John Jaeckel: Time to worry?

John Jaeckel: Time to worry?
- John Jaeckel

It is if you're an Oilers fan....


How you doing these days, Bubba?

It is if you're an Oilers fan....


How you doing these days, Bubba?
- Larsson_fan

Tired, overworked, achy back, took a asses over elbows wipe on the ice while coaching last weekend. Otherwise OK.

Do you live in EDM? Been there several times in a past life. Used to overnight in Nisku on my way up to Yellowknife . . .

Tired, overworked, achy back, took a asses over elbows wipe on the ice while coaching last weekend. Otherwise OK.

Do you live in EDM? Been there several times in a past life. Used to overnight in Nisku on my way up to Yellowknife . . .
- John Jaeckel

Yeah Brotha. Temperatures dropped below
Frezzing this week. No snow yet but I ain't not ready for this poop yet. All good though, making my first trip to California next weekend though! Los Angeles to be specific, so stoked!

In my opinion it's much too early to worry. As long as this team makes progress and is playing their best hockey leading into the playoffs, not much else matters. I'd say especially these first 20-25 games are for the coaching staff to see what they have and what they need.

Morning JJ...

well that horrid WWE type call certainly changed the game. At the same time we're all hoping a second year center returns to save the day in Schmaltz. We've already seen that AA is more than a step slower than last year. Granted Schmaltz has been the spark plug and him drawing back in resets the lines...but the Wild played a more physical, clogging game last night. This put more pressure on Crawford and a mostly young d corps.

I think Craw would love to have that first one back, but he's been stellar so far and will be counted on throughout the season to carry this team.

I was surprised to see Q wait so long before finally putting Kero up there with Kane and Hartman.

The reality is this team is still finding its way its identity. Kids are playing and learning. Where that translates down the road and into the playoffs remains to be seen. Rookies didn't fare so well last season when the games counted. Both Schmaltz and Hartman have a year under their belt now as well as some of the other kids, but its a mixed bag right now and the losses of Hossa, Hammer and Kruger will show through at times.

Interested to see how they come out against the Preds Saturday. Meantime how bout those Cubbies...

No worries ,not going to win them all . Great that they are playing the kids ,like they did last year on the way to the top of the Conf. Tough breaks last night . Don't like pulling the goalie with so much time left ,or playing AA on the 2nd .Kero is a better idea . Said as soon as Schmaltz went down Vinny would have been great to Sub in ...

Averaging 36.2 SOG against - good for 23rd in the league.

Time to worry? If that does not change, then yes. It is good for an increase of ten SOG against per game since the 2010 tea, or almost a 50% increase.

Are offside reviews done in Toronto, or by the linesmen?

In my opinion it's much too early to worry. As long as this team makes progress and is playing their best hockey leading into the playoffs, not much else matters. I'd say especially these first 20-25 games are for the coaching staff to see what they have and what they need.
- Hawks_49

Way too early. It's the second year in a row where they are acclimating a bunch of new players. Last year also featured more true rookies where this year that really only applies to DeBrincat as every other player has at least had a whiff of the NHL or in Rutta's case experience in a professional league.

Mixed results but I still like the early returns and the mix of players.

JJ you have to mean the '87 Oilers right? (not '77)

Are offside reviews done in Toronto, or by the linesmen?
- tvetter

I think I recall the Hawks getting burned by the NHLs crack team of officials last year on an obvious offside call against Minnesota. Is there a trend developing here?

Way too early. It's the second year in a row where they are acclimating a bunch of new players. Last year also featured more true rookies where this year that really only applies to DeBrincat as every other player has at least had a whiff of the NHL or in Rutta's case experience in a professional league.

Mixed results but I still like the early returns and the mix of players.
- HawkintheD

WRONG! The 5th game of the season is exactly the right moment to determine the season is over. Clearly this group does not have what it takes to contend. You know how the old saying goes, it your team isn't a contender by game 5 they never will be.

WRONG! The 5th game of the season is exactly the right moment to determine the season is over. Clearly this group does not have what it takes to contend. You know how the old saying goes, it your team isn't a contender by game 5 they never will be.
- DarthKane

What to do from here...fold the tents up and move to Seattle?

How big is the test going to be on Saturday vs. the very team that made them look like children last spring.

The Hawks came out and played Pit and Clb like they were p*ssed off and determined to show everyone that they are still an elite team.

It looked like the defence was moving the puck quicker up the ice as Ulf's coaching style promised.

It looked like the forwards had less predictability as they were more creative than years past in the o-zone and on the PP.

Then... game 3-5 they looked like the same team that was swept by Nashville in April.

It may be another two-faced type year for the Hawks at this pace.

Worry?? Wow??
They win 3-1 IN Montreal and it's not even mentioned here!
1-1 late in the third, they get the obviously wrong, score on the PP and we should worry?

with the penalty for non reversal...you gotta be sure on your challenge...

it would be nice if the coaches and linesman were on the same page as to rules of offsides...

but then again when the lineman interpret playing and possession of the puck when it hits a flopping player...

not much you can do about it..

I just don't know what "off side" is any more....

I think I recall the Hawks getting burned by the NHLs crack team of officials last year on an obvious offside call against Minnesota. Is there a trend developing here?
- 11Chaser11

yeah its called this league has no clue what offsides is...neither the coaches, players or refs

Averaging 36.2 SOG against - good for 23rd in the league.

Time to worry? If that does not change, then yes. It is good for an increase of ten SOG against per game since the 2010 tea, or almost a 50% increase.
- Return of the Roar

You know you can't compare a 5 game sample to an 82 one, right? There's two 5 games samples in the 2010 season where their average SA/GP is 33.4 and 34.2. Small samples tell you little to nothing statistically.

Also, do you know what the rank of the SA/GP was for the Hawks the last time they won the cup? 22nd. The Pens last year were 27th. It's almost like SA isn't a great predictor of success by itself.

WRONG! The 5th game of the season is exactly the right moment to determine the season is over. Clearly this group does not have what it takes to contend. You know how the old saying goes, it your team isn't a contender by game 5 they never will be.
- DarthKane

Youz right. Blow it up. And youz can start with dat bum Schmaltz! Sell high over by der.

JJ you have to mean the '87 Oilers right? (not '77)
- CHI-HAWKS7

Oh God, yes. WIll fix.

Worry?? Wow??
They win 3-1 IN Montreal and it's not even mentioned here!
1-1 late in the third, they get the obviously wrong, score on the PP and we should worry?
- Joeron

The Hawks have played good for 3 games, so-so for 1, and poor for another. If that trend continues, they'll be fine and better than a lot of teams. Winning 3 out of 5 games would have the Hawks at 98 points by itself, not including they'll get some extra points from OT/SO losses in there. Not that a season can be determined in 5 games - if so, the Pens would have flopped last year since they starts 2-3-0.

Tbf the title of the blog is a bit misleading because the content isn't really about worrying so much as focusing on how the team has played and could improve.

Not time to worry. Time to ask questions? Absolutely. It's ALWAYS time to do that.

The Hawks have played good for 3 games, so-so for 1, and poor for another. If that trend continues, they'll be fine and better than a lot of teams. Winning 3 out of 5 games would have the Hawks at 98 points by itself, not including they'll get some extra points from OT/SO losses in there. Not that a season can be determined in 5 games - if so, the Pens would have flopped last year since they starts 2-3-0.

Tbf the title of the blog is a bit misleading because the content isn't really about worrying so much as focusing on how the team has played and could improve.
- L_B_R

Correct. Thx