I don't care about what happened when I wasn't alive, I'm about to be 25 and have watched quite the quality of product in my life and I'm not worried about the future. I've watched 4 cups hoisted and have never missed watching my team in the playoffs.
This city has turned into a huge hockey town finally, for a month and a half a year. Have your 2 million bandwagon parade and people who are "die-hard" fans that don't know the rules of the game. I watch more regular season hawks games than a ton of people I know who call themselves hawks fans, along with almost every wings game. It's sad, and I know some really awesome hawks fans and I love watching them play but I can't stand people talking about hockey here and they don't know anything.
- ezekial

As Carlos Santana said, those who don't remember history are roomed to repeat it.

I could care less whatever he provides the team this year. Too many veterans on this team. Each season some veteran should worry that he might get traded. A strong farm system supplies players and keeps everyone hungry. Question: how do you feel when you dish out a lot of money and see a lethargic performance for half or even an entire game. Young up and coming players have something to prove. Veterans just want to coast too often and deposit another season's big paycheck.

The truth hurts. Do not respond if you cannot handle the truth.
- jhawk59

I agree to a point, if a young player can replace what a veteran player, playing the same position, brings then yes the veteran becomes expendable. However to generalize all veterans as just being there to collect a paycheck is dead wrong. Yes some do but not all do and Sharp most definitely did not fall into that catagory.

And the 'truth' as you see it isn't necessarily the real truth.

Yeah. this is incorrect. The question was what is your best line. Babcock answered whoever is playing with Toews.
- Elbows15

OK, thanks for that (and you'll have to find me the correct quote—because it's not what I remember apparently). But it changes nothing.

As Carlos Santana said, those who don't remember history are roomed to repeat it.
- StLBravesFan

So what your saying is that Leafs fans need to forget about the Cups they won back then there was a whopping 1 in 6 chance of winning before they can win another? Guess they'll never win the Cup again lol

I don't care about what happened when I wasn't alive, I'm about to be 25 and have watched quite the quality of product in my life and I'm not worried about the future. I've watched 4 cups hoisted and have never missed watching my team in the playoffs.
This city has turned into a huge hockey town finally, for a month and a half a year. Have your 2 million bandwagon parade and people who are "die-hard" fans that don't know the rules of the game. I watch more regular season hawks games than a ton of people I know who call themselves hawks fans, along with almost every wings game. It's sad, and I know some really awesome hawks fans and I love watching them play but I can't stand people talking about hockey here and they don't know anything.
- ezekial

And I lived in Detroit when all the guys with acid washed Jordache jeans, fanny packs and goatees migrated from the Palace to the Joe in the 90's. So, Pot meet Kettle.

As for the whole Crosby vs Towes thing, I think that Crosby gets a slight edge only because his offensive stats are much higher than Towes, but if I had to choose 1 player for my team it's gonna be Towes all the way because he plays a complete game and leads by example, both offensively and defensively.

Crosby wins you awards, Towes wins you championships.

I would say Doughty was team Canada's best player. And Kopitar being neck and neck with Toews but not making the top 10, when Toews is apparently #1 is pretty dumb.

Also correct me if I'm wrong, but I read that Keith doesn't draw the toughest match ups in Chicago, they use a different pairing for that.
- bluecoconuts

I've conceded the point on Kopitar.

The toughest matchup thing is a bit overblown.

As for the whole Crosby vs Towes thing, I think that Crosby gets a slight edge only because his offensive stats are much higher than Towes, but if I had to choose 1 player for my team it's gonna be Towes all the way because he plays a complete game and leads by example, both offensively and defensively.

Crosby wins you awards, Towes wins you championships.
- PaskySens

This is my point.

This is my point.
- John Jaeckel

ANd it's a good one JJ! I guess hart trophy and art ross t-shirts are better than SC Champs shirts. Crosby is exceptional, makes players around him better, but we havent seen it on the bigger stages. Toews may not light the score sheet up but he does the things every night that win you big games in the playoffs and as we have seen, the international level.

This is my point.
- John Jaeckel

Let's not act like Toews single-handedly won you those championships. If you had Crosby as your 1st line center instead of Toews and still had Hossa, Kane, Seabrook, Keith, Sharp, lights-out Crawford, Hammer, etc. around him, I think there's a good chance you still win 2 championships.

