the lineup as long as they are winning so Sharp will continue to sit

would you trade sharp for a top 3 defenseman although it looks like the pipeline is filled with defenseman ready to make the jump
If TVR gets back to form this year their depth will be great
Would the hawks trade crawford next year now that darling is emerging?

Strong believer that teams follow a competitive cycle. They draft top talent, they add free agents, the achieve elite results. But, they do top out and begin a downward decline that is usually slow and exceedingly painful.

I would suggest that Boston, Pittsburgh and Vancouver are teams that topped out and have had to step back and look at a different way of achieving the top wrung of the elite bracket. The new teams on the block like Tampa, Islanders and LA have their own definitions of elite.

When teams begin to flare out in terms of the competitive cycle it is almost always in the second half of the season or playoffs. The grind of a bunch of years of going deep into the playoffs and the age of some key performers start to show. In some ways the up and coming teams may be just more hungry.

I think this is the Hawks last shot. Price of oil is in free fall, the Canadian dollar is down more than 20% from when the last player contract was signed with the NHLPA. Cap will drop more than anyone dares predict for next year. Hawks will need to move players.

I don't think they can get out of the West this year. But, I think they need to go all in because this is likely their best shot before having to do a bit of a rebuild. They are one season away from becoming the Penguins west. Two huge contracts being supported by a constantly diminishing roster of talent, great regular season that hits wall when challenged by 4 strong lines of a younger hungrier team.
- spatso

lets enjoy this year and not worry about the cap next year since none can predict what it might be

Strong believer that teams follow a competitive cycle. They draft top talent, they add free agents, the achieve elite results. But, they do top out and begin a downward decline that is usually slow and exceedingly painful.

I would suggest that Boston, Pittsburgh and Vancouver are teams that topped out and have had to step back and look at a different way of achieving the top wrung of the elite bracket. The new teams on the block like Tampa, Islanders and LA have their own definitions of elite.

When teams begin to flare out in terms of the competitive cycle it is almost always in the second half of the season or playoffs. The grind of a bunch of years of going deep into the playoffs and the age of some key performers start to show. In some ways the up and coming teams may be just more hungry.

I think this is the Hawks last shot. Price of oil is in free fall, the Canadian dollar is down more than 20% from when the last player contract was signed with the NHLPA. Cap will drop more than anyone dares predict for next year. Hawks will need to move players.

I don't think they can get out of the West this year. But, I think they need to go all in because this is likely their best shot before having to do a bit of a rebuild. They are one season away from becoming the Penguins west. Two huge contracts being supported by a constantly diminishing roster of talent, great regular season that hits wall when challenged by 4 strong lines of a younger hungrier team.
- spatso

No.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h.../livetracker/game/1443700

Strong believer that teams follow a competitive cycle. They draft top talent, they add free agents, the achieve elite results. But, they do top out and begin a downward decline that is usually slow and exceedingly painful.

I would suggest that Boston, Pittsburgh and Vancouver are teams that topped out and have had to step back and look at a different way of achieving the top wrung of the elite bracket. The new teams on the block like Tampa, Islanders and LA have their own definitions of elite.

When teams begin to flare out in terms of the competitive cycle it is almost always in the second half of the season or playoffs. The grind of a bunch of years of going deep into the playoffs and the age of some key performers start to show. In some ways the up and coming teams may be just more hungry.

I think this is the Hawks last shot. Price of oil is in free fall, the Canadian dollar is down more than 20% from when the last player contract was signed with the NHLPA. Cap will drop more than anyone dares predict for next year. Hawks will need to move players.

I don't think they can get out of the West this year. But, I think they need to go all in because this is likely their best shot before having to do a bit of a rebuild. They are one season away from becoming the Penguins west. Two huge contracts being supported by a constantly diminishing roster of talent, great regular season that hits wall when challenged by 4 strong lines of a younger hungrier team.
- spatso

One difference between the Hawks and the Pens is that Ray Shero dumped a lot of younger farmhands and picks in trades to acquire veterans at the trade deadline in an attempt to win it all again. Bowman hasn't done that.

