James Tanner: Thoughts From Around the NHL: Dubinsky, Toews, Kane and Stamkos Just looking around the league and commenting on what's happening.

The tweet wasn't a "LeBron James" tweet. The tweet linked to an article which openly talked about him returning to Toronto. That's why it got so much attention.

The tweet wasn't a "LeBron James" tweet. The tweet linked to an article which openly talked about him returning to Toronto. That's why it got so much attention.
- Michael_Stuart

OK, thanks Mike. I'll update the blog to reflect that, my mistake.

OK, thanks Mike. I'll update the blog to reflect that, my mistake.
- James_Tanner

No problem. Good blog!

No problem. Good blog!
- Michael_Stuart

Thanks my good man.

If Stamkos wants a shot at winning the cup , he will stay where he is. If his dream in life is to wear a Leaf uniform ,well I guess people have done crazier things, but he can just go buy a jersey for 200 bucks and put his name on it.

Columbus is one of the few teams who improved this off season in the Metrpolotian division. The Caps being the other. If they continue this improvement they could be in the discussion for winning the division.

With the Rogers TV deal I can easily see the cap rising to 80 mil in a few years. I can see a scenario where a lot of teams offer heavy contracts above market value. Maybe the Dubinsky deal isn't too bad in the back half.

Dubinsky wouldve undoubtedly got around 6 on the open market
He was cbj's best player against pitts. So good at both ends of the ice.

Versatile, two way 2c's that are part of your core igoing forward are worth way more than 'cap flexibility'.
Ask chicago, boston, pittsburgh etc

There is no certainty that dubinsky will be a a shell of himself beyond 2 years. Where did this myth even start? Its true that the league sees very young players as being much more important than they did ten years ago; but this shouldnt also suggest that older players cant be elite. Playing top level hockey until one is 34-35 is still commonplace.

U put so much importance on offensive skill, while disregarding two way play and defensive skill as if its not important. Again; tell that to the gm's of LA, boston, chicago etc and see how much they value their two way players.

If dubs gets 20 goals and 50 points, is physical and can still shut down top lines; that contract is a huge success.
6x6 might be abit much. But its not egregious when u actually take all the factors into account.
I think 5.25x5 woulda been a great deal. So less than a mil and one year longer to make a core piece happy?! Hells yeah.

Dubinsky wouldve undoubtedly got around 6 on the open market
He was cbj's best player against pitts. So good at both ends of the ice.

Versatile, two way 2c's that are part of your core igoing forward are worth way more than 'cap flexibility'.
Ask chicago, boston, pittsburgh etc

There is no certainty that dubinsky will be a a shell of himself beyond 2 years. Where did this myth even start? Its true that the league sees very young players as being much more important than they did ten years ago; but this shouldnt also suggest that older players cant be elite. Playing top level hockey until one is 34-35 is still commonplace.

U put so much importance on offensive skill, while disregarding two way play and defensive skill as if its not important. Again; tell that to the gm's of LA, boston, chicago etc and see how much they value their two way players.

If dubs gets 20 goals and 50 points, is physical and can still shut down top lines; that contract is a huge success.
6x6 might be abit much. But its not egregious when u actually take all the factors into account.
I think 5.25x5 woulda been a great deal. So less than a mil and one year longer to make a core piece happy?! Hells yeah.
- hugefemale dog77

Obviously, an NHL GM thinks the same way you do, so you may be right. Personally, I just don't think there is good history to support signing "character" guys to big contracts.

Especially in light of playing hardball with Johansen, who could end up being a top 10 player in the league. My question is why not cave to the demands of Johansen and replace Dubinsky with a similar cheaper version? Seems you'd have a better team.

I dunno, you never can tell what's real and whats BS, so maybe they sign Johansen this week and end up having a great season and future. But, when Johansen and his agent see this Dubinsky contract, how can they cave at all?

It's just my take, and I don't pretend to be infallible and it's not like I'm an omniscient narrator, I just personally would pay for offense and sign cheap players to provide grit.

OK, thanks Mike. I'll update the blog to reflect that, my mistake.
- James_Tanner

Thanks for trying.

no second 'e' in Seabrook.

Keith is signed through the 2023 season.

Toews is surely a Hall of Famer? In seven years, he has 440 points in 484 regular season games, never cracking the 80 point barrier. Wow the standard for making the Hall has really gone down, hasn't it.

Toews is surely a Hall of Famer? In seven years, he has 440 points in 484 regular season games, never cracking the 80 point barrier. Wow the standard for making the Hall has really gone down, hasn't it.
- stevens87

Well, he has two Cups, is nearly a ppg player and has great advanced stats and is known as one of the best defensive players in hockey. Yeah, I'd but money on it that he is for sure a hall of famer.

Well, he has two Cups, is nearly a ppg player and has great advanced stats and is known as one of the best defensive players in hockey. Yeah, I'd but money on it that he is for sure a hall of famer.
- James_Tanner

Just because he's won two Cups doesn't make him an automatic Hall of Famer. I'm sure I can find guys out there who have won two Cups and aren't going to be in the Hall. Let's look at the two seasons his team won the Cup.

In 2010 in the six game finals against the Flyers, how many goals did he score? ZERO

In the 2013 win again the Bruins, he had ONE goal in the teams first 20 playoff games that's would be thru game 3 of the SCF.

