John Jaeckel: The Fly In Q's Soup

first..

Russell was a scratch last night I heard and Calgary scout at UC... hmmmm

I agree there is blame to go around on the puck possession side.
Much of it has to do with not having 4 lines going at the same time....And the passing is not as sharp this year as in the past.

If I were writing the formula for Bowman he should look for an available player that is currently more of a 2nd liner on a lesser team...Kind of like Vermette and then bring him here to anchor the 3rd line.

There still is a good deal of inexperience out on the ice, so it wouldn't hurt to bring in a player Q will trust and can find a spot for...

Was at the game last night. Yes, it was definitely an entertaining game to be at. But man, we look weak in our own end. As much as a 1LW would be great, it became blatantly clear to me last night that we need to add on the back end. Get it done Stan

I had the pleasure of watching in person last night, 200 section on the goal line the Hawks defended twice.

It appeared the forwards were blowing out of the zone way faster than in years past, and not giving the D options for the exit pass. Way too may times going up the wings to guys that were already outside the blue line. And the centers are dropping so deep on support, that they negate themselves as outlet pass options.

Russell was a scratch last night I heard and Calgary scout at UC... hmmmm
- furso27

Flames announcers said he had an injury. Interesting NJ is there. David Schlemko as depth D?

Still wouldn't mind Purcell, Rask, Boeds 1LW wingers

Hawks closed that game out like chumps and if not for Darling, it might have been a closer final score.

Good win on the whole though.

And this from Powers

Scott Powers ‏@ByScottPowers
Interesting number: 5 of Teravainen's 7 goals in 5-on-5 this season came with Toews & Hossa. He's hasn't scored with Desjardins & Danault.

Maybe time to get 86 on the top line for a week or two.

Flames announcers said he had an injury. Interesting NJ is there. David Schlemko as depth D?

Still wouldn't mind Purcell, Rask, Boeds 1LW wingers
- 93Joe

I'd like Severson from NJ, Rask from Carolina, and a chocolate milkshake.

I'd like Severson from NJ, Rask from Carolina, and a chocolate milkshake.
- DarthKane

Shamrock Shake

Shamrock Shake
- furso27

Never had one, they look nasty.

Flames announcers said he had an injury. Interesting NJ is there. David Schlemko as depth D?

Still wouldn't mind Purcell, Rask, Boeds 1LW wingers
- 93Joe

A deal for Boedker would most likely happen very close to the deadline since Arizona is only 4 points out from a wild card spot.

A deal for Boedker would most likely happen very close to the deadline since Arizona is only 4 points out from a wild card spot.
- Dabearshawks

I beginning to think Stan is going to make trade for someone out of left field who no one is talking about. Just have a feeling.

While the Hawks possession time certainly seems down, I also am seeing too often the opponents cycling freely in our zone. While I understand our scheme is mostly stick-checking, we still need to throw in an occasional big hit now and then to knock guys off the puck. I saw several excellent opportunities to do just that last night, and yet it was more of the same, slow down when nearing the opponent and reach in with an attempted stick check that failed yet again and the cycle just kept going on. The only guys I consistently saw trying to out-muscle the opp in our end was Danault, Panik and Desi. We need to get a lot more guys using the body.

Too many lost outlet passes right at our blue line. Those are deadly and lead directly to SOGs for the opp. Hammer gave up quite a few of those. The forwards need to be more patient. They all seem to want to be the next Kaner looking for a quick break-away, and forgetting their own responsibility for the outlet pass. It takes a team to move the puck out of zone and more often than not lately, that has not been happening.

Hawks closed that game out like chumps and if not for Darling, it might have been a closer final score.

Good win on the whole though.

And this from Powers

Scott Powers ‏@ByScottPowers
Interesting number: 5 of Teravainen's 7 goals in 5-on-5 this season came with Toews & Hossa. He's hasn't scored with Desjardins & Danault.