And it's not like Crosby has never won the Stanley Cup yet in his career or scored the game winning goal to win Canada a gold medal.

ANd it's a good one JJ! I guess hart trophy and art ross t-shirts are better than SC Champs shirts. Crosby is exceptional, makes players around him better, but we havent seen it on the bigger stages. Toews may not light the score sheet up but he does the things every night that win you big games in the playoffs and as we have seen, the international level.
- nickmo2699

Let's not act like Toews single-handedly won you those championships. If you had Crosby as your 1st line center instead of Toews and still had Hossa, Kane, Seabrook, Keith, Sharp, lights-out Crawford, Hammer, etc. around him, I think there's a good chance you still win 2 championships.

And it's not like Crosby has never won the Stanley Cup yet in his career or scored the game winning goal to win Canada a gold medal.
- rangerdanger94

Nope, he hasn't!

This is my point.
- John Jaeckel

This reminds me of a HockeyBuzz chat a year ago about who would you rather build your team around, Toews or Stamkos. The answer is Toews, for me, because he brings it all. He doesn't score like Stamkos or Crosby, but he does collectively more.. I hate talking about intangibles and leadership, but there is something to it when you make others around you better. However the "intangibles" contribute is not worth discussing, in my opinion. The important fact is that they clearly are there.

Also, whether Crosby is 1 and Toews 2, or the other way around... doesn't matter. Who do I want to lead my team? I want the best guy for the team. That's Toews. Therefore, like JJ, Toews moves past Crosby.

Fun Blog, JJ. Thanks for posting.

Dirk

- rangerdanger94

Crosby played three shifts in the third period of game seven in that cup final the penguins prevailed. OT goal in a gold medal game where he was non existent the rest of the tournament. Take a lap.

Crosby played three shifts in the third period of game seven in that cup final the penguins prevailed. OT goal in a gold medal game where he was non existent the rest of the tournament. Take a lap.
- nickmo2699

"Toews is better because he won a Stanley Cup and performs on the international level!"

"Well Crosby won the Stanley Cup and scored the gold medal clinching goal for Canada at the Olympics."

"Oh...well.....blah blah blah excuses blah blah blah."

"Toews is better because he won a Stanley Cup and performs on the international level!"

"Well Crosby won the Stanley Cup and scored the gold medal clinching goal for Canada at the Olympics."

"Oh...well.....blah blah blah excuses blah blah blah."
- rangerdanger94

In this case, (frank) everyone, Justin (frank)ing Williams is the best player in the NHL...

In this case, (frank) everyone, Justin (frank)ing Williams is the best player in the NHL...
- l3ig_l2ecl

Impossible. He doesn't kill penalties.

Impossible. He doesn't kill penalties.
- rangerdanger94

All I can say is maybe Crosby is better, maybe he isn't, but I sure hope if the situation ever arose that the Hawks would not trade Toews straight up for Crosby. Pittsburgh can keep him, I prefer Toews and what he brings to a team.

All I can say is maybe Crosby is better, maybe he isn't, but I sure hope if the situation ever arose that the Hawks would not trade Toews straight up for Crosby. Pittsburgh can keep him, I prefer Toews and what he brings to a team.
- paulr

Fair enough, and that is predictable considering you are a Hawks fan and see all the little things Toews does on a consistent basis. It's similar to me preferring Ryan McDonagh and what he brings to the Rangers over PK Subban even though every other fanbase will tell me I'm a biased homer. Almost every other fanbase would trade McDonagh for Subban but when you look at McDonagh's contract and consider the fact that Subban might be making almost double what McDonagh does soon, do you still do that trade?

Now obviously you prefer Toews over Crosby as players, and I'm sure half the GMs in the league might too, but does your opinion of trading him for Crosby change when you consider their contracts? Would you prefer to keep Toews and then ship out Sharp for something making only $3M a year like Matthieu Perreault or trade Toews for Crosby and keep Sharp? So Toews and Perreault or Crosby and Sharp?

Does Toews provide you enough that you wouldn't want almost 40 extra points for almost $2M less AAV?

How dare you! I have been watching hockey since I saw Bolland put that puck thingy in the net thingy against Boston. When they skated around with that big trophy cup it was really cool. Ever since then, I've been a fan of hockey, and I looked up the rule about offsides yesterday, so don't call me band wagon!

