That’s probably the key, the problem is Toews has no idea what he wants. He’d really have to think Onnit for awhile.
- walleyeb1

Line of the year!!!

You can talk all you want about centers, forwards, defenseman but the biggest difference is the man between the pipes. Kempny, Orlov and Orpik are still irresponsible defenseman but it's been Hotby bailing them out. Love Eller reminds me of a young healthy Kruger. 10-2 with Holtby and now they look like the Kings of 2012 getting all the bounces
- BetweenTheDots

Holtby has been solid but has not been stealing games. The Caps’ D-Men as a rule have been playing very, very well. There is going to be some chances against no matter how well a team plays. I don’t view the Caps as “getting all the bounces” either. They are not winning with mirrors - they have run the Bolts out of the rink - dominated. In this play-offs I have wanted Ovie to raise the Cup.

I like Teavares but he’s always been an average skater at best and with the increasing speed of the NHL year after year he’s going to look out of place by year three of a new contract.

I for one would not sign JT long term but I’m sure someone will.
- Colbyboy

This makes a lot of sense!

Is Hossa gonna move? I saw he is selling his house.

Competition at the highest level comes down to both physical and mental strength. Keith is the one referred to as the genetic freak who even at 34 can still skate with Mackinnon and McDavid. I view the Onnit as a way for them to try and gain a competitive advantage by working to be in a great mental and physical state. I have done minimal research on the program. Perhaps it hasn’t benefitted either 2 or 19 significantly, but I find it unlikely that it would be the root cause of Toews’ sudden decline in play. IMO it’s more likely physical injuries. Keith’s knee injury in 2015, combined with his age and support on D, are what I think has led to his decline.
- EnzoD

I disagree completely. I don’t really care what role Onnit has played although I think it has been pretty prominent. Toews problems on the ice have everything to do with off-ice preparation. He has simply not been ready to play. While Kane looks strong Toews looks weak. No power, no size, no tenacity, no toughness. He was once a unrelenting bulldog, now a kitten. Injuries have not created the weakling that he is - Toews has done this by choice. I remember a few years ago discussing whether Toews was too cut, carrying too much bulk, too much muscle mass. Not an issue now as he does not look like an elite athlete. I don’t think eating kale in Machu Picchu makes a player really game ready.

That’s probably the key, the problem is Toews has no idea what he wants. He’d really have to think Onnit for awhile.
- walleyeb1

Very, very funny.

Hey crew - I have asked around about the Toews/MTL rumours and I am not getting anything concrete back.

I would really think that if this happened, it would be a monumental shift in this team's direction, as in... a rebuild and re-imaging.

As much as Toews isn't the player he once was, he means so much to this franchise on and of the ice.

Anything can happen, but I would be very surprised.
- Justin Lowe

Here's to the "Monumental Shift" in direction then. John McDonaugh has proclaimed that mediocrity is not acceptable , remember ? Without this monumental shift, I fear more of the same next year, and then an even more of a total decline to follow.

This is the summer to make a statement on what direction this team is going.
Major salary dumps have to occur in order for a younger team to begin a new regime. If it's any if the core 4, so be it because this currently constructed team as managed under JM, Stan, and Q aren't going to ever win a CUP agaim.

I like Teavares but he’s always been an average skater at best and with the increasing speed of the NHL year after year he’s going to look out of place by year three of a new contract.

I for one would not sign JT long term but I’m sure someone will.
- Colbyboy

Slow John Tavares had 38g last year.

His speed is fine now and will be in 3yrs. Fast doesn't equate to good.

If somehow moving Toews can get Tavares, it would be an incredibly bold move, but I don't see any chance of it happening - either them moving Toews and/or getting Tavares

Is Hossa gonna move? I saw he is selling his house.
- breadbag

Not sure they can trade Toews but if anybody is actually thinking of trading for him then do it in a hurry and say thank you.....time to move on as a culture shift is needed. Current formula has not been working for quite a while.

