Toews Stat Line Amongst NHL Centers (not all forwards, just centers) this year:

Points: 42nd (41st is Kadri who makes $4.5 mil)

Goals: 49th (37th is Henrique who makes $4.0mil)

Assists: 39th (Turris is 38th who makes $6mil starting next season)

+/-: 149th (yikes)

Salary Cap Hit: #1

Tell me again how it is not an objective assessment that Jonathan Toews is severely overpaid?
- EnzoD

At this point you have to acknowledge he is. I disagree (I recognize that's not your point here) that he was paid for past performance and that he's essentially a 3rd line center which is often discussed here.

He was signed to his deal before they won a 3rd Cup and at the age of 26 I believe. I think at the time it was more than fairly reasonable to think he'd be performing at a high level into his 30's vs falling off a cliff before he turned 30.

lines for tonight??

lines for tonight??
- SimpleJack

Practice this morning:

Saad-Schmaltz-Kane
Sikura-Ejdsell-DeBrincat
Jurco-Anisimov-Martinsen
Sharp-Kampf-Hinostroza

Keith-Seabrook
Gustafsson-Murphy
Oesterle/Hillman-Rutta

Forsberg in the starter's net.

At this point you have to acknowledge he is. I disagree (I recognize that's not your point here) that he was paid for past performance and that he's essentially a 3rd line center which is often discussed here.

He was signed to his deal before they won a 3rd Cup and at the age of 26 I believe. I think at the time it was more than fairly reasonable to think he'd be performing at a high level into his 30's vs falling off a cliff before he turned 30.
- HawkintheD

As a fan, and a guy who bought a Toews jersey before anyone other player's jersey during "The Run", I simply want to know WHY?? What is wrong with him?

As a fan, and a guy who bought a Toews jersey before anyone other player's during "The Run", I simply want to know WHY?? What is wrong with him?
- EnzoD

Same

We can only hope for an (auto)biography that tells the truth about it. We're sure as hell not going to hear it from the team when there is a chance they may want to trade him in the future. I think some willful blindness on their part right now.

I'd bet money on multiple concussion-related decline as a primary, with back as secondary issue.

As a fan, and a guy who bought a Toews jersey before anyone other player's jersey during "The Run", I simply want to know WHY?? What is wrong with him?
- EnzoD

Same thing with Cory Crawford what is really wrong with him?

Practice this morning:

Saad-Schmaltz-Kane
Sikura-Ejdsell-DeBrincat
Jurco-Anisimov-Martinsen
Sharp-Kampf-Hinostroza

Keith-Seabrook
Gustafsson-Murphy
Oesterle/Hillman-Rutta

Forsberg in the starter's net.
- pdx2ord

thx

Hope that 2nd line makes a solid impression against such an elite opponent. That would be a great sign.

thx

Hope that 2nd line makes a solid impression against such an elite opponent. That would be a great sign.
- SimpleJack

Would be, but I'll give Sikura a pass if he doesn't wow tonight- nerves must be high.

This made me laugh, but like how the new core seems to be gelling

Scott Powers
@ByScottPowers

Sikura said DeBrincat has taken him and Ejdsell under his wing on their line. DeBrincat said, "I don't know if I'd call myself a veteran. When I came in there were guys who took me under their wing, showed me around. I look to do the same with him."

Money Angel

From ESPN...

"Toews (upper body) may join his teammates on the ice ahead of Friday's matchup with Colorado, Eric Lear of the Blackhawks' official site reports.
Spin: The fact that Toews has yet to resume skating means fantasy owners can expect him to miss Thursday's matchup with the Jets. At this point, with only pride on the line, the Hawks aren't going to rush the veteran back into action and could opt to just shut him down for the final four games of the year. In the meantime, Victor Ejdsell will continue to fill in for Toews in a top-six role."
- EnzoD

I forgot to mention he also sprained his should on the way down as well

Would be, but I'll give Sikura a pass if he doesn't wow tonight- nerves must be high.