Edit: and maybe saying you don't care about things that happenned before you were born a whopping 25 years ago makes you a (frank)ing dolt. Just sayin'.
- Kentxo

The kid doesn't know a time before cell phones existed yet he thinks he's got something to add that anyone would care to read. A self-important dolt indeed.

Fair enough, and that is predictable considering you are a Hawks fan and see all the little things Toews does on a consistent basis. It's similar to me preferring Ryan McDonagh and what he brings to the Rangers over PK Subban even though every other fanbase will tell me I'm a biased homer. Almost every other fanbase would trade McDonagh for Subban but when you look at McDonagh's contract and consider the fact that Subban might be making almost double what McDonagh does soon, do you still do that trade?

Now obviously you prefer Toews over Crosby as players, and I'm sure half the GMs in the league might too, but does your opinion of trading him for Crosby change when you consider their contracts? Would you prefer to keep Toews and then ship out Sharp for something making only $3M a year like Matthieu Perreault or trade Toews for Crosby and keep Sharp? So Toews and Perreault or Crosby and Sharp?
- rangerdanger94

I'm not looking at, or considering, all possible scenarios. I would not want to see Toews traded for Crosby regardless of salary or teammates. I have seen both players on the same team, at two different times, and in both cases Crosby was not the better player. Biased or not that tells me in the biggest game, where everything is equal, who brings the better game.

Fair enough, and that is predictable considering you are a Hawks fan and see all the little things Toews does on a consistent basis. It's similar to me preferring Ryan McDonagh and what he brings to the Rangers over PK Subban even though every other fanbase will tell me I'm a biased homer. Almost every other fanbase would trade McDonagh for Subban but when you look at McDonagh's contract and consider the fact that Subban might be making almost double what McDonagh does soon, do you still do that trade?

Now obviously you prefer Toews over Crosby as players, and I'm sure half the GMs in the league might too, but does your opinion of trading him for Crosby change when you consider their contracts? Would you prefer to keep Toews and then ship out Sharp for something making only $3M a year like Matthieu Perreault or trade Toews for Crosby and keep Sharp? So Toews and Perreault or Crosby and Sharp?

Does Toews provide you enough that you wouldn't want almost 40 extra points for almost $2M less AAV?
- rangerdanger94

This is a fair post. And I agree about the McDonagh/Subban comparison.

I think much of this argument comes down to how much you value point production versus overall three-zone play/leadership.

This is a fair post. And I agree about the McDonagh/Subban comparison.

I think much of this argument comes down to how much you value point production versus overall three-zone play/leadership.
- John Jaeckel

Yes, and everyone values it differently. On the Hawks where you have Kane, Sharp, and Hossa there to contribute consistent offense, then a player like Toews who is still money for 70+ points is the perfect compliment. A team like Washington would benefit more from Toews than Crosby since they already have Ovechkin and Backstrom putting up big numbers.

But for a goal-starved team or a team already has solid team defense and players that do it all like New Jersey, St. Louis, or Columbus, I think they go with Crosby.

Fair enough, and that is predictable considering you are a Hawks fan and see all the little things Toews does on a consistent basis. It's similar to me preferring Ryan McDonagh and what he brings to the Rangers over PK Subban even though every other fanbase will tell me I'm a biased homer. Almost every other fanbase would trade McDonagh for Subban but when you look at McDonagh's contract and consider the fact that Subban might be making almost double what McDonagh does soon, do you still do that trade?

Now obviously you prefer Toews over Crosby as players, and I'm sure half the GMs in the league might too, but does your opinion of trading him for Crosby change when you consider their contracts? Would you prefer to keep Toews and then ship out Sharp for something making only $3M a year like Matthieu Perreault or trade Toews for Crosby and keep Sharp? So Toews and Perreault or Crosby and Sharp?



Does Toews provide you enough that you wouldn't want almost 40 extra points for almost $2M less AAV?
- rangerdanger94

Danger I think you hit the nail here. We are all homers and have love/hate relationships with our teams. We bond with those guys on the ice, whether it be a memorial goal or play. For me it was front row seats with my step daughter. Towes was moving in position for a face off in the o zone in front of us wins it and drives a nuc into the boards in front of us. I hear, he's dreamy from her. He got a Fan for life that moment. Game was the one where the huge fight took place as well. A 2-1 loss