John Jaeckel: Latest: Crawford, Dineen & "Housecleaning" Notes

sigh…first.

Le sigh....

After reading that blog, it sounds like a team who hasn't won a cup in 50 years and just finished at the bottom of the league.

2 years since last cup, 3rd best regular season record in league and a 1st round exit. Boy, to have those kind of problems....

List of teams who would want Crawford (I know he has his NMC) but where could we actually see him landing? In the division?

After reading that blog, it sounds like a team who hasn't won a cup in 50 years and just finished at the bottom of the league.

2 years since last cup, 3rd best regular season record in league and a 1st round exit. Boy, to have those kind of problems....
- Glak18

^^^this guy gets it

^^^this guy gets it
- BURDA13

and you don't. Regular season doesn't mean much, it is all about the playoffs and entertaining hockey. And the Hawks really did not play so well during the season despite their record. When you have good team, you want to win as many cups as you can during the life span of the performing pieces of that team. Because you do not know when this chance comes along again as many on this board know, the championship window is slowly closing and the future is not so bright.

this type of passiveness and ignorance leads to the hawks looking like the avalanche in a few years, which I would like to delay as long as possible.

Nice write up, JJ.

Couldn't Crow potentially go to Vegas? I heard they were going to leave him unprotected.

Interesting side not: Golden Knights have expressed interest in wheeling and dealing before the Expansion Draft.

JJ. First, I always look forward to your posts. Insightful and direct. Thanks.
With respect to this being the 'price of success', and you have touched on this as well. I think Stan and Co. get off too easy. Look at the NFL's N.E. Patriots. Love em or hate em, they continue to win in a salary cup era. They have a great coaching staff and core much like the Hawks do. But what they haven't done is tie up key players to long term big contracts. I think Chicago can learn from the Kraft/Belichick tandem - don't put a player or their contract ahead of the long term success of the team.

I Think that the complete no show by all (plenty of blame to go around) means that they can and should reexamine everything and everyone. It isn't a bad thing to do in general- as an individual or as an organization - because there are always things you can do better. The overall poor performance (admittedly in the playoffs not the regular season but face it the Hawks measure themselves in the postseason) gives Stan cover to ask anyone with a NMC/NTC that allows for submission of a list to submit one. Asking it if everyone gives you cover - player and FO side both. Just my 2 cents. Reassessing - if you are honest in doing so - might be the best thing to happen to the Hawks.

and you don't. Regular season doesn't mean much, it is all about the playoffs and entertaining hockey. And the Hawks really did not play so well during the season despite their record. When you have good team, you want to win as many cups as you can during the life span of the performing pieces of that team. Because you do not know when this chance comes along again as many on this board know, the championship window is slowly closing and the future is not so bright.

this type of passiveness and ignorance leads to the hawks looking like the avalanche in a few years, which I would like to delay as long as possible.
- Topshelf2010

I don't? I'm appreciating the success they had. I'm not expecting there to be a Stanley Cup every year. How could anyone ever expect that? Yes, back to back first round exits aren't great, but ask and Sabres or Canes fan if they wouldn't love to see their team playing hockey in late April

Nice write up, JJ.

Couldn't Crow potentially go to Vegas? I heard they were going to leave him unprotected.

Interesting side not: Golden Knights have expressed interest in wheeling and dealing before the Expansion Draft.
- Hank3Henshaw

Thats where Fleury is going. Book it.

Great article JJ!

Po'd does not mean McD will make the right decision. Look at the living hell Ryan Pace is going through for doing exactly what the fans clamored for - showing newts and landing a franchise QB. He is getting roasted for giving up a few 3's which could turn into another Horanus Grasu. The good news in all of this is its not business as usual. Push some chips in and make some bold decisions. Go big or go home.

Thats where Fleury is going. Book it.
- MattStrat

That has certainly been the rumor for a long time.

Should be interesting to see if he does go there...I mean, why wouldn't Vegas explore other goalie options first, before signing MAF, though?

II don't have anything against MAF, but I think there will be some interesting goalie options come Expansion Draft time.

If in fact Dineen did have a frank conversation about the teams flaws on his exit interview then it suggests to me a little frustration that Q is not delegating completely to his assistant coaches. Hard to hold them completely accountable if so.

A bunch of posters here have been objective enough to note the flaws all along despite the great results of recent years. Now that the veterans are more mature the whole team needs to do all the little things that make an average team more competitive. We all saw what happened when they didn't. Obviously the team is at a crossroads. Just McD having a poopfit isn't going to do it. There has to be commitment to coming to work, both players and coaches. Not just doing the same thing over and over that worked despite the odds because they had so much talent they didn't have to worry.
For example: clearing the crease, strategically dumping the puck and not just as a last resort, having more than one PP or PK to confuse the opposition...

