John Jaeckel: Good, but how good?

First yeehhhaaaa
Good review JJ
Right on the point about the speed and the hitting
So far very impressed
Leaf game should be wild

98- 0 my friend

Mornin' John... great writeup as always.

Some great points here. Speed kills and the Hawks have shown it. I'm also wondering how much of an effect Ulffie is having here with the defense.

And finally the Hawks are bringing more of an edge to their game. Hayden was another one who took the body last night and then there was the rush he made in the first 1 against 4 where he turned the jackets D around.

With Schmaltz out for a bit here - wondering who will take his place. Does AA move up or do you leave him on the third line?

No question its early and the Hawks did play two teams backups on the 2nd night of back to backs. Although Murray relieved Niemi early on to no avail. I think we'll see plenty of ups and downs here over the next couple of weeks.

Interested to see how they fair on the 2 game roadie here. Wondering if Forsberg gets the start tomorrow so Craw gets to play in Habland on Tuesday.

Knew AA was slow, but after Zeus and Richards, seemed an upgrade. After Schmaltz went down, it was painful to see how slow that line is. Here’s to a speedy recovery.

Trying not to be the rainbows and unicorns positive guy I am sometimes excused of being ,rightly so . Must say though this team is putting a big old smile on my face ..I will say the Leafs will be a big challenge on Monday ,expect to see Forsberg in net but who knows with Coach Q . Hope Vinny get the call up ,and they put him between Kane and Hartman . Love the play of the defense so far ,think Frosling could be a star in the making .And the Kempny and Rutta may be real steals . If the defense stays strong ,they should be able to score a few on the Leafs .. Nice to see Eddy O

Great blog JJ. What day you about C. Murphy this far? Tough to get a read out on him, don’t notice him much and of course the Hawks haven’t been in enough of a dog fight yet. Just curious.

Was at the game last night with my sister and during the second period leaned over and said "man are they aggressive - such a big difference from last year!" They are not waiting for the play to come to them, they are dictating it with speed and aggression - both in their more physical play and in how the D is working. The D is going lower in the O zone and pinching more and already seeing much better forward support when they go low. LOVE how they are moving/transitioning so quickly through the neutral zone. Big relief after the inability to do so in the playoffs last year and preseason this year. Second period take over when the hits started reallly flying was breathtaking and that Panik hit on Jones on the end boards was a thing of absolute beauty! Panik should have gotten and assist because he MADE the Captain's goal! Great to be in the house to thank Panarin and cheer on Eddie!! Overall, just a really fun game!!

I am a Hawks fan living in Canada. a Hawk fan since around 1970. Have had to endure the relentless arrogance of the haplessHab fans for decades. Have to listen to Leaf woes for just as long. Don't mind the Leafs so much, but if Hawks lose these next two to the Leafs and Habs....well....the first two games matter little from where I am....my life will be Hell for quite a while!!!!!

So, Hawks.....a lose will come....a losing steak will happen.....BUT, let's let it begin AFTER game 4. Get through these two.....and all is good for a while!!!!

(Seriously though, the Leaf game will be a TRUE test of how the "New-look" Hawks can handle a team of speed and skill. Particularly our group of defensemen. I think our forward group can match the Leafs, but how will our defense match-up.)

Go Hawks!!!!!!!!

98- 0 my friend
- mrpaulish

We can't. My Leaf friend told me THEY were going 98-0, and we play them on Monday....so, one of us gonna get de-railed!!!!

Great write up JJ. The defense gets its test a little later when LA, and ANA are on the schedule. Big teams that force the play deep will test our young D, however speed kills and the puck is jumping out of the Hawks D zone for most of the game. They need to work on point shots getting through.( one carryover from last year)
If the PP ever gets untracked, the Hawks could surprise everyone and rise from the ashes of last year's playoffs.
They sent a message to the league the last 2 games. This isn't the same team.

