John Jaeckel: Does Q Mishandle Younger Players? My Take.

Would it be too much to ask to get a RH shot on the 4-on-3 power play?

After last nights game one thing I think has become clear is that TT needs to head back to Rockford and replaced with a no longer injured Versteeg. Absolutely not for a lack of talent, but because of his size and non-willingness/lack of ability to go the boards. Shaw and Bickell with Versteeg there to help them can be a much more effective line.

Someone get the kid on a all carb diet in Rockford and we'll see him next year.

Interesting to see who gets sent down when Versteeg returns. Odd are TT goes but then again, is Nordstrom a possibility to be sent down since he hasn't played in three games? From there, who do you bench? Q likes Car Bomb's game and you don't waste TT's development by sitting him up here. So I still think TT goes down but who knows.

JJ - Any trade whispers?

Interesting to see who gets sent down when Versteeg returns. Odd are TT goes but then again, is Nordstrom a possibility to be sent down since he hasn't played in three games? From there, who do you bench? Q likes Car Bomb's game and you don't waste TT's development by sitting him up here. So I still think TT goes down but who knows.

JJ - Any trade whispers?
- golfbard

Since the Power Play is awful id like to see TT get a few shifts on the power play. Obvi a lot less D responsibility on the man advantage .

Nordstrom doesnt do much for me .

Since the Power Play is awful id like to see TT get a few shifts on the power play. Obvi a lot less D responsibility on the man advantage .

Nordstrom doesnt do much for me .
- mrpaulish

I like Nordstrom but I just don't think there's a place for him right now.

I would like to see changes on the PP and would definitely think TT could be a solution but will he be here by Wednesday night's game? I think Versteeg will be one addition to one of the units so we'll see.

I like Nordstrom but I just don't think there's a place for him right now.

I would like to see changes on the PP and would definitely think TT could be a solution but will he be here by Wednesday night's game? I think Versteeg will be one addition to one of the units so we'll see.
- golfbard

Same here. I don't have his stats in front of me but I think Versteeg played on the second unit and was pretty good there.

As far as TT, would rather have him go down and continue getting minutes and big ones with RFD.

I haven't seen the unwillingness to play along the boards some mention, but yes he needs to and can realistically add about 10 lbs through diet and strength training in the offseason and that would be great.

No new rumors, but I wanted be surprised if they pull the trigger on a deal of some kind after Versteeg gets back.

If not, then ya, Nordstrom or TT should go back.

Same here. I don't have his stats in front of me but I think Versteeg played on the second unit and was pretty good there.

As far as TT, would rather have him go down and continue getting minutes and big ones with RFD.

I haven't seen the unwillingness to play along the boards some mention, but yes he needs to and can realistically add about 10 lbs through diet and strength training in the offseason and that would be great.
- HawkintheD

GOMAD
Dead lifts
Squats
Bench Press
Pullups

Repeat

I like Nordstrom but I just don't think there's a place for him right now.

I would like to see changes on the PP and would definitely think TT could be a solution but will he be here by Wednesday night's game? I think Versteeg will be one addition to one of the units so we'll see.
- golfbard

Honestly, as people have mentioned which rockford assets might need to be moved for a trade deadline target, to me, its Nordstrom

Hes gotten enough NHL exposure to see he really doesnt provide much for us, at least in my opinion

I think we will need to hold on to danault, mcneill, ross, hartman, johns, dahlbeck as cheap alternatives for the cap crunch

Nordstrom I think is expendable and has some value as a guy with a little NHL experience

TT should go back and get minutes in Rockford. I like what I've seen for the most part but a little more seasoning with the Hogs will do him good. His talent cannot be denied. However, there were too many times last night he opted to try to make the pass instead of taking the shot. Add a little size in addition to maturity and experience and maybe he's ready for next year to be a real difference maker.

Bowman had to know that he would be unable to sign Leddy after his current deal expires. Watching Oduya this year has been painful at times but he is still a calming presence (mostly) with a very good active stick that can make an accurate outlet pass. I really cannot fathom the Hawks sticking pat with their current 3rd pair. Rosival is basically what he was last year so w/e....but Rundblad is far worse than Leddy which creates the need for a better 3rd pair dman if the Hawks want to to hoist the cup this JUne

After last nights game one thing I think has become clear is that TT needs to head back to Rockford and replaced with a no longer injured Versteeg. Absolutely not for a lack of talent, but because of his size and non-willingness/lack of ability to go the boards. Shaw and Bickell with Versteeg there to help them can be a much more effective line.

Someone get the kid on a all carb diet in Rockford and we'll see him next year.
- BURDA13

At the UC last night and being able to see more action than the camera provides on TV it is obvious TT needs confidence going into traffic and/or corners. He floats around players avoiding any contact. IMO he hurts the Hawks because Q needs to protect him with Shaw and Bickell.
The second line Kane/Sharp/Richards are all perimeter players; no traffic in front of net. Hopefully when Versteeg comes back move Sharp down to third line. This will answer Q's question of getting traffic in front of opposing goalies.
Runblad is fragile. Found it humorous when hawks marketing displayed Runblad was a plus 14 on the jumbo screen. IMO Erixon is a better choice for 6th D-man.

Would it be too much to ask to get a RH shot on the 4-on-3 power play?
- jam10sugar

They didn't get any shots on goal in 8 min of PP? Is that correct?

Poor passing, offsides, icings, and another shorty attempt. That was special teams loss last night.

