I lurked since the beginning of the site. In 2009 I stuck my head out of the foxhole to discuss Seabrooks skating with Wiz and Crawfords netminding with JJ as I disagreed with both guys on their positions. And since then this site and especially this blogger has been part of my daily routine. If I had a dollar for every time I hit this site I would be on easy street. I've had a bunch of work project deadlines sneak up on me as a result of my involvement here, but not a single regret.

I know what the end of an era feels like and this qualifies as that. But I look forward to staying in touch with the game not only here but stalking JJ at the new site as well.

So John, best of luck with the new thing going on. Hope you get to wet your beak a little too as a result.
- 6628

THX Buddy, you know where to find me and that offer is still open.

Good Luck in your new venture. I will follow, like I have here. Haven't posted in quite awhile, but I always lurk. I agree, that this was the best blog on HB, and will be sorely missed.
- Acur81

Spot on....congratulations JJ. Your blogs kept us all involved and created a cross talk of opinionism. We all look forward to your work at the rink. Keep up your extreme professionalism, even when many have gotten out of line. Thank you for all of your behind the scenes information that kept the pit stirring.
Good Luck .

Will someone else be taking over on here for the Hawks???

Best of luck, JJ. Don't be a stranger.
- WhatAboutBawb

I'll be around, thanks!

Will someone else be taking over on here for the Hawks???
- mjaxx2

yep, good guy who most of you know, too.

John Jaeckel: Thanks and Farewell
- John Jaeckel

Thanks JJ. I have always enjoyed your blogs...especially during the Chicago-Vancouver rivalry a few years back. Good luck with your new project,

It's a bummer to read this news.

Loved reading your insight over the years.

When does the new endeavor start?
- Hank3Henshaw

Tomorrow AM. www.the-rink.com

You will be missed.



A cookie for the road?
- Beaver-Warrior

OK, that's funny.

JJ,

As I slide down the banister of life, I shall always remember you as a splinter in my ass

Sincerely,

Pat Start
- PatShart

Haha, cheers Shart.

Thanks, JJ. Don't think I have ever posted, but I have been a lurker since early 2010s. I have visited your blogs and comments section on a daily basis, multiple times a day. I appreciate your analysis and all the thoughtful commentary you provide the foundation for. I will be following you to the-rink for sure!

Say it ain't so JJ!, Say it ain't so!

JJ- i read your blogs almost each and every day and extremely enjoyed your hard work and insight even in the offseason when not much is going on, you still were able to put something out there for us to wet our whistles.

I enjoyed the numerous blogs and how frequent you wrote them and how you've developed one heck of a following here and had some great dialogs! If I had a twitface or snapbook account, i'd follow you.

I sincerely mean good luck to you and your family and I thank for your well thought out blogs and creative writing and allowing us into your personal life as well.

You should be proud!!

STH - Section 330


Will Mexico Hawk be the new blogger?

Thanks, JJ.
Great blog here, may your success continue and expand at the new gig.
Go 'Hawks!!

Hockeybuzz has been the single greatest way for me to get through the workday for the last several years. Having an outlet to talk Blackhawks' hockey with other people who actually KNOW the game was really awesome. Having a blogger who had insight into the Front Office thinking, provided daily updates on trades, injuries, lines and shared his own opinion on the state of the Hawks.....great stuff. Thanks JJ!

John,
Can't say enough how much I enjoyed your Blogs , you told it like it was/is my man. Looking forward to reading your posts where ever you wind up. Best of everything to you !!!

Now I just hope whoever takes your place understands that they have some BIG Shoes to fill. I hope it is another person who tells it like it is and holds some asses to the fire when need be and not some organizational kiss ass that will have one of the Hawk hierarchy write the blog/ stories for them like most of the Chicago newspaper writers because they are well feed at the press box food tables during home games. Gonna miss ya JJ!

I'm really happy for ya JJ!

It has been a great pleasure reading your stuff here all of these years...the previews, the game reviews, the trade deadline stuff as well as the off season stuff...it has all been top notch!

I learned a lot about hockey from you and the veteran posters here on HB, and look forward to reading your stuff at the rink as well.

I'm sure you'll do great over at dat new place over by dere

I'll be sure to miss your greatest posts, which in my opinion are:

CUP!

and

anything Da Bears! related or Trublinsky related


Hopefully we get to see another CUP! post from you over at the rink as well

good luck and take care!

toodles

Thanks JJ. I too lurked for about 7 years before finally registering (part of the reason is that I couldn’t seem to register from Japan, which is where I was until a year ago) and participating this year.

Over these 7 years, every day, I looked forward to your in-depth knowledge of my favorite team be it from your sources or your great knowledge of all things Blackhawks. In some sense, when times were bleak, such as this March or after the loss to the Kings in game 7 of the Western Conference Final in 2014 or after the game 7 loss against the Canucks of the first round in 2011, I received some form of comfort in your posts and listening to my fellow participants here. You always were able to surgically understand why each of those heartbreaking losses occurred and what was needed to fix them. Those fixes always gave me hope for the next year.
This season started off really exciting and at this point has been a downer- with a realization that maybe the Hawks are in the midst of the downward spiral that the Avalanche, Devils and Wings went through after dominating the 90’s and early 00’s, which is even more pronounced now with the salary cap in place. Hopefully your successor inherit a bright future for the Hawks. All in all though, we were lucky to win 3 cups and have you regularly here. You will be greatly missed here as much as Hossa and Toews, Keith and Seabrook in their primes.

Best of luck!!!

Didn't always read your blogs but I enjoyed them when I did.

Best of luck.

Hate to hear you're leaving, you're one of the good ones. Congratulations and all the best moving forward.

You were about the only thing i didn't hate about the Blackhawks. Now there's nothing left.
- bcallaway

Good Luck JJ

Always a good read!

I'll be around, thanks!
- John Jaeckel

So you'll be posting some rumors here occasionally?

Time to see how the Hawks respond, looks like Q is sending a message.

Mark Lazerus‏Verified account @MarkLazerus 3m3 minutes ago
More
Blackhawks skating laps at the end of practice. This is unusual.

Replying to @MarkLazerus
Joel Quenneville doesn't sound or look very happy as he ends practice and leaves the rink.

TT has the same number of points since the start of last season as Tanner Pearson, Paul Byron, and Adam Henrique and has only one fewer than Matt Duchene and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

I'd say he's a top 6 forward. His points per game are the same as Daniel Sedin's.
- BINGO!

I always thought it would take a couple of years for him to figure it out - don't know if he's grown any (weight / muscle), but the skill was always there (just not the engagement).

He was moved to allow the movement of Bickell - too bad no one figured out Bickell's problem (and I don't mean at all to make light of it) before the deal.

And - again - good luck to you, John many of us found you (I think) after we lost the Daily Herald as a free Hawks' board - glad I did, for sure (and I was impressed enough to pay for it here).