So you’re saying Toews is more of a 4C?
- DarthKane

They are making a 5th line just for him to be 5C.

Better or worse or just about the same when compared to his last interview during that PR debacle in AZ?
- pdx2ord

Actually looks like he had a stroke or suffered an aneurysm.

Would love to have him, but Manson is signed with the Ducks through 2022. Did you mean someone else?
- AEL_Fox

Are u sure just was on cap friendly looking at goalie free agents he was still listed on their but i could be wrong.

Not encouraging, at least in my opinion

7 months later, not 100%
not only hasn't gotten on ice yet, but he hasn't been deemed ready
- pdx2ord

Perhaps something neurological, a small stroke?

In reality, if it was a substance abuse problem, he’d have been back already. I’d hazard a guess it’s something physical, perhaps impacting balance.

The entire episode is strange.

Actually looks like he had a stroke or suffered an aneurysm.
- walleyeb1

Beat me to it by a minute.

So you’re saying Toews is more of a 4C?
- DarthKane

I'm saying Toews is a top 6 center, I'm saying when he's (offensively) at the top of his game he's easily one of the best centers in the league.. What I'm saying is that Toews is an elite two-way center and tossing him under the bus for not putting up 65-75 points while still playing a defensive forward role is ridiculous..

What I'm saying is that the only thing that "new fans" (post 2007) care about is offensive production, all they care about is offense, and the defensive aspect is secondary to them.... Like it's still 1984 and teams are playing "run & gun" hockey winning games 12-9 and Toews' just isn't pulling his weight..

You're talking about a 30-year-old, not a 37 or 38-year-old who's best years are behind them...... It's funny how in 2018 professional athletes are playing longer than ever yet you're done at 30 according to some..

Besides, the Hawks don't even have set "lines".... By the 3rd period on any given night you could see Kampf-Toews-Hayden taking the draw...

The real question is - is Toews deserving of 20 minutes a night at forward? of course, what other forwards should be given more ice time than Toews?

Toews is an all situation all purpose forward, and I'm suggesting if you need to win a big draw - you put Toews on the ice, I'm suggesting if you're down by a goal with a few minutes remaining you put Toews on the ice, I'm suggesting if you need to kill a penalty late in a tied game you put Toews on the ice....

No yea, the suggestion that Toews should play 13 minutes a game like a 3rd line center would is ridiculous....

Perhaps you should go and look back to game 6 of the SCF and look at those 2 goals in 17 seconds.... Who went into the corner like and ELITE PLAYER (in a situation like that) won the puck and made the perfect pass to Bickell to bury it home? oh right - Toews, yet he's a 3rd line center, LMAO.... How many players can do that in that situation??? and that's not the only time he came up clutch -- Toews is as clutch as Lemieux - not Mario, Claude - no relation by the way.

I think he may have been referring to Mason. I don't know if he is under contract
- BGKarras

That makes sense. Not sure what Mason's status is, but there was that Eklund rumor last week that the Hawks are kicking the tires on him for whatever reason.

Are u sure just was on cap friendly looking at goalie free agents he was still listed on their but i could be wrong.
- Scott1977

As BGKarras suggested, are you referring to Steve Mason the goalie, not Josh Manson the defenseman? Your original post said Manson.

According to Capfriendly, Mason was due $4.1MM for 2018-19 but the Canadiens bought him out in late June.

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/steve-mason

As BKarras suggested, are you referring to Steve Mason the goalie, not Josh Manson the defenseman? Your original post said Manson.

According to Capfriendly, Mason was due $4.1MM for 2018-19 but the Canadiens bought him out in late June.

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/steve-mason
- AEL_Fox

Sorry should of clarify who i was talking about, my bad

Hmmmm.... You pose a good question. I am glad that the Hossa contract is gone. Unfortunately, Hinostroza was a casualty to make that happen. I might consider Nash IF he makes the decision to continue to play. The fact that he's contemplating to play or not to play is another red flag. I would still exhaust other options before I thought about Nash. Then if I did, Nash would have to pass his physical with flying colors!

