John Jaeckel: The dust has settled. For now.

first

I would like an up grade on Defense . I believe that Kane should be able to overcome a left winger downgrade

Nice write-up JJ. Keeps things in perspective

71 Days until puck drop!

Thanks for all of your work this crazy off season JJ.

Have you heard anything to the rumors of Cody Fransen possibility? What are your thoughts on him? I don't think he'd hurt on a PTO and see where he fits as a 6/7 on the back end with the experience he may bring. Does he have anything left?

All the defensive depth issues can be resolved if all of the question marks play well. Don't forget that we have new assistant coach, Ulfie, who may help some of these young players and question marks to play better. I am hoping that they pair their defense, with RIGHT and LEFT defense. Guys playing out of position and consistently on their backhand and not fore hand, cannot help matters for sure. As of the moment, it is wait and see what you have before making any more moves. The second line with Kane, should be fine if you have Anisimov, big bodied center as your "go to the net guy". Possibly the best option would be Schmaltz, since he did play their with Kane, when Anisimov was injured. Schmaltz needs to shoot more to keep the oposition honest and that line should do well. Sharp to the 3rd line, to provide that veteran presence that Hossa provided, playing with two younger guys. Last year, the triple H line of Hossa-Hinostroza-Hartman, played well when Toews missed some time to injury. Sharp- Hinostroza-Hartman hopefully can provide similar results, with plenty of speed on that line

All the defensive depth issues can be resolved if all of the question marks play well. Don't forget that we have new assistant coach, Ulfie, who may help some of these young players and question marks to play better. I am hoping that they pair their defense, with RIGHT and LEFT defense. Guys playing out of position and consistently on their backhand and not fore hand, cannot help matters for sure. As of the moment, it is wait and see what you have before making any more moves. The second line with Kane, should be fine if you have Anisimov, big bodied center as your "go to the net guy". Possibly the best option would be Schmaltz, since he did play their with Kane, when Anisimov was injured. Schmaltz needs to shoot more to keep the oposition honest and that line should do well. Sharp to the 3rd line, to provide that veteran presence that Hossa provided, playing with two younger guys. Last year, the triple H line of Hossa-Hinostroza-Hartman, played well when Toews missed some time to injury. Sharp- Hinostroza-Hartman hopefully can provide similar results, with plenty of speed on that line
- chuckdahammer

I agree plus adding some size and speed should be a bigger boost

Great summary, John. The major changes promised and produced by Bowman, combined with Hossa's very unfortunate condition, have put the Hawks in a good position to assess the strengths and weaknesses of this "new" team, and then address their needs during the season or at the trade deadline. Nonetheless, if Toews and Keith don't get back to being Toews and Keith (physically and performance-wise), it won't matter.

Nothing likely to happen until training camp opens, so I'll turn my attention today to Chapter 3 of The Great Cubs-Sox Beanball War. Enjoy your remaining summer.

Great analysis as usual, JJ! Small typo on Keith's age -- hopefully, he can play this year like he's still 24!!

I have not heard Franson from any of my sources, but there is for sure a lot of chatter out there about him coming in on a PTO. And it makes some sense if he signed for a league minimum. Think Sopel 2.0 at this stage of his career. Nice lower pair stabilizer.

Another guy who I think (and hear) is a real possibility as a camp PTO is . . . Jarome Iginla.

5D - 7D is a concern. There are some possible candidates that step up, but they're all far from a sure thing. I would like to see Forsling get a shot, maybe the team signs a vet d-man to a PTO then sign him for real once Hossa goes on LTIR? Markov? Wideman? Franson (hopefully not)? Polak? Or does Stan made a trade for an Enstrom, Garrison, Sbisa, or Hamhuis type (vet with one year left). If Stan makes a trade I would expect it doesn't happen right away.

This was form the last blog:

Thanks for sharing that analysis of DeBrincat's showing during the scrimmage. One thing I am gathering is that DeBrincat needs to play with a playmaker who can dish the puck in order to optimize his skills as a finisher. Sikura seems like more of a playmaker with some finishing touch and could possibly be like Schmaltz where he has a great shot but prefers to pass 9 times out of 10. And Highmore is your bulldog grinder with some offensive skills to boot; a lot of pictures I see of him in action he has this "that puck is mine" expression on his face.

This is all potential of course so we'll have to wait and see how they ultimately develop and hopefully earn spots on the Hawks in years to come.
- AEL_Fox

The reports on ADB is that he doesn't necessarily need a playmaker, but that he adjusts his game to who he's playing with. I'll try to fidn the article, but it said with McDavid, he saw he liked to carry the puck with speed, so he would get him the puck in the D-zone, skate with him, and go to the net for the pass. With Strome, he notice he wasn't as fast and liked to cycle, so he would carry the puck, then get it to Strome as they entered the zone, then look to get open for a passing cycle. His center to start last season was better moving the puck in the offensive zone, so he would get him the puck in the neutral zone, then skate to the front.