So it looks like he also won because he was helped out a lot by his well balance and great supporting cast to win two Cups. Something he is not going to have after this year because of Chicago paying the Wonder Twins 10.5M each a year.

Just because he's won two Cups doesn't make him an automatic Hall of Famer. I'm sure I can find guys out there who have won two Cups and aren't going to be in the Hall. Let's look at the two seasons his team won the Cup.

In 2010 in the six game finals against the Flyers, how many goals did he score? ZERO

In the 2013 win again the Bruins, he had ONE goal in the teams first 20 playoff games that's would be thru game 3 of the SCF.

So it looks like he also won because he was helped out a lot by his well balance and great supporting cast to win two Cups. Something he is not going to have after this year because of Chicago paying the Wonder Twins 10.5M each a year.
- stevens87

Are you mad that Toews is making more money than Crosby and Malkin? Sure sounds like it.

Just because he's won two Cups doesn't make him an automatic Hall of Famer. I'm sure I can find guys out there who have won two Cups and aren't going to be in the Hall. Let's look at the two seasons his team won the Cup.

In 2010 in the six game finals against the Flyers, how many goals did he score? ZERO

In the 2013 win again the Bruins, he had ONE goal in the teams first 20 playoff games that's would be thru game 3 of the SCF.

So it looks like he also won because he was helped out a lot by his well balance and great supporting cast to win two Cups. Something he is not going to have after this year because of Chicago paying the Wonder Twins 10.5M each a year.
- stevens87

Claude Lemieux has 4 cups and he's not going to the HoF.

Are you mad that Toews is making more money than Crosby and Malkin? Sure sounds like it.
- Tanuki

Not in the least, in fact I wish they both would have paid both more, this way Chicago would have even less cap space. But let's face it, now that Chicago is going to loose a lot of their depth in the next few years, I don't think it's too much to ask a guy who is paid 10.5M to, not score 100 points in a season, just to score 80.

Claude Lemieux has 4 cups and he's not going to the HoF.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Great point!!!!

Not in the least, in fact I wish they both would have paid both more, this way Chicago would have even less cap space. But let's face it, now that Chicago is going to loose a lot of their depth in the next few years, I don't think it's too much to ask a guy who is paid 10.5M to, not score 100 points in a season, just to score 80.
- stevens87

All you are trying to do is to have other people acknowledge that Cry baby Crosby is the best player in the game. I'll give you the satisfaction and tell you, Crosby puts up the most points in the NHL hands down. But, a lot of people in the world look past his antics and would rather have Toews as their team's Captain because he is a winner. And is overall one of the best if not the best players in the game.

Toews is surely a Hall of Famer? In seven years, he has 440 points in 484 regular season games, never cracking the 80 point barrier. Wow the standard for making the Hall has really gone down, hasn't it.
- stevens87

He's also the best player in the world so that'll help his cause when he retires.

He's also the best player in the world so that'll help his cause when he retires.
- robin_steele264

He the best player in the world? Please tell me why!

All you are trying to do is to have other people acknowledge that Cry baby Crosby is the best player in the game. I'll give you the satisfaction and tell you, Crosby puts up the most points in the NHL hands down. But, a lot of people in the world look past his antics and would rather have Toews as their team's Captain because he is a winner. And is overall one of the best if not the best players in the game.
- bhawks8819

Toews is much more of a clutch performer than Crosby.

Just because he's won two Cups doesn't make him an automatic Hall of Famer. I'm sure I can find guys out there who have won two Cups and aren't going to be in the Hall. Let's look at the two seasons his team won the Cup.

In 2010 in the six game finals against the Flyers, how many goals did he score? ZERO

In the 2013 win again the Bruins, he had ONE goal in the teams first 20 playoff games that's would be thru game 3 of the SCF.

So it looks like he also won because he was helped out a lot by his well balance and great supporting cast to win two Cups. Something he is not going to have after this year because of Chicago paying the Wonder Twins 10.5M each a year.
- stevens87

Well Stevens87, Toews captained Canada to a gold as a junior, scoring all his team's goals in the shootout to win it. Toews was the best player on Team Canada's last two gold medal winning squads at the Olympics, and that is saying something when you think about who some of his teammates were. He has two Stanley Cup rings already in his young career. He is also universally regarded as one of the best players in the game right now, definitely the games best captain and leader. Toews game is not built around scoring 50 goals, or 100 points, but scoring goals at the right time, and being a leader. Ask Ovechkin and Stamkos if they would trade all their goals and points for a Cup.

You talk about Toews being surrounded by great players, depth...what exactly did Sid and Geno have around them when they won their one Cup? Think Pittsburgh won it with just those two guys? All players, no matter how great they are, need a complete team to win it all, so your argument holds no merit.

I would say that right now, Toews is nowhere near being finished writing the wonderful story that his career will be when it is over. Do not worry about the Hawks depth as well, they have a lot of good young player's still to come. Drafting is the key, something your team obviously does not do well, unless they get lucky and have Sid dropped into their lap. Oh yeah, they also drafted Jordan Staal ahead of Toews, how does that look now? Should Toews be considered an automatic Hall Of Famer at this point in his career..good question, but he certainly is heading down the right path, and is not too far from being considered a lock right now.

He the best player in the world? Please tell me why!
- stevens87

Carries his team on his back. Does everything you could ask a player to do. Steps up when his team needs him.