I would like your thoughts on this. Why keep Schmaltz as a 2nd line Center when he has never won over 50% of his faceoffs in his career? You know the importance of that especially to a puck possession team. Why not package him with Anisimov or Murphy to address our need for a Center that CAN do that consistently? Centers have brought good returns in trades thus far too. If Stan plays it well then we get our top 4 D man as well. If we keep both AA & Schmaltz, we have two black holes at the faceoff dot when we need to be stronger down the middle to achieve our ONE GOAL. What do you think?
- Power29

No way I am unloading Schmaltzy...unless you are getting back a 'generational" talent future drafts or a proven elite player. He is the future with tons of upside as the entire board suggests. Also regarding FO's, you could situational FO meaning bring in Toews, Kruger, just for the FO and change if it is that important especially in the O zone and Toews generally takes all the important D zone draws. Besides Schmaltzy is literally homegrown!

So much talent has gone out the door with so little coming back. Totally wasted opportunities one after another after another after another. It's sad to see the perps of this trend continue to be in the position to destroy the Hawks.
- Savoy

Sadly, it is the big price you pay for winning!

Sorry should of clarify who i was talking about, my bad
- Scott1977

No worries.

Supposed fans of the sport have been saying this crap for the last decade, until Toews hoists the Cup and for a month he's one of the better centers in the game.

It's funny, you can tell a whole lot about a "fans" hockey knowledge based on their opinion of Toews....They're incapable of seeing what makes him an excellent hockey player..... I mean I'll agree and admit he didn't have the best 17-18 season, but even a bad season from Towes would be an excellent season for the average center...

Toews is easily one of the best defensive forwards I've ever witnessed, and I've been a fan for 35 years..... Toews' problem is that at times he can have extremely bad droughts where he couldn't buy a goal with his 10.5 salary - he gets his chances but he either hits the post, the goalie makes a save he had no business making or the puck just stops short of the line.... I suppose my point is for a guy that's known as a "winner" everywhere he played he's had some pretty bad luck to go along with that winning - and every time he doesn't OFFENSIVELY perform to expectations he get's thrown under the bus by those that don't even understand the sport yet pretend they do..... One day Toews is an untouchable hero to some and 6 months later those same "fans" would drive him to the airport for a bag of pucks...

It's pretty hilarious....

Every coach and GM in this league would love to have Toews, even at 30, because hockey is more about "intangibles" than it is scoring 50 goals with a 12.4 shooting percentage..
- Savard2Secord

Here's my take: Toews is not the same player he was 5 years ago (not just decline in skating, skills, due to mileage). I believe it was the hit (Orpik) or cumulation of hits. The reason why I say this is when he was considered 1A/1B with Crosby he was a beast that rarely loses a puck or battles especially behind the net puck-protecting. Additionally, with speed and possession through the neutral zone going in 1 on 1 he was outright dangerous but not so much now. Recently he loses those same battles and puck too easily (again not mileage). Also his hands are not quite as sharp as receiving passes, sometimes explodes off his stick. Don't get me wrong, Toews is still a very good center thal all teams would love to have and I am glad the Hawks do.

No worries.
- AEL_Fox

Saw the interview and him walking down the aisle at convention there is something seriously wrong with crow just my observations did not look comfortable or like he was not all there. Hawks really should think about giving crow this season off to get right not only for hockey but his future after hockey.

That’s a whole boatload of trash. Are you Toews’ cousin or agent? Your assessment of Toews on-ice play last season is comical, as is your classification of those who criticize the (formerly) highest paid player in the game as people who lack hockey knowledge. Get off the soap box and try a character limit on your posts. Toews eye test and statistical production pale in comparison to all other players making over $8mil a season.

This isn’t 2013, it’s 2018. Until proven otherwise, those of us without the Rose Colored Glasses and cups full of Blackhawk bandwagon kool aid will continue to criticize #19. Everyone who does criticize Toews WANTS him to be the guy who played like a $10mil 1C, but there’s nothing to suggest he will ever be that guy again given his age, mileage, injury history, and demeanor (based on recent interviews that sound like he’s in retrospection about to retire)
- EnzoD

Oh this is rich..

Your expectations of Toews are absolutely ridiculous considering you're admitting you tie his salary to some sort of objective expectation based on salary only you can explain... Yes hockey knowledge - for 10.5 million you expect X amount of points.... Guess what? the guy played nearly 20 minutes a game last season, and due to the loss of Hossa and Kruger he was stuck doing both of their jobs while the kids learned how to play NHL hockey -- from him.....

I don't even know where to begin...

And I'm on no damn soap box - I'm telling you that your expectations are WAY too high for the type of player Toews is..... Sorry, but this isn't basketball where guys play 90% of the game - hockey has a multitude of situations and each situation calls for the right players on ice.....