I think between keith, Teows, AA, and Craw if you think they are going to be better then last year you are probably wrong. AA and Craw could stay healthy and Keith and Teows may get there shooting % up a little but even with that we are a bottom 1/2 bounce out in the 1st round. If you don't move older guys when you can and keep trying for one more year at some point you cannot move them and you become DET. I would be fine with a mini rebuild with only Kane and Seabs around. if we could get something for the above 4. other then draft picks.

Toews not going anywhere ,and he will be better ..!!!! ,,Heard it here 1st !!

Toews not going anywhere ,and he will be better ..!!!! ,,Heard it here 1st !!
- oldduffman

Let's hope he improves on getting back on defense this year.

Let's hope he improves on getting back on defense this year.
- 35Tony0

I think Toews will be fine ,in the Bergeron mode going forward .. A new coach would go a long way with this team ..Get er done Stan ..

with both Keith and Teows it has nothing to do with goal scoring for both of those guys. You can have off shooting years. for me they both looked slower, weaker and there hands seem to have gone down a notch. they both could dominate games without scoring and both did not not last year and that part does not generally change for the better. Goal scoring has bigger highs and lows. Also back 3-4 years ago you could put them with any linemates and they still dominated at some level. Now you try them with everyone and they really don't. That is my thoughts. it was a good ten year run now we need to get back to drafting at super high level.

If anyone is house hunting, Hossa listed his Gold Coast condo for $4.5M.

If anyone is house hunting, Hossa listed his Gold Coast condo for $4.5M.
- AEL_Fox

I will continue to really miss Hossa. (So will the Blackhawks.)

If anyone is house hunting, Hossa listed his Gold Coast condo for $4.5M.
- AEL_Fox

C'mon Powerball, make 35Tony0 mack daddy!

If anyone is house hunting, Hossa listed his Gold Coast condo for $4.5M.
- AEL_Fox

Great - our house is on the market for $565,000.

We don’t need the competition going after the same potential buyers.

I disagree completely. I don’t really care what role Onnit has played although I think it has been pretty prominent. Toews problems on the ice have everything to do with off-ice preparation. He has simply not been ready to play. While Kane looks strong Toews looks weak. No power, no size, no tenacity, no toughness. He was once a unrelenting bulldog, now a kitten. Injuries have not created the weakling that he is - Toews has done this by choice. I remember a few years ago discussing whether Toews was too cut, carrying too much bulk, too much muscle mass. Not an issue now as he does not look like an elite athlete. I don’t think eating kale in Machu Picchu makes a player really game ready.
- Z3Hawk

I think Toews is all mixed up.

“Last summer (talking about summer of 2016) is the first time I really got the time to train really hard and I might have overdone it in the wrong way," Toews admitted. "Just worrying about power and strength all the time. I came into the season and just couldn’t move, just felt slow. I mean the game is so fast nowadays. It’s kind of a wake-up call in that sense.”



“When you see the top players nowadays they’re all on the ice,” Toews said. (now talking about his plans for training the summer of 2017) “They’re on the ice all the time just working on skill and that’s something I’m really going to focus on going forward.”

"Just getting back to playing with the puck, knowing that that’s the type of player I am, and not just being overly concerned with the defensive two-way hockey but knowing that I can go out there and contribute with the best of them, too, if I put my mind to it a little bit more.”

"I have to get back to playing more puck possession, more speed on the rush, so that right there is one little thing," Toews said. "But I think the skill part is another thing we'll have to focus on, and try and get back to playing the way I know I can."



(Now talking about summer 2018)
“That energy, that excitement, that youthful enthusiasm, I think is something that will come back,” he said. “It’s not that you take your success for granted. But when you kind of hit a few speed bumps the way we did this year, it’s humbling to a certain degree and you feel like you’re kind of starting over.”
“I feel that way about my game. I’m really excited about the potential for what a great summer of training and coming in excited to start anew can do.”

“I think the message is received,” he said. “We all take it upon ourselves not only to be better individuals, better players and improve our games, but also to bring that leadership aspect that we constantly need to work on.”

Toews noted that when the Blackhawks were atop the NHL, “everything just seemed to fall into place and it happened organically and naturally to a certain degree.”