Bowman had to know that he would be unable to sign Leddy after his current deal expires. Watching Oduya this year has been painful at times but he is still a calming presence (mostly) with a very good active stick that can make an accurate outlet pass. I really cannot fathom the Hawks sticking pat with their current 3rd pair. Rosival is basically what he was last year so w/e....but Rundblad is far worse than Leddy which creates the need for a better 3rd pair dman if the Hawks want to to hoist the cup this JUne
- EnzoD

Rundblad is a liability in his own end, no question. Don't forget that TVR should be back. Let's hope that he bounces back from that injury and continues to be the suprise that he was for us early in the season.

I like Nordstrom but I just don't think there's a place for him right now.

I would like to see changes on the PP and would definitely think TT could be a solution but will he be here by Wednesday night's game? I think Versteeg will be one addition to one of the units so we'll see.
- golfbard[/quote

A player with a heavy shot on the point for a PP. Seabrook?

They didn't get any shots on goal in 8 min of PP? Is that correct?

Poor passing, offsides, icings, and another shorty attempt. That was special teams loss last night.
- bogiedoc

2 shots in 8 minutes - one on the 4 on 3 in the OT.

Saw Columbus and LA last night in person. Some impressions:

Carter-Toffoli-King just dominant

Jared Boll beat the snot out of Kyle Clifford in a legit HW brawl. He is a TOUGH kid.

Alexander Wennberg has some real skill, dangerous all night

Jackets defense is dreadful up and down the ice

Nice Blog JJ, spot on.

It's easy for fans to get caught up in seeing former players succeed in other places, but sometimes hard to understand that unless the player is a true superstar, like a Kane or Toews, then they are just pieces or assets that clubs need to their advantage (real or imagined).

As you said, players like Pirri and Hayes were not bad players, they were just in a position where the Hawks coaches and management had them behind others in the organization. Their games also came with shortcomings (such as Pirri's poor defensive zone play) which either made them expendable/tradeable, or elevated others over them. Some of them have decent stat lines, but it needs to be taken into account the increased minutes and opportunities.

Realistically speaking, who do you really regret losing? Who does Pirri or Hayes replace? Forget about Skille and Olsen, they are NHL no-entities for the most part.

For all the complaining about Bickell, he is a MUCH better player than either Pirri or Hayes over 200 feet of Ice, as is Shaw. They can't and wouldn't replace Smith or Kruger on their best days, and neither would fill the role that Carcillo fills.

So all that being said, you move them for whatever you can get in return. Other teams know this, so the returns will not necessarily be high, other teams are not necessarily bending over backwards to help the Hawks. Same with Morin. Is he filling the net? I think not. You take shots on guys and hope they work out. Erikson? who knows. Maybe one of the picks you got for Pirri works out or becomes a trade chip, at this point the Hayes & Olsen for Versteeg looks like a Hawks win.

Rundblad is a liability in his own end, no question. Don't forget that TVR should be back. Let's hope that he bounces back from that injury and continues to be the suprise that he was for us early in the season.
- gannon33

Anyone hear when TVR will be back? I know his timeline to return was around March 1st. If that's the case, he'll have about 20 games to get back up to speed.

At the UC last night and being able to see more action than the camera provides on TV it is obvious TT needs confidence going into traffic and/or corners. He floats around players avoiding any contact. IMO he hurts the Hawks because Q needs to protect him with Shaw and Bickell.
The second line Kane/Sharp/Richards are all perimeter players; no traffic in front of net. Hopefully when Versteeg comes back move Sharp down to third line. This will answer Q's question of getting traffic in front of opposing goalies.
Runblad is fragile. Found it humorous when hawks marketing displayed Runblad was a plus 14 on the jumbo screen. IMO Erixon is a better choice for 6th D-man.
- roenick

Funny you use floats to describe him. Like a feather falling, graceful but its course easily altered by the slightest breeze, the latter usually followed by a thud of TT hitting the ice.

Funny you use floats to describe him. Like a feather falling, graceful but its course easily altered by the slightest breeze, the latter usually followed by a thud of TT hitting the ice.
- Cup-Bearer

I like the definition of TT.

The only thing I question is why do some young players seemingly get very few opportunities, while others continue to roll out game in and game out no matter how inept they are. It gives me the impression Q already has his mind made up. The Hawks have not traded away anything like Gretzky over the last two years, but some of those players could have been "experienced depth".

I know it's a subject that's been beaten to death with the point men not playing on their off-side on the Hawks standard PP, but can anyone possibly explain the sense of four lefties on the ice at the same time during a 4 on 3 PP? Q consistently trots those four out there to start 4 on 3's and all it does is allow the opponent to not defend the right side of the ice (from the goalie's perspective). Seabrook needs to be out there to start on the left point in that scenario every single time. Way better shooter than Keith and allows for the one timer from the point/high slot. Four lefties is just asinine. Olczyk finally mentioned it last night on the one shot Keith got on goal but after having to catch the pass then shoot Smith had all the day to get over. Just idiotic.

Saw Columbus and LA last night in person. Some impressions:

Carter-Toffoli-King just dominant

Jared Boll beat the snot out of Kyle Clifford in a legit HW brawl. He is a TOUGH kid.

Alexander Wennberg has some real skill, dangerous all night

Jackets defense is dreadful up and down the ice
- John Jaeckel

JJ-agree with a lot of what you are saying. Ryan Murray being injured virtually all year has been huge. Wiz being out last night does not help either, although I agree with you that he is not a top 2 guy. For what its worth, I don't think either Skille or Morin will be on the CBJ roster next year. Boone Jenner is a top 6 guy, and there are others (like Kirby Rychel and Marko Dano) that will push those guys out. Just my opinion.