Just buttin in, Conner Murphy so far looks like another ex players son getting a paved road to a higher level. He seems a bit uncoordinated at the NHL level. But he also seems willing and has size. It will be interesting to see if Ulf can help him settle in and be a consistent contributor. Ulf also has a son that was drafted but hasn't made an impact yet. As long as the team keeps the ball rolling he shouldn't hurt them. And hopefully improves as the year progresses. He does have a ways to go. A guy his size can really help come playoff time.

>>>The mitigating factors are that both were home games against opponents were coming off games in other cities the previous night, both playing backup goalies. And those things have to be taken into account.<<<

Meh....second game of the season and were figuring travel BTB's??...not buying it.
Backup goalies? Not buying that either...Niemi has had his problems over the years but they put 5 on murray to...also the hawks have been know to get stoned by backups...

pens shut out preds 4-0 with 3games in 4 days and travel for all of them

Hawks have significantly outplayed and out skated both team...

all i can say is 88 and 20 are dangerous every shift...saad had high quality that were stoned or he has another hattie...

Was at the game last night with my sister and during the second period leaned over and said "man are they aggressive - such a big difference from last year!" They are not waiting for the play to come to them, they are dictating it with speed and aggression - both in their more physical play and in how the D is working. The D is going lower in the O zone and pinching more and already seeing much better forward support when they go low. LOVE how they are moving/transitioning so quickly through the neutral zone. Big relief after the inability to do so in the playoffs last year and preseason this year. Second period take over when the hits started reallly flying was breathtaking and that Panik hit on Jones on the end boards was a thing of absolute beauty! Panik should have gotten and assist because he MADE the Captain's goal! Great to be in the house to thank Panarin and cheer on Eddie!! Overall, just a really fun game!!
- Marlowe

agree..great point...its get the puck and get er going the other way...you turn it over vs this hawk team and you are looking at an odd man or furious transition the other way...

Seems like some of the kids matured at the same time and at the right time. One of these days soon Hinostroza is going to have an epiphany and will be a real force for the Hawks. You could see it coming even when he was in college. The Hawks scouts have been terrific.

Just two games, but...

Crashing/crowding the net as opposed to dancing on the perimeter.

Physical play from the Dmen against the forecheck as opposed to the spin-cycle chase.

And as you alluded to JJ - taking an opposing player’s number for taking a liberty on a teammate and addressing it in the game with push-back.

This is a welcome change in the team’s “ethos” - particularly in light of last spring’s shameful debacle.

I hope that everyone is as forgiving when the Hawks don't play well on the back end of back-to-back games as we have been with the Pens and Jackets.

Also, it pains me to see Panarin in another uniform. Almost as much as when Hull left the Hawks.

I hope that everyone is as forgiving when the Hawks don't play well on the back end of back-to-back games as we have been with the Pens and Jackets.

Also, it pains me to see Panarin in another uniform. Almost as much as when Hull left the Hawks.
- 67hawks

When Panarin left Saad came back. When Bobby left we got squat.

Looking like Schmaltz has a concussion?

When Panarin left Saad came back. When Bobby left we got squat.
- 6628

Yeah, big difference.

And has anyone watching this team thought “man, I wish this team had more finesse on the perimeter”?

Anyone?

Great perspective, JJ. I beat the drum all pre-season about how it will take 20 games to see where this team is at, and I stick by that. Obviously, the early returns are encouraging, but there is a LONG way to go.

Don't get too excited about a win, or too low about a loss, etc.

We can't. My Leaf friend told me THEY were going 98-0, and we play them on Monday....so, one of us gonna get de-railed!!!!
- hawk35

We have 2 teams that have both scored 15 goals in their first 2 games, Monday should be a dandy either way.

Looking like Schmaltz has a concussion?
- z1990z

any word from Q...

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We have 2 teams that have both scored 15 goals in their first 2 games, Monday should be a dandy either way.
- justmike

Watch it be a 1-0 or 2-1 game

any word from Q...


- bogiedoc[/img]

Coach Q says Nick Schmaltz (upper body) will not join the team on the two-game road trip to Canada. #Blackhawks