Great analysis as usual, JJ! Small typo on Keith's age -- hopefully, he can play this year like he's still 24!!
- Hank_Greenberg

Oh crap, thx Greenie lemme go fix that!

It's a bit of a frustrating spot to be in because guys like Kempny, Forsling, Rutta, Pokka, etc. (insert rookie with little to no experience here) could be the solution for us long term but they won't ever get the experience if they don't play. However relying on said guys could also make the team more vulnerable on the back end which will be a huge key to our season next year. Even more so with the uncertainty of what Murphy will bring as well.

I think they gotta let at least two of the kids play and see what they got (Kempny for sure and maybe even Pokka since it's about put up or shut up time for him) and see if they can find a veteran in FA or through trade with the exception of Hoss on LTIR. Let Forsling develop his game a bit more and be first in line should anyone struggle and let Rutta adjust to the N.A. style of play before you try and count on him in the NHL. I truly believe this year is all about finding what pieces fit with this team not only for this year but also for next year or the year after when I think this team is going ALL IN for at least ONE last run at the cup with this core before Keith, Seabrook, and Crawford are all either done or past their primes and can no longer be counted on in elite roles.

Gonna be an interesting year for sure.

The Hawks will end up signing Franson or Markov or both once Hossa goes on LTIR and be just fine. In fact this forward core is pretty deep. I suspect the Hawks will be sitting as the 2-3 seed in the central come next April.

5D - 7D is a concern. There are some possible candidates that step up, but they're all far from a sure thing. I would like to see Forsling get a shot, maybe the team signs a vet d-man to a PTO then sign him for real once Hossa goes on LTIR? Markov? Wideman? Franson (hopefully not)? Polak? Or does Stan made a trade for an Enstrom, Garrison, Sbisa, or Hamhuis type (vet with one year left). If Stan makes a trade I would expect it doesn't happen right away.
- DarthKane

This is something I've been thinking about over the past couple of days since it seems like MTL is moving on from him and there aren't too many spots available for him to go to and get paid a decent amount of money and contend for a Cup. Seems like a legit fit to me. Not sure how that would work with the LTIR if we could sign him for the money (or some? pretty sure it all has to go to one player). A lot of the names you mentioned are also guys I could see being targets for the Hawks should their move come from a trade. Funny how everyone went from banking on the LTIR going for a LW to play with Kane to now everything thinks it should be used to get another veteran D-Man on this team for next year

This is something I've been thinking about over the past couple of days since it seems like MTL is moving on from him and there aren't too many spots available for him to go to and get paid a decent amount of money and contend for a Cup. Seems like a legit fit to me. Not sure how that would work with the LTIR if we could sign him for the money (or some? pretty sure it all has to go to one player). A lot of the names you mentioned are also guys I could see being targets for the Hawks should their move come from a trade. Funny how everyone went from banking on the LTIR going for a LW to play with Kane to now everything thinks it should be used to get another veteran D-Man on this team for next year
- Savetheembers33

I'd be okay with Markov, but he was asking for 6m per season. He'd have to come WAY down from that.

This was form the last blog:



The reports on ADB is that he doesn't necessarily need a playmaker, but that he adjusts his game to who he's playing with. I'll try to fidn the article, but it said with McDavid, he saw he liked to carry the puck with speed, so he would get him the puck in the D-zone, skate with him, and go to the net for the pass. With Strome, he notice he wasn't as fast and liked to cycle, so he would carry the puck, then get it to Strome as they entered the zone, then look to get open for a passing cycle. His center to start last season was better moving the puck in the offensive zone, so he would get him the puck in the neutral zone, then skate to the front.
- JRoenick97

I don't think there's any doubt that ADB is that kind of guy who has the hockey sense to be able to elevate his game when playing with better players. I've seen those guys, and I know one of them.

He has the short area moves and shot to to be a real factor, from the blue line in, playing with the right guys. Problem is, in pro hockey, you can't make a living night after night being a half court/highlight reel player. And no, this is not another Patrick Kane, either. So you can't raise that argument.

I think the issues with him are some physical limitations (and not just size mind you) and his readiness for what's expected as an NHL forward. Some that he can work out. Some others?

I will just say this, his skating/speed issues, I was told by someone I trust, and echoed by others who saw him at PC, are legit. How seriously that impacts his pro potential remains to be seen. There IS a speed difference between the OHL and the NHL. And that difference can seriously negate big time OHL scoring numbers.