Maybe time to get 86 on the top line for a week or two.
- philco28

I was there the other night when they played Dallas....TT on the ice with the guys you mentioned accomplished nothing in the offensive zone.

When TT has the puck he often goes horizontally or basically wherever he can to create some space-His wingers are often within 8 feet of him and you could throw a blanket over the entire line. Too easy to defend against...

I thought 5v5 play yesterday was not as dominant as one would expect to be, but goaltending and PP delivered overwhelming blow.
In moments when Hawks were jammed in their own zone I often saw 86 and sometimes 88 floating around somewhere in their own zone, which means third and second line had some troubles 5v5 and Darling often had to bail them.
I also thought 1st line and surprisingly 4th pushed it forward, Mashinter drew first blood, Hino drew first penalty resulting in goal on PP and that both of them later were trying to push the pace and forechecked aggressively.

I had the pleasure of watching in person last night, 200 section on the goal line the Hawks defended twice.

It appeared the forwards were blowing out of the zone way faster than in years past, and not giving the D options for the exit pass. Way too may times going up the wings to guys that were already outside the blue line. And the centers are dropping so deep on support, that they negate themselves as outlet pass options.
- scottak

Good observation and that's a spacing or "gap" issue that Q talks about at times.

They were outshot 15-5 in the second period. They were not outshot in the other periods. Much of the Leaf barrage was after the Hawks took a 3-0 lead and started to chill. In the third period, they took it pretty easy, and were not putting all their best guys on the ice when the Leafs scored their two goals. They don't call it garbage time for no reason.

That's not to say that there are reasons to be concerned about the Hawks being outshot in other games, of course. They were lucky to get a point against the Ducks, as Q said. I'm just glad they're going to get to rest a bit more over the next few weeks.

I was there the other night when they played Dallas....TT on the ice with the guys you mentioned accomplished nothing in the offensive zone.

When TT has the puck he often goes horizontally or basically wherever he can to create some space-His wingers are often within 8 feet of him and you could throw a blanket over the entire line. Too easy to defend against...
- Al

Appreciate this Al


The stat stood out though and might be a way to get TT going.
1 goal in forever isn't good enough. And though he doesn't deserve
a promotion to the Toews line, it might be worth trying for a fortnight.

I beginning to think Stan is going to make trade for someone out of left field who no one is talking about. Just have a feeling.
- furso27

Cal Clutterbuck.

@philco (quotes aint working)

Why reward TT with top line play when he has been nothing but mediocre (at very best).

Don't put him on the top line, send him to rockford for a spell to get his confidence back and maybe he will shoot more.

Bring dano up gor some games try him out @LW1 hes been playing well. Shuft shaw down to TT's spot and go from there. Hell with hoss out try Dano-19-TT as a line and see if that works if anythig. But TT gasnt shown he deserves a top 6 spot imo

Cal Clutterbuck.
- Dabearshawks

I just threw up a little in my mouth

@philco (quotes aint working)

Why reward TT with top line play when he has been nothing but mediocre (at very best).

Don't put him on the top line, send him to rockford for a spell to get his confidence back and maybe he will shoot more.

Bring dano up gor some games try him out @LW1 hes been playing well. Shuft shaw down to TT's spot and go from there. Hell with hoss out try Dano-19-TT as a line and see if that works if anythig. But TT gasnt shown he deserves a top 6 spot imo
- the_dough_boy

I like the ideas and completely agree with the last sentence.

I'm not opposed to shipping him out for a package that addresses some or all of
CHI's needs. Tough call though. He's home grown, hella young and trading
away a kid with his skills/potentials is always risky.

JJ,

Perfect Blog....and the basis for my argument against everyone pining for a #1LW...

the bigger need for this team is a #4 D man....

not to say Stan and Co. cant get both a top-6 Winger and a #4 Dman...but I feel the bigger need is defense

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
Scuderi (CHI) on waivers.