Look you cant put Toews out there on every shift - you cant have him play regular 5v5 minutes, regular #1 PK minutes and #1 PP minutes, had Toews been used in every situation he would be playing the entire damn game .... You cant do that, Toews needs to be used as a weapon and instead he was used as fodder because that's all that Q had (after playing 20 rookies)...

Do you understand anything about coaching or managing lines?

Oh right, Toews is expected to steal the puck, dangle up the ice and score every shift and even if he doesn't do that 40 times a year he's a 3rd line center..

Give Toews, Kane, Saad and Keith an opportunity where the season isn't on their backs alone and see what happens.....Bringing back Kruger is a good start... I mean did you expect Hartman or Hinostroza to be the saviors of the Hawks? did you expect anything out of Schmaltz or DeBrincat?

No you thought - expected - Toews to me "Michael Jordan" for 10.5 a season...

Here's my take: Toews is not the same player he was 5 years ago (not just decline in skating, skills, due to mileage). I believe it was the hit (Orpik) or cumulation of hits. The reason why I say this is when he was considered 1A/1B with Crosby he was a beast that rarely loses a puck or battles especially behind the net puck-protecting. Additionally, with speed and possession through the neutral zone going in 1 on 1 he was outright dangerous but not so much now. Recently he loses those same battles and puck too easily (again not mileage). Also his hands are not quite as sharp as receiving passes, sometimes explodes off his stick. Don't get me wrong, Toews is still a very good center thal all teams would love to have and I am glad the Hawks do.
- D2D

Here is my take: Toews needs some help, and I think Toews is a guy that can train these kids how to help or at least teach them how to help.

Toews can only do much from and offensive and defensive perspective.... He cant score goals or lead to offense when he's playing #1 PK, and it's difficult to put up points when you're shutting down another teams top offense defensively...

But if you manage your lines properly and can get Toews out there against another teams 3rd line he's offensively talented enough to pad his offensive stats...

You gotta remember tho that Toews has always been a "defensive first" forward.

Here is my take: Toews needs some help, and I think Toews is a guy that can train these kids how to help or at least teach them how to help.

Toews can only do much from and offensive and defensive perspective.... He cant score goals or lead to offense when he's playing #1 PK, and it's difficult to put up points when you're shutting down another teams top offense defensively...

But if you manage your lines properly and can get Toews out there against another teams 3rd line he's offensively talented enough to pad his offensive stats...

You gotta remember tho that Toews has always been a "defensive first" forward.
- Savard2Secord

Look I get it, there's only one Toews and he needs help. All I am saying, 5 years ago he used to help himself with offensive abilities as stated above. Like I said, I believe it is due to injury and NOT decline in skating and skills. You are right, Toews has rarely been a high scorer as back then as rookies,the saying was" Toews will win you a championship and Kaner will win you a scoring title".

I would like your take on Toews, on the game within the game, shift within the shift, ie skating, hands, shots, etc on the current Toews. Like I said time time again, you can still be good and over-rated! Of course, I would keep Toews here but if given the chance of Bergeron and/or Kopitar, unfortunately those guys are a bit better now. Maybe even a Coutourier.

RE: Corey Crawford:

The dude doesn't look 100% and he's admitted that.

It doesn't sound extremely optimistic that he will be ready to go for training camp but his appearance at the convention is promising IMO.

People are looking for answers and Corey showed up this weekend and is stepping forward with a statement of sorts. This has to be extremely tough for him.

I would just keep in mind with his comments, Keith's comments and anyone else this weekend that the Hawks would have PR'd them all up. They know not to say anything and to be coy about the situation. It's easier for them all to deflect like Keith did.

I really hope he gets better soon from whatever is ailing him.


I will just end with this; IF this is something very personal (as it's been rumoured) he does have a right to protect that from everyone because his health as a human supersedes Corey Crawford the athlete. Aaaaaand, he's part of a union.

If I was in the spotlight (ps... I'm not) and had an issue, I wouldn't want everyone knowing my business either.

RE: Corey Crawford:

The dude doesn't look 100% and he's admitted that.

It doesn't sound extremely optimistic that he will be ready to go for training camp but his appearance at the convention is promising IMO.

People are looking for answers and Corey showed up this weekend and is stepping forward with a statement of sorts. This has to be extremely tough for him.

