Versteeg started going after Polak after the hit on Kane - Kane told him to back off, PP coming, don't screw it up.
- StLBravesFan

YeaH I saw that but Kris Versteeg isn't fearsome enough to back guys off. I just want someone out there that is a little bit intimidating to give other teams pause before they get a comfortable taking shots at us.

4 mildo per for guy who hits 20 point mark and is a so called "playoff specialist".

A luxury the the hwks can not afford next year....his money is ticketed for K and T.
- bogiedoc

Agreed.

Fixed. Just calling it for what it is.

I do agree, though that the number of points he scores relative to his deal is kind of meaningless. He and JT step up when it matters.

Love him nor hate him, Kane (especially) is a big game player in the playoffs like few we have seen in our lifetimes.

That said, few appreciate the foot soldiers who've opened up the ice for him in games 5-7 of many playoff series with huge hits and physical pressure in Games 1-4 (Byfuglien, Brouwer, Bolland, Shaw, Bickell, Eager, Ladd, etc)
- John Jaeckel

I think that many on this board appreciate what this type of players brings to the team. But sadly management doesn't seem to think along the same lines because whenever cost cutting is needed they are always the first to go.

Last time I checked, Toronto is in eastern Canada.
- Elbows15

Yes, I stated that, again, what does Kessel playing for the largest market in Canada have to do with the much more massive exposure Kane gets in the US? Especially with him being an American player playing for an American team

If anything, you're reinforcing my point as to why Kane is so heavily publicized vs Kessel

Yes, I stated that, again, what does Kessel playing for the largest market in Canada have to do with the much more massive exposure Kane gets in the US? Especially with him being an American player playing for an American team

If anything, you're reinforcing my point as to why Kane is so heavily publicized vs Kessel
- FourFeathers773

Maybe it has more to do with Kane being on a successful team and playing a HUGE part in that.

Maybe it has more to do with Kane being on a successful team and playing a HUGE part in that.
- Elbows15

So again, how is it his fault that Toronto isnt successful? Not sure what more he can do, he scores at nearly an identical pace to Kane

Just because he is surrounded by crap both on the ice and behind the bench, doesnt make him so much more inferior to Kane

Kane has the luxury of being paired with guys like Toews, Keith, Seabrook, Sharp, Saad, Versteeg at even strength and on the PP

Kessel is surrounded by fecal matter outside of JVR. His center is freaking Tyler Bozak

If Kessel ever got a center close to the setup ability of a Toews, who knows what he would do

Kane is definitely an elite setup man, but he has the luxury of playing with some pretty high end guys that can bury the puck

On the flipside, Kessel doesnt have anything close to a high end guy dishing him the puck as a scoring winger needing a setup center

Kane is an amazing player and would take him any day over Kessel. My only beef is the 10.5 mil per year contract. To me that kind of money should be reserved for franchise players like Toews or Crosby and there are only a few of those kind of players in the league today.

Although Kane is elite I don't think he's a franchise player....that's just my opinion. I would of liked to have seen a 9 mil a year contract...to me a more realistic number.

I know this would of never flown him getting less money than Toews and I guess it's the price of doing business these days. Too bad as this will limit our ability to keep other players.

And took most of the draws for the line.
- StLBravesFan

Was at the game so didn't see every one but it looked like Versteeg was taking most of the draws.

I think the 3rd and 4th lines look better as composed last night. More traffic in front of the net without Sharp on line 3. Not sure how they rectify that when Richards comes back. Line 4 definitely looks better with Nordstrom on it.

Kane is an amazing player and would take him any day over Kessel. My only beef is the 10.5 mil per year contract. To me that kind of money should be reserved for franchise players like Toews or Crosby and there are only a few of those kind of players in the league today.

Although Kane is elite I don't think he's a franchise player....that's just my opinion. I would of liked to have seen a 9 mil a year contract...to me a more realistic number.

I know this would of never flown him getting less money than Toews and I guess it's the price of doing business these days. Too bad as this will limit our ability to keep other players.
- Hawkster

Question for you: When Kane would have left after this season for a 10+ mil contract, would you have been happy with that turn of events? Losing a 80+ point scorer? (mind you there were a grand total of 7 of them last year)?

Kane is an amazing player and would take him any day over Kessel. My only beef is the 10.5 mil per year contract. To me that kind of money should be reserved for franchise players like Toews or Crosby and there are only a few of those kind of players in the league today.

Although Kane is elite I don't think he's a franchise player....that's just my opinion. I would of liked to have seen a 9 mil a year contract...to me a more realistic number.

I know this would of never flown him getting less money than Toews and I guess it's the price of doing business these days. Too bad as this will limit our ability to keep other players.
- Hawkster

How is he not a franchise player...He is so CLUTCH all of the time! Without him, Hawks don't win a cup in 2013, and they wouldn't be where they are this year so far.

He is irreplaceable, along with Toews, Keith, and Seabrook, IMO.

Was at the game so didn't see every one but it looked like Versteeg was taking most of the draws.