Hockey, as Ken Dryden says, is a game of "...ebbs and flows..." While the Hawks have been smoking hot lately its still hard to say where they sit in the NHL in 2014-15. Is this a hot streak or the team the Hawks are in 2015? It seems clear that the Hawks have certain players that seem to elevate the play of those around them. They seem to facilitate the transition from college or the A to the NHL. As a Hawk fan thats one of my greatest sources of optimism. Time will tell....

Strong believer that teams follow a competitive cycle. They draft top talent, they add free agents, the achieve elite results. But, they do top out and begin a downward decline that is usually slow and exceedingly painful.

I would suggest that Boston, Pittsburgh and Vancouver are teams that topped out and have had to step back and look at a different way of achieving the top wrung of the elite bracket. The new teams on the block like Tampa, Islanders and LA have their own definitions of elite.

When teams begin to flare out in terms of the competitive cycle it is almost always in the second half of the season or playoffs. The grind of a bunch of years of going deep into the playoffs and the age of some key performers start to show. In some ways the up and coming teams may be just more hungry.

I think this is the Hawks last shot. Price of oil is in free fall, the Canadian dollar is down more than 20% from when the last player contract was signed with the NHLPA. Cap will drop more than anyone dares predict for next year. Hawks will need to move players.

I don't think they can get out of the West this year. But, I think they need to go all in because this is likely their best shot before having to do a bit of a rebuild. They are one season away from becoming the Penguins west. Two huge contracts being supported by a constantly diminishing roster of talent, great regular season that hits wall when challenged by 4 strong lines of a younger hungrier team.
- spatso

The dollar is down roughly 14%

And the Hawks have some promising prospects in the pipe line that will be ready to jump up and fill in for the 'diminishing talent'. I do believe the Hossa contract will look bad in 2-3 years but other then that the Hawks have a good team moving forward IMO.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/livetracker/game/1443700
- golfingsince

- Ogilthorpe2

Nordstrom and Dahlbeck can play. 44 will benefit by getting regular playing time the remainder of the year and should be a lock for a regular shift by next season.

It's very early, but the roll they are getting on is reminiscent of the long undefeated string 2 years ago. The forwards are effectively getting engaged in the defensive zone, and the D is moving the puck up quickly. Different guys are stepping up each night, and Saad looked all world last night.

During the 7-6-1, they were firing a bunch of shots and dominating people, but the 'puck luck' just wasn't there. Now it is. Rebounds are doing things like ending up on Saad's stick (vs. MTL) rather than bounding away.

Q is rolling all 4 lines, and Roszy and Dahlbeck were on the ice in the 3rd period while the outcome was still in doubt.

In the upcoming week, they get a middling NJ team that will be playing the 2nd in 2 nights, a Boston team coming off a horrible west coast swing salvaged only by them beating a bad Coyote team, and the NYI who just had STL drop a 6 spot on them. Think the top 2 lines can expose Leddy's weaknesses?

And Morin is in the Sun-Times today with a 'play me or trade me' demand. So we've got that going for us.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/livetracker/game/1443700
- golfingsince

It's cute that the Nucks feel they're relevant. When you're at the UC, look up. Only chance you'll get to see those banners is on the road.

I'll feel better about best team status in April rather than December. I'm sure once they hit a rough patch people will start losing their minds again.

It's cute that the Nucks feel they're relevant. When you're at the UC, look up. Only chance you'll get to see those banners is on the road.

I'll feel better about best team status in April rather than December. I'm sure once they hit a rough patch people will start losing their minds again.
- howiehandles

Agreed
I humbly need to eat crow today because before the circus trip I pointed out the Hawks would be a 500 team at it's conclusion. They looked uninterested, slow and without a purpose.
I was wrong.

Not sure about the best team in the game but their play of late suggests their not far off.

Nordstrom and Dahlbeck can play. 44 will benefit by getting regular playing time the remainder of the year and should be a lock for a regular shift by next season.

It's very early, but the roll they are getting on is reminiscent of the long undefeated string 2 years ago. The forwards are effectively getting engaged in the defensive zone, and the D is moving the puck up quickly. Different guys are stepping up each night, and Saad looked all world last night.