I would just keep in mind with his comments, Keith's comments and anyone else this weekend that the Hawks would have PR'd them all up. They know not to say anything and to be coy about the situation. It's easier for them all to deflect like Keith did.

I really hope he gets better soon from whatever is ailing him.


I will just end with this; IF this is something very personal (as it's been rumoured) he does have a right to protect that from everyone because his health as a human supersedes Corey Crawford the athlete. Aaaaaand, he's part of a union.

If I was in the spotlight (ps... I'm not) and had an issue, I wouldn't want everyone knowing my business either.
- Justin Lowe

Here is hoping crow gets better! Any trade rumblings you hearing? Hawks cannot expect a 19 year old henri to be the solution to top 4 d hole he should be in rockford no matter what.

That makes sense. Not sure what Mason's status is, but there was that Eklund rumor last week that the Hawks are kicking the tires on him for whatever reason.
- AEL_Fox

Hey fox if Eklund said it. Then it ain't happening... So I don't know if it's a good thing or not. This Cory situation is not encouraging

Here is hoping crow gets better! Any trade rumblings you hearing? Hawks cannot expect a 19 year old henri to be the solution to top 4 d hole he should be in rockford no matter what.
- Scott1977

I haven't heard anything. The convention might stall things this weekend.

I honestly think they are given Jokiharju every chance to make the team.

I have a new theory that they signed Brandon Manning to play with him as their bottom pairing. He's a stay-at-home defenceman that will stick up for him if he's pushed around.

Keith-Murphy
Gustafsson/Forsling-Seabrook
Manning-Jokiharju

Rutta maybe sent packing for picks?


Just spittballin' on a Friday night.

RE: Corey Crawford:

The dude doesn't look 100% and he's admitted that.

It doesn't sound extremely optimistic that he will be ready to go for training camp but his appearance at the convention is promising IMO.

People are looking for answers and Corey showed up this weekend and is stepping forward with a statement of sorts. This has to be extremely tough for him.

I would just keep in mind with his comments, Keith's comments and anyone else this weekend that the Hawks would have PR'd them all up. They know not to say anything and to be coy about the situation. It's easier for them all to deflect like Keith did.

I really hope he gets better soon from whatever is ailing him.


I will just end with this; IF this is something very personal (as it's been rumoured) he does have a right to protect that from everyone because his health as a human supersedes Corey Crawford the athlete. Aaaaaand, he's part of a union.

If I was in the spotlight (ps... I'm not) and had an issue, I wouldn't want everyone knowing my business either.
- Justin Lowe

Certainly not what I expected from CC.......sad.

My take on this is the upper body injury definitely is something with deeper neurological issues than a bad concussion. If he is not skating, it is likely to prevent a fall causing further problems. His overly deliberate and slower than normal speech pattern is consistent with bigger issues afoot.

I might go so far as to say it could be of a life threatening nature if not managed properly. Let’s all wish him well. He will need all of the positive vibes he can get.

So now, this tells me there is no sense in pursuing anything but the future - as in the farther term future. If they can’t put an A+ goalie in net this season there is no point spending money or making deals. Embrace the tank, draft high, see what you have in the prospect pool, and try to gain cap space to be well positioned for the new CBA era.

Ouch!

https://www.tsn.ca/capita...x-year-31m-deal-1.1149486

GP, don't waste time on DAHAWKBABY88 hge got cut from his HS team & has never recovered

Toews will never be what he used to be but can't blame him for the contract

All the 88 luvers on here is laughable guy stunk last year & showed Panarin carried his LAZY a**

One way CHERRY PICKER who luvs all the new rules so he can't be touched

88 would have lasted 3-4 years back when NHL was actually great & tough Hockey not the RAT ICE NHL of today

Carry on Enzo & girls with the 88 luv

BTW Crawford is done he will be USELESS

GP, don't waste time on DAHAWKBABY88 hge got cut from his HS team & has never recovered

Toews will never be what he used to be but can't blame him for the contract

All the 88 luvers on here is laughable guy stunk last year & showed Panarin carried his LAZY a**

One way CHERRY PICKER who luvs all the new rules so he can't be touched

88 would have lasted 3-4 years back when NHL was actually great & tough Hockey not the RAT ICE NHL of today

Carry on Enzo & girls with the 88 luv

BTW Crawford is done he will be USELESS
- Goalie-33

Nice to see your ban was lifted.

Enjoy the next one