Bob McKenzie has an article about the NHL awards, lots of speculation some Blackhawks are in the running for a few. Toews for the Hart and Selke. Saad for the Calder. Keith for the Norris and Quenneville for the best coach.

I think Toews has a real good shot at the Selke and I think is the second best player in the league to a guy who may miss 1/3 of the season and still win the scoring race.

If Saad's second half of the season can carry a first half that saw him learn but show moderate production he may have a chance.

I think Keith doesn't have a chance as Subban should have it locked up.

Quenneville should be a front runner as Coach of the year.

Regardless of what the Hawk players do or don't do in regards to personal acheivement I think we'd all rather see them win the trophy that isn't voted on.



http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=420953
- paulr

Saad could be the best all around rookie...

But Calder is a stats first award, he needs to finsih 1-2 in scoring to have a chance imo.

Why does the Hart just have to be about points? I ask this question every year.
- John Jaeckel

So the voters can justify their selection based on a statistic.

Saad could be the best all around rookie...

But Calder is a stats first award, he needs to finsih 1-2 in scoring to have a chance imo.
- Al

Unfortunately most awards are.

Yeah, he's miserable. Buy him out.
- FredoXV

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ture=youtube_gdata_player

Toews was close on the Selke before and I think has the best chance of anyone to get it this year. It'll be almost as a consolation for not getting the Hart. It's time he is recognized for his defensive prowess anyway and he's top of the league in takeaways if they need some statistical evidence to back up what everyone already sees from watching games.
- Kentxo

Maybe I am biased being a Hawk fan, but I think Toews is a better all round player than Crosby. During the Olympics Toews was Canada's best player, by a wide margin, then Crosby scores the winning goal on a flukey shot and gets all the glory.

Maybe I am biased being a Hawk fan, but I think Toews is a better all round player than Crosby. During the Olympics Toews was Canada's best player, by a wide margin, then Crosby scores the winning goal on a flukey shot and gets all the glory.
- paulr

I think so too. If I have to pick a team to win a playoff series, 19 is my first pick

Edit: Crosby is so proficient offensively its hard to argue against him though

Maybe I am biased being a Hawk fan, but I think Toews is a better all round player than Crosby. During the Olympics Toews was Canada's best player, by a wide margin, then Crosby scores the winning goal on a flukey shot and gets all the glory.
- paulr

I agree. The best player was "whoever plays with Toews" is no joke. Fans talk poop all the time about Chicago fans being band wagoners but those same fans will dismiss Toews and how he "can't even hold Crosby's jock" as one person said her last week. Because it's all about points, right?

Maybe I am biased being a Hawk fan, but I think Toews is a better all round player than Crosby. During the Olympics Toews was Canada's best player, by a wide margin, then Crosby scores the winning goal on a flukey shot and gets all the glory.
- paulr

Toews' 3 zone FUNDAMENTALS are moonshot excellent, as is...his LEADERSHIP.
But i'm preaching to the converted

Why does the Hart just have to be about points? I ask this question every year.
- John Jaeckel

Its tough to argue with who NHL coaches select. In the east Crosby was crazy dominant before his injury

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS1p5vrlKj4&feature=youtube_gdata_player
- Ogilthorpe2

Your anti-10 message has pretty pretty consiststent through the past several seasons - even the past two years when he potted 30 + goals.

Blind squirrel, meet nut.

Toews' 3 zone FUNDAMENTALS are moonshot excellent, as is...his LEADERSHIP.
But i'm preaching to the converted

- philco28

Love Toews - but I'd rather have a HEALTHY Crosby any day.

I agree. The best player was "whoever plays with Toews" is no joke. Fans talk poop all the time about Chicago fans being band wagoners but those same fans will dismiss Toews and how he "can't even hold Crosby's jock" as one person said her last week. Because it's all about points, right?
- Kentxo

Does anyone else feel like Toews is taken for granted by this city's sportsfans as a whole? Because I do, and we've got a generational player on our hands

Maybe I am biased being a Hawk fan, but I think Toews is a better all round player than Crosby. During the Olympics Toews was Canada's best player, by a wide margin, then Crosby scores the winning goal on a flukey shot and gets all the glory.
- paulr

Agreed. If I'm starting a team today, I take Toews over Sid without hesitation. And that's no knock on Crosby either, Toews is just that good. Sid's more of a scorer, but nobody does everything (both tangible and otherwise) as well as JT in my book.