This made me laugh, but like how the new core seems to be gelling

Scott Powers
@ByScottPowers

Sikura said DeBrincat has taken him and Ejdsell under his wing on their line. DeBrincat said, "I don't know if I'd call myself a veteran. When I came in there were guys who took me under their wing, showed me around. I look to do the same with him."
- pdx2ord

I love Debrincat. This little mofo takes hits and gets tossed around and keeps on going into the tough areas. Elite hands, shot and vision, and a much better skater than the scouting reports indicated. I wish some of his compete level would run off on Nick Schmaltz. 8 has all the talent in the world but doesn't work hard enough in the gym and IMO lacks the "edge" needed to be a really exceptional player (which his speed/skill could allow him to be).

Practice this morning:

Saad-Schmaltz-Kane
Sikura-Ejdsell-DeBrincat
Jurco-Anisimov-Martinsen
Sharp-Kampf-Hinostroza

Keith-Seabrook
Gustafsson-Murphy
Oesterle/Hillman-Rutta

Forsberg in the starter's net.
- pdx2ord

Good lineup for the tank. Thanks Coach Q.

Good lineup for the tank. Thanks Coach Q.
- Dieselhead

Well, captain of the tank is missing and without him they appear to be winning games/losing the tank so far.

@MarkLazerus
Following Following @MarkLazerus
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God, can you imagine how amazing these last two weeks could have been if the Blackhawks were in that wild-card race right now?

YEP..when i looked a the schedule at the beginning of the year and saw these season ending games...

i thought this will be a very hot end if the hawks are in it...oh well...instead its end of season tryouts for guys like sikura, hillman and edjsell and dallia

Just some food for thought on the decline of the core. Here is a comparison of this year's production of the "vets" compared to their peaks seasons (each individual's 3 best seasons points per game compared to this season).

Toews - 72%
Kane - 79%
Saad - 67% (not really core anymore, but he used to be anyway)
AA - 73%
Sharp - 34%
Seabrook - 57%
Keith - 52%

It has been that kind of season, but when none of the core are even hitting 80% of their peak production, it ain't gonna go well.
- breadbag

Good work, I believe the Hawks PDO is 99.1, so there will be a correction for save percentage and shooting percentage increasing next year. 99.1 isn’t way off though, so it will come more from new players than from players playing better.
The return of Crawford will make or break next season, and the possible additions of new skaters could make an immediate impact.

It’s not easy to keep Patrick Kane down offensively, and he sets the high water mark for the team.

Well this is interesting Forsberg injured in warmup Delia to start!

Well this is interesting Forsberg injured in warmup Delia to start!
- walleyeb1

Maybe Forsberg wants us to remember that it could be worse

ETA:

@MarkLazerus

Sounds like Anton Forsberg hurt himself during the usual pregame soccer game in the hallway of the United Center. Not sure of the severity of the injury.

Maybe Forsberg wants us to remember that it could be worse
- pdx2ord

I guess they were screwing around playing soccer in the hallway.

Well this is interesting Forsberg injured in warmup Delia to start!
- walleyeb1

lets see if the skaters can put a good effort in front of him but at times that was asking to much in front of fors, glass and berube..

That was a really nice tribute to Seabs, can we trade him now?

Man, it is was tough to watch that with a dry eye. Whatever you think of Seabs now, there is absolutely no denying how big his contributions were to the Hawks winning the three cups. One of a handful of great players who brought it every night!

So glad we were able to save the guy who's going to make over $75 mil in his career the cost of taking a family of 5 a trip to Disneyworld for a week

So glad we were able to save the guy who's going to make over $75 mil in his career the cost of taking a family of 5 a trip to Disneyworld for a week
- Stan_Bowman

There are times when your schtick gets old

Man, it is was tough to watch that with a dry eye. Whatever you think of Seabs now, there is absolutely no denying how big his contributions were to the Hawks winning the three cups. One of a handful of great players who brought it every night!
- Spec41971

That and all the interviews with the other players that the Hawks have been posting on Twitter/playing/etc. today. Kane said he is a leader "second to none."

There are times when your schtick gets old
- riozzo

There are other blogs in the world to make you happy. Feel free to explore them

That and all the interviews with the other players that the Hawks have been posting on Twitter/playing/etc. today. Kane said he is a leader "second to none."
- pdx2ord

Looked like the jets’ players were enjoying the ceremony too. Lot of respect there before game time.