John Jaeckel: It's Getting Messy

Looking forward to some goals tonight and a little emotion

edit: "GM Stan Bowman needs to be working the phones and seeing if he can add some energy, toughness and veteran discipline to his team. "

Everyone is looking for the same stuff or similar... Canucks need more scoring, and every team is looking to add toughness with the way the playoffs are called recently.

Hawks still look like a contender if not favourite for the cup.

John Jaeckel: It's Getting Messy
- John Jaeckel

There is no answer in Rockford, and I would add there aren't any answers externally either. The cap space is so limited that Stan will really have to get creative if he wants to make a big change. I'm not saying it can't be done, but I don't think it's likely.

I am really worried about tonight's game. Vancouver is always stoke to play us and while they are suffering through a lot of injuries their defense and goaltending are still solid.

Why did the hawks trade frolik for salary cap space then take on versteggs salary which even the part there paying is more than froliks when he was great on the pk. Hawks should trade bickell and leddy to Florida for Bjugstad Matthias and a d prospect with upside or at least a 5-6 dman maybe Gilbert

Getting rid of Frolik and Bolland was a major mistake on SB's part. This folly was only topped when he also decided to give $6M to CC and $4M to Bickell, and $2M to reKhabbibuillen.

Towes hasnt been very good all year and half of last year. Hossa has become streaky and Sharp seems composed and enagged most (but not all) games. Kane has picked up up bad habits or something. As soon as Versteeg arrived on the scene Kane continued apace for a while then has plummeted ever since.

Overall hitting by the hawks seems to have dropped even lower than last year and is now at the point it seems they dont know how to hit anymore.

CC is still a marginal goalie and Raanta looked good until he started getting splinters in his azz from sitting too long, so much so that he made CC look good yesterday.

Krueger and Saad seem to have energy enough for everybody but they seem to struggle with the closer.

And the Defense.... I am convinced that someone on the coaching staff is responsible for this fall off and the D is just doing mostly what they have been told.

The PP sux
The PK sux
The GAA sux
The GF is starting to sux
The SOG's are falling away
The Hits are gone

Its not that hard to play hockey if your in good shape so i am not buying the "theyre tired " craaap. If theyre really tired they need to be tired in somewhere like Columbus because we dont need floaters and half hearted weaklings that cant hanbdle the grind...

Finally, If the rumors are true that the scouting staff are hanging out at some of the teams that have been suggested top have been then I suggest they need a reality check.. Thats like saying we are going to be looking for a fine dining experience at the local landfill.

There is no answer in Rockford, and I would add there aren't any answers externally either. The cap space is so limited that Stan will really have to get creative if he wants to make a big change. I'm not saying it can't be done, but I don't think it's likely.

I am really worried about tonight's game. Vancouver is always stoke to play us and while they are suffering through a lot of injuries their defense and goaltending are still solid.
- DarthKane

I think the 10 guys representing their countries (minus Hossa) feel like they can coast into the Olympic break to rest up, playing not to get hurt before the winter games. It obviously isn't working. Maybe a rival like Vancouver can provide a wake-up call to get guys moving again. For all of January it has looked to me like most of the team is just playing kinda lazy.

Why did the hawks trade frolik for salary cap space then take on versteggs salary which even the part there paying is more than froliks when he was great on the pk. Hawks should trade bickell and leddy to Florida for Bjugstad Matthias and a d prospect with upside or at least a 5-6 dman maybe Gilbert
- Abadseed

Taking this a step further the cap saving would allow them to carry who they want up not who they can fit

- fattybeef

Professor Chaos is getting a swirly right now from Cartman

This game has slump buster written all over it for the Hawks. Score more than 1 goal and you have about a 75% chance of winning....score more than 2 and you win. Feel free to take a few stupid penalties for fun as well because the PP sucks.

I see no feasible way to add a top notch player before the summer. Bowman will be looking for another Handzus like addition but less expensive than he was last year.

The Hawks can't throw a bucket full of prospects at someone for a top 6 forward because in essence they would be too expensive with their current cap situation.

I don't see Bowman tarding a core player now after winning a Cup last year.....

His big trade came awhile ago when Versteeg arrived for half price.

Big trip starts on sour note with 5-4 OT loss. Now Brandon Pirri's on a big audition: On The Blackhawks-Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/MfODRC

Why did the hawks trade frolik for salary cap space then take on versteggs salary which even the part there paying is more than froliks when he was great on the pk. Hawks should trade bickell and leddy to Florida for Bjugstad Matthias and a d prospect with upside or at least a 5-6 dman maybe Gilbert
- Abadseed

This move was done more for next season (and beyond) than this year. Frolik and Versteeg's cap hit are essentially a wash. But next year Frolik will want a raise while we still have Versteeg for 2 more seasons at $2.2 million.

I don't look at this as Frolik or Versteeg, it was really Frolik or Bickell.