The kool-aid brigade is quick to point out that the team had 50 wins. So how could they look so bad in the 1st round? By being predictable and un-adjustable. They were ripe for a hungry team with a good game plan. Might have been the best thing for them long term. It doesn't have to stay that way, but they all have to open their minds. Should be good theater all summer.

Thats where Fleury is going. Book it.
- MattStrat

Your man is putting on a good show. Could only increase his value.

First thing is you cannot stay good forever in the salary cap world. When you give $10.5 mil to 2 guys on your roster you hope to win with them. You did! Now you are stuck with them and you hope you develop well. I think Chicago has done a great job. If you can move a contract or two, it would help. I think Seabrook contract was a big mistake and will come back to haunt you.

Your man is putting on a good show. Could only increase his value.
- 6628

Yep.

Totally agree.

Yep.

Totally agree.
- Hank3Henshaw

Bishop is also available, and he is Vezna candidate last season before this season injury. Goalie that carried Tampa season after season on his back before this year. His value is at least the same as Fleury/Crawford, and number of teams that need goalie is reduced drastically with newer goalies such as Talbot or Gibson stepping in.

First thing is you cannot stay good forever in the salary cap world. When you give $10.5 mil to 2 guys on your roster you hope to win with them. You did! Now you are stuck with them and you hope you develop well. I think Chicago has done a great job. If you can move a contract or two, it would help. I think Seabrook contract was a big mistake and will come back to haunt you.
- Champ

and remember, they took a home town discount.

Bishop is also available, and he is Vezna candidate last season before this season injury. Goalie that carried Tampa season after season on his back before this year. His value is at least the same as Fleury/Crawford, and number of teams that need goalie is reduced drastically with newer goalies such as Talbot or Gibson stepping in.
- vshun

Bishop is unfortunately injury prone and seems to be good for one fairly major injury per season, though.

That's one of the negatives on him, in my opinion.

If in fact Dineen did have a frank conversation about the teams flaws on his exit interview then it suggests to me a little frustration that Q is not delegating completely to his assistant coaches. Hard to hold them completely accountable if so.

A bunch of posters here have been objective enough to note the flaws all along despite the great results of recent years. Now that the veterans are more mature the whole team needs to do all the little things that make an average team more competitive. We all saw what happened when they didn't. Obviously the team is at a crossroads. Just McD having a poopfit isn't going to do it. There has to be commitment to coming to work, both players and coaches. Not just doing the same thing over and over that worked despite the odds because they had so much talent they didn't have to worry.
For example: clearing the crease, strategically dumping the puck and not just as a last resort, having more than one PP or PK to confuse the opposition...

The kool-aid brigade is quick to point out that the team had 50 wins. So how could they look so bad in the 1st round? By being predictable and un-adjustable. They were ripe for a hungry team with a good game plan. Might have been the best thing for them long term. It doesn't have to stay that way, but they all have to open their minds. Should be good theater all summer.
- 6628

^^^^THIS. 66 - wise and in insightful as usual! Hoping for good and much needed theater. Change IS needed, but not solely for the sake of change.

Nice write up, JJ.

Couldn't Crow potentially go to Vegas? I heard they were going to leave him unprotected.

Interesting side not: Golden Knights have expressed interest in wheeling and dealing before the Expansion Draft.
- Hank3Henshaw

By rule Crawford needs to be protected due to the NMC. He can only be exposed if he waives it.

JJ. First, I always look forward to your posts. Insightful and direct. Thanks.
With respect to this being the 'price of success', and you have touched on this as well. I think Stan and Co. get off too easy. Look at the NFL's N.E. Patriots. Love em or hate em, they continue to win in a salary cup era. They have a great coaching staff and core much like the Hawks do. But what they haven't done is tie up key players to long term big contracts. I think Chicago can learn from the Kraft/Belichick tandem - don't put a player or their contract ahead of the long term success of the team.
- innerquest

The comparison with the NFL is not valid, I think.

First, the cap keeps going up by $10MM per year or so - it's up from $123 in 2013 to $167 for next season - a 35% increase - when the cap we care about has effectively increased from only $70 in 2013 to $73 for last year - maybe $75/$76 next year (maybe).

Second, teams can carry over any unused cap space from the previous year.

Third, contracts are not guaranteed - teams can drop players and recapture much/most of their cap space (with some complications, I think).

By rule Crawford needs to be protected due to the NMC. He can only be exposed if he waives it.
- Quicky72

Ahh...good insight!

I thought JJ's point about submitting a list to teams where it would be difficult for him to be moved to--due to cap issues or no need for a goalie-- was interesting, too.

Guys with NMC seem like they can really hold all the cards.