During the 7-6-1, they were firing a bunch of shots and dominating people, but the 'puck luck' just wasn't there. Now it is. Rebounds are doing things like ending up on Saad's stick (vs. MTL) rather than bounding away.

Q is rolling all 4 lines, and Roszy and Dahlbeck were on the ice in the 3rd period while the outcome was still in doubt.

In the upcoming week, they get a middling NJ team that will be playing the 2nd in 2 nights, a Boston team coming off a horrible west coast swing salvaged only by them beating a bad Coyote team, and the NYI who just had STL drop a 6 spot on them. Think the top 2 lines can expose Leddy's weaknesses?

And Morin is in the Sun-Times today with a 'play me or trade me' demand. So we've got that going for us.
- scottak

The word demand is a big stretch, written by a sports writer to get some attention to his article . Far more probable is the agent went to Bowman and quietly asked if he could explore some trade possibilities for Morin. Even the agent will have seen that Nordstrom has beaten his client out of a job.

The reality is Morin has nowhere to go and the Hawks could make him watch until his contract expires. They won't but they could.

Strong believer that teams follow a competitive cycle. They draft top talent, they add free agents, the achieve elite results. But, they do top out and begin a downward decline that is usually slow and exceedingly painful.

I would suggest that Boston, Pittsburgh and Vancouver are teams that topped out and have had to step back and look at a different way of achieving the top wrung of the elite bracket. The new teams on the block like Tampa, Islanders and LA have their own definitions of elite.

When teams begin to flare out in terms of the competitive cycle it is almost always in the second half of the season or playoffs. The grind of a bunch of years of going deep into the playoffs and the age of some key performers start to show. In some ways the up and coming teams may be just more hungry.

I think this is the Hawks last shot. Price of oil is in free fall, the Canadian dollar is down more than 20% from when the last player contract was signed with the NHLPA. Cap will drop more than anyone dares predict for next year. Hawks will need to move players.

I don't think they can get out of the West this year. But, I think they need to go all in because this is likely their best shot before having to do a bit of a rebuild. They are one season away from becoming the Penguins west. Two huge contracts being supported by a constantly diminishing roster of talent, great regular season that hits wall when challenged by 4 strong lines of a younger hungrier team.
- spatso

Take a look at the average age of the Hawks vs the other top teams and EVEN the emerging teams in the West. More importantly, look at the average age of their CORE vs the cores of other teams.

REBUILD is way too strong a word and simply terrible analysis as is the comp with the Penguins. If the cup is stagnant 1/3 of the league will have problems and about 10 teams will be shedding salary - not just the Hawks. If the cap went down then the Pens comp may be apt. The Hawks have a STOCKED farm system and an owner willing to spend whatever it takes (unlike Ottawa). He pays for college free agents like TVR and Carey and will spend money on development. I worry about losing a player like Sharp for no return (yet to be seen) but I would only rank Anaheim or maybe Tampa as top teams being in a better position to replace departing talent.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/livetracker/game/1443700
- golfingsince

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q5V6DKH3bw

The dollar is down roughly 14%

And the Hawks have some promising prospects in the pipe line that will be ready to jump up and fill in for the 'diminishing talent'. I do believe the Hossa contract will look bad in 2-3 years but other then that the Hawks have a good team moving forward IMO.
- blarneylad

Boom!

John Jaeckel: Evidence Mounts: Best Team In The NHL
- John Jaeckel

I did not watch the game last night. I take it that Dahlbeck looked good last night?

Take a look at the average age of the Hawks vs the other top teams and EVEN the emerging teams in the West. More importantly, look at the average age of their CORE vs the cores of other teams.