I think the 3rd and 4th lines look better as composed last night. More traffic in front of the net without Sharp on line 3. Not sure how they rectify that when Richards comes back. Line 4 definitely looks better with Nordstrom on it.
- tredbrta

Sharp - 4 wins 3 losses
Versteeg 1 win 5 losses

So - about half each.

That;s what my son said to me, "This isn't the 80s Dad!"... Well I am not of your school of thought for what it's worth. They could have won 3-0 and it's still 2 points, and it would be worth more to the team if someone would have beat the poop out of Dion Phaneuf.
- DirkGraham

FWIW, my nine year old could beat the poop out of Dion Phaneuf.

How is he not a franchise player...He is so CLUTCH all of the time! Without him, Hawks don't win a cup in 2013, and they wouldn't be where they are this year so far.

He is irreplaceable, along with Toews, Keith, and Seabrook, IMO.
- ChadBot

I would add Hjalmarsson to that list.

Give me the guy who wants the puck in big games. That is the definition of a franchise player to me. The Hawks are lucky to have 2 of them at the very least.

Kane shows up in big games. Kessel doesn't. Kane is marketed by the league. Kessel isn't. He is worth the 2.5. No matter what you or I think about it, the Hawk management think he is.
- Elbows15

Kessel looked disinterested last night. Definitely has no interest in contact.

Phaneuf must be the most overrated dman in the league and a really cheap player as well and I can see why Gardiner has been a healthy scratch so much - looked terrible.

Think the Hawk may have a burdensome contract with Bickell? Check out Clarkson, Phaneuf, and Lupul.... and Jake Gardiner's $4m plus could be just as bad. Shanahan has his work cut out for him.

FWIW, my nine year old could beat the poop out of Dion Phaneuf.
- John Jaeckel

Is she defensively responsible? How is her skating?

Kessel looked disinterested last night. Definitely has no interest in contact.

Phaneuf must be the most overrated dman in the league and a really cheap player as well and I can see why Gardiner has been a healthy scratch so much - looked terrible.

Think the Hawk may have a burdensome contract with Bickell? Check out Clarkson, Phaneuf, and Lupul.... and Jake Gardiner's $4m plus could be just as bad. Shanahan has his work cut out for him.
- tredbrta

Kessel disappears any time you hit him. He has no idea what his end of the ice looks like.

Sharp - 4 wins 3 losses
Versteeg 1 win 5 losses

So - about half each.
- StLBravesFan

Thanks. We are behind the east goal so some of those west end faceoffs are hard to pick up. Need to bring a scope to the games.

Is Seabrook playing the best hockey of his career?

FWIW, my nine year old could beat the poop out of Dion Phaneuf.
- John Jaeckel

How does that guy get get "C" and the contract he got. Tremendously over hyped. Sure I don't watch much leaf hockey but I don't get it. I rarely read, hear or see of him doing much of anything that warrants the accolades. I have read most of his peers see him as over-rated.

BTW...the the leafs again blow defensively even with the great phaneuf. with 11 of 13 on the road. This should bury them in the 9-10 spot, but then again the east is so weak maybe squeek in a WC spot.

Another BIG shout out to Captain Toews. Another full ice effort from him. How about that sprawling behind him pass to Seabs on the Kane rebound goal. Or the hustle to out skate and play Gardner to then bury #4.

What he does each game on the forechk, along the boards, on the pk and pp at the faceoff dot. Folks enjoy this...guys like him are generational.

Kessel disappears any time you hit him. He has no idea what his end of the ice looks like.
- Elbows15

don' know if he left the neutral zone all game....

phaneuf and kessel the face of the maple leafs =

Is Seabrook playing the best hockey of his career?
- Elbows15

YES!!!!

IMO, the Hawks don't walk out of Columbus with a point without him. I think I remember him breaking up something like 3 2-on-1's that game, and stopping a couple of guys from getting clear breakaways.

So again, how is it his fault that Toronto isnt successful? Not sure what more he can do, he scores at nearly an identical pace to Kane

Just because he is surrounded by crap both on the ice and behind the bench, doesnt make him so much more inferior to Kane

Kane has the luxury of being paired with guys like Toews, Keith, Seabrook, Sharp, Saad, Versteeg at even strength and on the PP

Kessel is surrounded by fecal matter outside of JVR. His center is freaking Tyler Bozak

If Kessel ever got a center close to the setup ability of a Toews, who knows what he would do

Kane is definitely an elite setup man, but he has the luxury of playing with some pretty high end guys that can bury the puck

On the flipside, Kessel doesnt have anything close to a high end guy dishing him the puck as a scoring winger needing a setup center
- FourFeathers773

For most of his career, Kane has had Jack and poop for a C on the 2nd line. Kane is the 2nd line many nights.

#SeabsforNorris

Is Seabrook playing the best hockey of his career?
- Elbows15

If Phaneuf is worth $7m a year.....

YES!!!!

IMO, the Hawks don't walk out of Columbus with a point without him. I think I remember him breaking up something like 3 2-on-1's that game, and stopping a couple of guys from getting clear breakaways.
- ChadBot

Don't get me wrong. He is a great player but he really is playing well this season.