I was joking the other day that when Hawk fans ask each other "who's your favorite Hawk" what they really mean is "besides Toews, who's your favorite Hawk". Because everyone knows that everybody's favorite is Toews, it's just a given.

Love Toews - but I'd rather have a HEALTHY Crosby any day.
- FredoXV

Like the one who played second fiddle to Toews in the Olympics?

Love Toews - but I'd rather have a HEALTHY Crosby any day.
- FredoXV

Not I...Crosby, while GREAT...is an on ice beeeyotch...much rather have Toews' ULTRA CLASSY leadership 8 days a week.

Not I...Crosby, while GREAT...is an on ice beeeyotch...much rather have Toews' ULTRA CLASSY leadership 8 days a week.
- philco28

Yup.

The Hawks have a foot on first base...I didn't make it out t be as much as some because he was only inked to a one yr deal....PLUS

I also am old enough to remember Bill Watson and others....His girl friend would use his nickname of "Hobey" to refer to him!!!.............Yikes

She sat in front of me during his brief career. Poster boy for a NHL bust...it was too bad.
- Al

I look at Leblanc as a freebie short term signing for a position the Hawks have a bit of a need to fill. Sort of a Tyler Bozak 'nothing ventured, nothing gained' pickup. I don't expect anything great in a 23 year old rookie but if he can play all the better.

Who other than Hobey Baker winners Ryan Miller, Paul Kariya and Chris Drury have had big time NHL careers?

Agreed. If I starting a team today, I take Toews over Sid without hesitation. And that's no knock on Crosby either, Toews is just that good. Sid's more of a scorer, but nobody does everything (both tangible and otherwise) as well as JT in my book.

I was joking the other day that when Hawk fans ask each other "who's your favorite Hawk" what they really mean is "besides Toews, who's your favorite Hawk". Because everyone knows that everybody's favorite is Toews, it's just a given.
- Ogilthorpe2

Given the recent concussion/injury scares, you may have a point.

But Sid is a once in a generation talent. 1.4 points per game across his career. Stats don't tell the whole story - but even with the smaller sample size, that's seriously #4 all time.

Given the recent concussion/injury scares, you may have a point.

But Sid is a once in a generation talent. 1.4 points per game across his career. Stats don't tell the whole story - but even with the smaller sample size, that's seriously #4 all time.
- FredoXV

That's the key.

Not I...Crosby, while GREAT...is an on ice beeeyotch...much rather have Toews' ULTRA CLASSY leadership 8 days a week.
- philco28

This is way, way overstated.

I'm not arguing against some of the intangibles in which Toews has advantage. But let's be serious- it's not as if Sid is Alex-freaking-Burrows out there.

Pros outweight the cons by a serious margin when comparing the two.

Love Toews, but I'm not going to wear out-of-town blinders in this argument...

That's the key.
- Ogilthorpe2

I suppose Gretzky isn't the greatest player of all time.

Maybe I am biased being a Hawk fan, but I think Toews is a better all round player than Crosby. During the Olympics Toews was Canada's best player, by a wide margin, then Crosby scores the winning goal on a flukey shot and gets all the glory.
- paulr

Well Crosby has an absurd amount of skill that cant be argued and he makes the players on his line better.

I think the distinction is that Toews makes the players on his team better.

This is way, way overstated.

I'm not arguing against some of the intangibles in which Toews has advantage. But let's be serious- it's not as if Sid is Alex-freaking-Burrows out there.

Pros outweight the cons by a serious margin when comparing the two.

Love Toews, but I'm not going to wear blidners out-of-town blinders in this argument...
- FredoXV

Also have to acknowledge the only time they've ever played on the same team, a 21 year old Toews was noticeably better in pretty much every facet of the game

Agreed. If I'm starting a team today, I take Toews over Sid without hesitation. And that's no knock on Crosby either, Toews is just that good. Sid's more of a scorer, but nobody does everything (both tangible and otherwise) as well as JT in my book.

I was joking the other day that when Hawk fans ask each other "who's your favorite Hawk" what they really mean is "besides Toews, who's your favorite Hawk". Because everyone knows that everybody's favorite is Toews, it's just a given.
- Ogilthorpe2

This happens all the time

I suppose Gretzky isn't the greatest player of all time.
- FredoXV

When Crosby has a 200 point season then that argument holds water