REBUILD is way too strong a word and simply terrible analysis as is the comp with the Penguins. If the cup is stagnant 1/3 of the league will have problems and about 10 teams will be shedding salary - not just the Hawks. If the cap went down then the Pens comp may be apt. The Hawks have a STOCKED farm system and an owner willing to spend whatever it takes (unlike Ottawa). He pays for college free agents like TVR and Carey and will spend money on development. I worry about losing a player like Sharp for no return (yet to be seen) but I would only rank Anaheim or maybe Tampa as top teams being in a better position to replace departing talent.
- tredbrta

I agree, the Hawks have become the St. Louis Cardinals of the NHL. Regardless of any moves they make they seem to find guys who can step right in via the farm system, trades or UFA. They're going to have a legitimate shot at the Cup almost every year going forward.

Take a look at the average age of the Hawks vs the other top teams and EVEN the emerging teams in the West. More importantly, look at the average age of their CORE vs the cores of other teams.

REBUILD is way too strong a word and simply terrible analysis as is the comp with the Penguins. If the cup is stagnant 1/3 of the league will have problems and about 10 teams will be shedding salary - not just the Hawks. If the cap went down then the Pens comp may be apt. The Hawks have a STOCKED farm system and an owner willing to spend whatever it takes (unlike Ottawa). He pays for college free agents like TVR and Carey and will spend money on development. I worry about losing a player like Sharp for no return (yet to be seen) but I would only rank Anaheim or maybe Tampa as top teams being in a better position to replace departing talent.
- tredbrta

I thought JJ asked a good question supported by some solid ideas.

My response was not intended to slag the Hawks. Essentially I think they are at the top of their game. But like a lot of teams that are recent Stanley Cup or PresidentCup winners they may find that these heights can be precarious. Fall off can be dramatic. The Hawks should shoot for the moon this year because we are on the edge of the next power shift in the NHL. A reduction in cap means even more talent shifting towards the young up and coming teams (eg. Islanders, have you noticed how little the Islanders pay their top player Tavares).

Last year Boston had a phenomenal regular season. They struggled in the playoffs and they thought they could fix everything with a few cosmetic changes. Great teams tend to top out with a great season, stumble and never get back to the top of their game.

I think the Hawks may have hit their peak in last year's Conference Final. Teams must improve upon themselves in order to win. Is this a better Hawk team than last year? Are they more suited for the 7 games of each playoff series? I wonder.

I thought JJ asked a good question supported by some solid ideas.

My response was not intended to slag the Hawks. Essentially I think they are at the top of their game. But like a lot of teams that are recent Stanley Cup or PresidentCup winners they may find that these heights can be precarious. Fall off can be dramatic. The Hawks should shoot for the moon this year because we are on the edge of the next power shift in the NHL. A reduction in cap means even more talent shifting towards the young up and coming teams (eg. Islanders, have you noticed how little the Islanders pay their top player Tavares).

Last year Boston had a phenomenal regular season. They struggled in the playoffs and they thought they could fix everything with a few cosmetic changes. Great teams tend to top out with a great season, stumble and never get back to the top of their game.

I think the Hawks may have hit their peak in last year's Conference Final. Teams must improve upon themselves in order to win. Is this a better Hawk team than last year? Are they more suited for the 7 games of each playoff series? I wonder.
- spatso

http://prohockeytalk.nbcs...y-rise-in-the-salary-cap/

Yes.

I thought JJ asked a good question supported by some solid ideas.

My response was not intended to slag the Hawks. Essentially I think they are at the top of their game. But like a lot of teams that are recent Stanley Cup or PresidentCup winners they may find that these heights can be precarious. Fall off can be dramatic. The Hawks should shoot for the moon this year because we are on the edge of the next power shift in the NHL. A reduction in cap means even more talent shifting towards the young up and coming teams (eg. Islanders, have you noticed how little the Islanders pay their top player Tavares).

Last year Boston had a phenomenal regular season. They struggled in the playoffs and they thought they could fix everything with a few cosmetic changes. Great teams tend to top out with a great season, stumble and never get back to the top of their game.

I think the Hawks may have hit their peak in last year's Conference Final. Teams must improve upon themselves in order to win. Is this a better Hawk team than last year? Are they more suited for the 7 games of each playoff series? I wonder.
- spatso

You keep saying the cap is going down, yet there is no evidence it will other than blind speculation in the media. The league keeps saying it will increase, so I'm going to continue to believe them and not you until proven otherwise.