You can't—as some have tried-say, well he "kept up with McDavid. I could relatively speaking "keep up with McDavid. Well, maybe that's a stretch, but the point is, the MUCH bigger issue is:

1) the time and space pro defenders take away and 2) their much greater ability to keep up with ADB, knock him off pucks, etc.

That's another thing— the pro defensemen he will face along the wall are going to be physically a lot closer to say Radovan Bondra (who thoroughly dominated ADB in one on one drills in camp) , than some 185 pound 17 year old kid playing for Sarnia or Belleville.

If he scores some goals in camp scrimmages or even exhibitions playing with Kane and AA, all that tells you is what you pretty much already know: he can produce something offensively with skill guys in camp scrimmages and exhibitions.

Problem is, there's more to what's expected in actual NHL games and over the course of a season.

I think the first test for him will be (at minimum) a half season in Rockford unless he is a huge revelation in pro camp—up and down the ice. I suspect he will produce nice numbers in Rockford as the AHL is sort of middle ground as far as transitioning to NHL speed, but the team will want to see how he adjusts to pro physicality, learns to win pucks versus pro defenders (using his smarts and quickness, because he is never going to outmuscle them), plays defense on his wing.

The Hawks will end up signing Franson or Markov or both once Hossa goes on LTIR and be just fine. In fact this forward core is pretty deep. I suspect the Hawks will be sitting as the 2-3 seed in the central come next April.
- mnhockeyguy

It is deep and improved overall on the left side.

BUT . . . secondary/PK/d-zone face-offs are going to be an issue all season I think if they don't find someone or someone doesn't seriously step up over their historical numbers.

It is deep and improved overall on the left side.

BUT . . . secondary/PK/d-zone face-offs are going to be an issue all season I think if they don't find someone or someone doesn't seriously step up over their historical numbers.
- John Jaeckel

Sharp is a pretty decent face-off man isn't he?

JJ said: Why do I say that, some no doubt ask, because on paper, Saad will not replace (likely) the offense lost in one Artemi Panarin.

I'm not sure I see - even on paper - the lost offense.

The last two seasons - Panarin here, Saad in Columbus - the goal scoring was as follows:

Panarin: 44 EV + 17 PP = 61 goals total
Saad: 48 EV + 7 PP = 55 goals total

10% fewer goals for Saad, due to the PP difference - EV (where the Hawks have continued to struggle for 2 seasons now) the edge goes to Saad.

Panarin had dramatically more assists the past two years - 90 to 51 - playing on one of the top scoring lines in the league (and with a top goal scorer) and I think much more PP time than Saad.

Add in Saad's 200 foot game (which Panarin didn't really have) - and his fit with Toews AND Kane's ability to elevate the game of whoever wings on his left....

I can't really think of any seasons lately where folks are happy with the 5-7D to start the year, with the exception of last season where the Hawks D looked good on paper and stunk when it mattered. The Hawks have a lot of options, so I think they will fill those bottom spots fine. The question will be the health and play of Keith and Seabrook (who I think still has back issues) and will Murphy fit into the Chicago system (he is already established as a 3D but on a worse team)

If the top 3 play their role, maybe the Hawks still shop for another top 4 D, but maybe not.

Sharp is a pretty decent face-off man isn't he?
- mnhockeyguy

Over 50% in 7 seasons of mostly spot duty there, so yes. And, if healthy, at the very least, he can compensate for Anisimov's weakness there if he plays with him and Kane 5 on 5. Or as a #2 FO option on the PP. actually, that's a nice add.

BUT . . .

I don't think they want Sharp centering a lower line with primarily defensive responsibility though or being the regular #1C on the PK, and I don't think his body could take it at this point.

But yes that is a nice little plus Sharp brings that could help this team in some situations, as long as he's close to 100%.

I can't really think of any seasons lately where folks are happy with the 5-7D to start the year, with the exception of last season where the Hawks D looked good on paper and stunk when it mattered. The Hawks have a lot of options, so I think they will fill those bottom spots fine. The question will be the health and play of Keith and Seabrook (who I think still has back issues) and will Murphy fit into the Chicago system (he is already established as a 3D but on a worse team)

If the top 3 play their role, maybe the Hawks still shop for another top 4 D, but maybe not.
- breadbag

The real problem is, after Seabrook and Keith, 3-4 are not what they were a couple of years ago. Not yet anyway. THAt is the bigger issue.

I'd be okay with Markov, but he was asking for 6m per season. He'd have to come WAY down from that.
- JRoenick97

Markov is a little long in the tooth, but like Keith he just keeps playing well as he ages.

Not saying Stan would want to, but he could pay close to $6 million for Markov. Hossa's $5.275 million plus the $925,000 (or so) of the player Markov would replace (i.e Rutta).