ANALYSIS: Lehner signing is another big move in Bowman’s rebuild
The Chicago Blackhawks fanbase and overall media universe were caught off guard yesterday by the team’s signing of free agent goalie Robin Lehner. Here at The Rink, we may… Read more »
Category Archives: John Jaeckel
Blackhawks re-acquire Andrew Shaw from Montreal for draft picks
After shoring up the NHL’s worst defense with two veteran acquisitions in the last several days, Stan Bowman turned his attention to the forward picture over the last 48–72 hours…. Read more »
Blackhawks Rinkcast – Episode 54 – Draft/Trade wrap with Bill “Wiz” Placzek
The-Rink.com co-hosts “Gatekeeper” and “JJ” are joined once again by The-Rink NHL draft guru Bill “Wiz” Placzek to wrap up the draft. We discuss the trade for Olli Maatta We… Read more »
Instant Reaction: Blackhawks acquire de Haan, Saarela for Forsberg, Forsling
The Chicago Blackhawks just announced another fairly significant trade, and another step in what appears to be an effort on the part of GM Stan Bowman to overhaul what… Read more »
Analysis: Bowman steps up and delivers
Having covered the Blackhawks for 9 years at HockeyBuzz and for 2 years here, I can safely say I’ve been one of Stan Bowman’s more vocal and persistent critics. But… Read more »
Instant Reaction Roundtable: Blackhawks select Kirby Dach
Finally, all the mock drafts are over. No more theories and armchair GM scouting reports. The Chicago Blackhawks—after lucking in to the 3rd overall selection in the 2019 draft—have chosen… Read more »
Draft prospect profile: defenseman Bowen Byram
Each day this week leading up to the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, held on June 21 in Vancouver, we will be taking a look at the top prospects available for… Read more »
Blackhawks deal Kahun, pick for Olli Maatta
Following on a rumor reported last week by Scott Powers of The Athletic—that had the Blackhawks in discussion with Columbus about trading for the rights to defenseman Ryan Murray, yesterday… Read more »
Draft prospect profile: right wing Kirby Dach
Each day over the next week leading up to the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, held on June 21 in Vancouver, we will be taking a look at the top… Read more »
Draft prospect profile: Center Trevor Zegras
Trevor Zegras Center/wing Shoots: Left Height: 6’0.25” Weight: 173 Amateur team: USNTDP Date of birth: March 20, 2001 Place of birth: Bedford, NY, USA NHL Central Scouting final ranking: 6th… Read more »
Draft prospect profile: Right wing Vasili Podkolzin
Each day leading up to the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, held on June 21 in Vancouver, we will be taking a look at one of the top prospects available for… Read more »
NHL Draft: No guarantee at Number 3
At the time of year when seemingly everyone turns into an opinionated NHL talent scout, Johnny Buzzkill is here to puncture balloons, pee on corn flakes and possibly, maybe, alter… Read more »
Blackhawks Rinkcast – Episode 53 – Mock Draft with Bill “Wiz” Placzek
The-Rink.com co-hosts “Gatekeeper”, “JJ” and staff prospect writer Eric Andrews are joined by The-Rink NHL draft guru Bill “Wiz” Placzek and hold a mock draft. After a short hiatus, the… Read more »
The age-old debate: size versus finesse in the NHL
“This is the future of the NHL—all the teams with small forwards and slick forwards are gone, the big bullies are now playing, the guys that are 6’3, 6’4… Read more »
ANALYSIS: The blessing (and the curse) of the third overall draft pick
Here at The-Rink, our editorial policy is to be thought-provoking and intellectually challenging to hockey fans—as opposed to dispensing the click bait “crack” of more “sign Panarin” articles. This will… Read more »
Blackhawks Rinkcast – Episode 52 – School’s out for Summer
The-Rink.com co-hosts “Gatekeeper” and “JJ” are joined by staff writer Ray Napientek to chat about the few things abuzz in Blackhawks speculation. Blackhawks potential suitors for Ilya Mikheyev Kris Versteeg returns to Rockford… Read more »
Blackhawks Rinkcast – Episode 51 – Season Wrap / Draft Lottery
The-Rink.com co-hosts “Gatekeeper” and “JJ” are joined by staff writers Mario Tirabassi, Eric Andrews, Ray Napientek to talk about the end of the Blackhawks season. The Blackhawks moved up from 12th to… Read more »
Really, what just happened? Reflections on the 2018-19 Hawk season
As I posted on Twitter yesterday morning, after the Blackhawks had been officially eliminated from the postseason the night before, being “negative” became being “realistic.” Because this never was… Read more »
The Blackhawks Rinkcast – Episode 50 w/ NBCSN’s Charlie Roumeliotis
The-Rink.com co-hosts Jeff “Gatekeeper” Osborn and John “Double J” Jaeckel are joined by NBC Chicago’s Charlie Roumeliotis to talk about this dead-man-walking week for the Blackhawks. Mario Tirabassi has a lengthy #Warpigs report… Read more »
The Blackhawks Rinkcast – Episode 49 – Steel Deal
The-Rink.com co-hosts Jeff “Gatekeeper” Osborn and John “Double J” Jaeckel are joined by The-Rink Junior / Chicago Steel writer Ray Napientek to talk about the Blackhawks and the Steel. We have a new… Read more »
Recap: Blackhawks fall to Avalanche in Colorado, 4-2
The Blackhawks took the ice at Saturday afternoon at Pepsi Center in Denver in the first half of a weekend home and home versus wildcard rival Colorado. At stake? Basically… Read more »
The Blackhawks Rinkcast – Episode 48 w/ The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus
The-Rink.com co-hosts Jeff “Gatekeeper” Osborn and John “Double J” Jaeckel are joined by surprise guest Mark Lazerus, formerly of the Chicago Sun-Times and currently of The Athletic, as the Blackhawks roll into… Read more »
Recap: Crawford delivers 48-save shutout in 2-0 win over Montreal
The Chicago Blackhawks, fighting to keep slim playoff opes alive, entered action last night in French Canada against the Montreal Canadiens, a team similarly engaged in the Eastern Conference playoff… Read more »
The Blackhawks Rinkcast – Episode 47 w/ Al Cimaglia
The-Rink.com host Jeff “Gatekeeper” Osborn goes solo and is joined once again by NHL Radio Blackhawks Correspondent Al Cimaglia to discuss the suddenly hot (again) Blackhawks. Blackhawks sign draft pick Philipp Kurashev… Read more »
Recap: Blackhawks down Stars in Dallas, 2-1
The Blackhawks took the ice in Dallas last night, sitting 9 points out of the last wildcard spot in the West and, one would assume, in desperation mode against the… Read more »