Call the Rangers about Callahan. Give him the 1st rounder and Pirri or something. whatever he wants thats not 19, 10, 81, 88, 20, 65, 16, 28, 2, 7, 4, 27 31 and 50.

This game has slump buster written all over it for the Hawks. Score more than 1 goal and you have about a 75% chance of winning....score more than 2 and you win. Feel free to take a few stupid penalties for fun as well because the PP sucks.
- Nucker101

How about the idea of Q throwing out his 4th line to start the game? Will that get a similar reaction to the Calgary game last week?

This move was done more for next season (and beyond) than this year. Frolik and Versteeg's cap hit are essentially a wash. But next year Frolik will want a raise while we still have Versteeg for 2 more seasons at $2.2 million.

I don't look at this as Frolik or Versteeg, it was really Frolik or Bickell.
- DarthKane

...And given the choice you take Versteeg over Frolik.

Issue now is there is no 3rd line...None....and Bickell is 2 steps slows and Handzus looks like he aged a lot since the summer...And as pointed out no viable replacements from Rockford.


Big trip starts on sour note with 5-4 OT loss. Now Brandon Pirri's on a big audition: On The Blackhawks-Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/MfODRC

How about the idea of Q throwing out his 4th line to start the game? Will that get a similar reaction to the Calgary game last week?


- EKolb13

That would at least make the game fun to watch as a Canucks fan so I'm all for it.

No Torts though.

We seem to do ok when we trade there we need size at center these two provide that. If we need to add then so be it. They need new blood there just to comfortable.

Something is definitely needed to wake these 'Hawks up. They appear to have lost their mojo and you bring up a great point in regards to chemistry - it is not there right now.

It has been a problem all year: The sixth defense-man is an Achilles heal. Last year Rozy was pivital in the 'Hawks Stanley Cup run. He was a +18 for the year and a +9 in the playoffs. He played 18-19 minutes a night and was consistent. This year, he is a -2 (first time being a negative +/- player in like six years and only the second time in over ten years). He's averaging nearly 2 less minutes a game, looks slower, and he not as sharp with his passes. He's a $2.2 million liability at this point and it sucks that he's under contract for next season as well. He's 35-years-old and is clearly nearing the end of his career. He should have retired on top. Rozy, Brookbank, and Kostka are a combined $4 million dollar waste. Factor in Bickell's contract and the 'Hawks have a rotting $8 million in contracts.

If Stan is able to venture into the trade waters, find a capable sixth-man who is under-performing due to playing on a bad team, the team will be much sharper in their own end which will in turn hopefully help Crawford out. I don't think the 'Hawks need help offensively. A 2C would be a pipe-dream anyways.

It's also interesting to note that a mere four points separates the 6th place from the 13th place in the East. Obviously this isn't good for contenders in the West hoping to make a deal because I'm sure all of these teams feel as if they still have their playoff hopes alive (except for Buffalo and maybe Florida).

...And given the choice you take Versteeg over Frolik.

Issue now is there is no 3rd line...None....and Bickell is 2 steps slows and Handzus looks like he aged a lot since the summer...And as pointed out no viable replacements from Rockford.


Big trip starts on sour note with 5-4 OT loss. Now Brandon Pirri's on a big audition: On The Blackhawks-Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/MfODRC
- Al

I'm a big Frolik fan, but given the situation I take Versteeg over Frolik 100% of the time.

I see no feasible way to add a top notch player before the summer. Bowman will be looking for another Handzus like addition but less expensive than he was last year.

The Hawks can't throw a bucket full of prospects at someone for a top 6 forward because in essence they would be too expensive with their current cap situation.

I don't see Bowman tarding a core player now after winning a Cup last year.....

His big trade came awhile ago when Versteeg arrived for half price.

Big trip starts on sour note with 5-4 OT loss. Now Brandon Pirri's on a big audition: On The Blackhawks-Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/MfODRC
- Al

That's saying something.

Call the Rangers about Callahan. Give him the 1st rounder and Pirri or something. whatever he wants thats not 19, 10, 81, 88, 20, 65, 16, 28, 2, 7, 4, 27 31 and 50.
- erhryck

Bickell, Pirri and a 1st?

That's saying something.
- TommyHawk

Considering only about $1 mill in total yearly cap space is available that's about it.

Big trip starts on a sour note with 5-4 OT loss. Now Brandon Pirri's on a big audition: On The Blackhawks-Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/MfODRC

Bickell, Pirri and a 1st?
- BlazinMike

How much has Bickell's trade value tanked?

Bickell also has a modified NTC. How much would that gum up the works?

Bickell, Pirri and a 1st?
- BlazinMike

Moving both would cover the cap easily. Waive the Moose and maybe have some room still at the deadline.

Chris Tanev, who's been playing fantastic hockey this season defensively is out for this game. This could get ugly. He and Hamhuis have been the Canucks 2 most reliable defensemen defensively.