But now?

“It just seems there are a lot of issues that are coming up that you need to find solutions for. Part of that is just keeping it simple and getting back to what made you a great player to begin with and what helped you win games as a team. But also taking a creative approach to finding solutions to those problems and learning how you can improve and make not only your own game but your team better.”

So who wins faceoffs? Vermette is a FA. Why not trade Saad too, because he's been part of that 1st line with 19 since he was a rookie. Package 19,50, 81, 20 to the isles for picks and Doug Weight to coach the "New Hawks"
If 19 and 50 go is there any point in not clearing out the house, including Kaner? No reasonable offer refused

I think Toews is all mixed up.

“Last summer (talking about summer of 2016) is the first time I really got the time to train really hard and I might have overdone it in the wrong way," Toews admitted. "Just worrying about power and strength all the time. I came into the season and just couldn’t move, just felt slow. I mean the game is so fast nowadays. It’s kind of a wake-up call in that sense.”



“When you see the top players nowadays they’re all on the ice,” Toews said. (now talking about his plans for training the summer of 2017) “They’re on the ice all the time just working on skill and that’s something I’m really going to focus on going forward.”

"Just getting back to playing with the puck, knowing that that’s the type of player I am, and not just being overly concerned with the defensive two-way hockey but knowing that I can go out there and contribute with the best of them, too, if I put my mind to it a little bit more.”

"I have to get back to playing more puck possession, more speed on the rush, so that right there is one little thing," Toews said. "But I think the skill part is another thing we'll have to focus on, and try and get back to playing the way I know I can."



(Now talking about summer 2018)
“That energy, that excitement, that youthful enthusiasm, I think is something that will come back,” he said. “It’s not that you take your success for granted. But when you kind of hit a few speed bumps the way we did this year, it’s humbling to a certain degree and you feel like you’re kind of starting over.”
“I feel that way about my game. I’m really excited about the potential for what a great summer of training and coming in excited to start anew can do.”

“I think the message is received,” he said. “We all take it upon ourselves not only to be better individuals, better players and improve our games, but also to bring that leadership aspect that we constantly need to work on.”

Toews noted that when the Blackhawks were atop the NHL, “everything just seemed to fall into place and it happened organically and naturally to a certain degree.”

But now?

“It just seems there are a lot of issues that are coming up that you need to find solutions for. Part of that is just keeping it simple and getting back to what made you a great player to begin with and what helped you win games as a team. But also taking a creative approach to finding solutions to those problems and learning how you can improve and make not only your own game but your team better.”
- walleyeb1

Confused is right. Don’t think Kaner or Ovie or Sidney spend their off-seasons analysing themselves like Toews does, they are too busy actually doing off-season work. Have seen too many photos and reports of Toews visiting Machu Pichu and boating and water-skiing and not enough of him intensely training on and off the ice. Toews you want to know what to do? Ask one Patrick Kane or one Paul Goodman or how about this - ask both of them.

Guess they’re having a hard time getting fans to bite on this year’s convention:

You heard it here first, @DuncanKeith is IN!

Join Duncs and pick up your passes for this summer’s #Blackhawks Convention: onego.al/CU9H30jZtDW

https://twitter.com/nhlbl...s/996063161588568064?s=21

Kane sets new records in assists (11) and points (17) for Team USA in a single World Championship tournament.

He is tied for the tournament point lead with Aho who scored a hat trick vs. Team USA (Finland won 6-2). Aho is in full beast mode and should have another breakout year for the Canes next season. It's no wonder that new Carolina GM recently said Aho is his only untouchable.

Where does EK come up with these trade ideas? Toews is basically unmovable right now with his salary and zero impact play. Montreal is in crisis mode just like we are. Need to do something to right the ship. Hard to see the Hawks moving core players with old man Q behind the bench. Q about had kittens when Jammer got traded to the Yotes. So yeah, I would have brought in a new HC this summer to prepare for the face lift this team needs.

Hawks really need to start planning for the future and start moving out who they can for younger talent. How that happens is beyond me.