I think you may have missed the beginning of the conversation. No one is questioning that Toews is a top level talent. The issue is JJ critiquing other writer's evaluation when he ranks Toews as the BEST center in the NHL. Which, by any measurement other than faceoff win %, he is not. And in an area he excels, he was only .1% better than Giroux, and Toews took 200+ less faceoffs. Defense is very important for a center, but so is putting up points, especially when you're a #1 center. Your stat that had him ranked 24th among centers in the league supports that he lacks pretty heavily in that area. He is a fringe top 5 center in the league, but is clearly not #1. That's all the argument was, and I'll leave it at that.
- mw630

I didn't miss anything. What I took issue with is the foolish statement you made that Toews was exposed last season. Toews is absolutely among the best centers in the league, despite his subpar season last year. There could be a lot of reasons for that. I wouldn't put him at #1, but that is still subjective.

Since you ask so nicely:

St. Louis
Nashville
Minnesota

Edmonton
San Jose
Calgary

Winnipeg
Dallas
- James_Tanner

What about if Chicago is able to pull off a major trade. Say with Toronto, with Chicago trading Keith for Gardiner? Would that elevate Chicago back into a playoff spot?

Tanner, you are the greatest troll on hockey buzz. Congrats

http://www.espn.com/nhl/s...e-trophy-shutdown-machine
- southernhawk

ESPN does hockey....?

Jets and Oilers make it, but no Blackhawks.

What about if Chicago is able to pull off a major trade. Say with Toronto, with Chicago trading Keith for Gardiner? Would that elevate Chicago back into a playoff spot?
- MJL

I just snorted my coffee through my nose reading this one, well played sir.

Great music! I listened to take me somewhere nice, maybe 1000 times in the past 6 months. Crazy seeing it on here. We have the exact same taste in music. But I don't always agree with you on hockey. Cheers, JT. Keep the great tunes coming

Tanner, you are the greatest troll on hockey buzz. Congrats
- CanuckDon

Hmmm not Garf?

To be fair, I did not factor special teams into this at all, so there's a good chance he provides value there. His Cups don't really matter, since they probably win with or without him.

I don't think my data is really out of context at all - again, he scored 4 points while playing medium competition and seems to get scored on a ton.

I am sure his complete lack of an offensive game and hard zone starts probably make him better than I have rated him here, and I am sure you do know what you're talking about (though I could accuse your of being a *slight* homer).

However, even accounting for that, he's still well into the lower half of the league's third-line centres.

The stats say he's bad and we know that historically, people tend to overate the defensive contributions of gritty, hard-checking players who are very noticeable in games.

I'd be OK with moving him from the "worst" category to the simply "bad" one.
- James_Tanner

Jim this is the same guy who thinks Carrick is another Shaw. If you follow his logic then Keith is better than Bobby Orr. 3 cups to 2

James Tanner: The Best and Worst 3rd-Line Centres: CONCLUSION

Who is the best? Who is the worst? Find out today on the View.
- James_Tanner

Saying david backes is a bad 3rd line centre is exactly why you have zero credibility. Like come on man

Saying david backes is a bad 3rd line centre is exactly why you have zero credibility. Like come on man
- TylerSeguin19

he knows this....his absurd trolling brings hits. It's best to ignore his opinions and just enjoy the hilarity of the comments section

Saying david backes is a bad 3rd line centre is exactly why you have zero credibility. Like come on man
- TylerSeguin19

He's not just a third line centre, he's a bad one. And who says I have no credibility? No one with any of their own, that's for sure.

Anyways, since their top two centres are Krejci and Bergeron, are you trying to say Backes will play on the fourth line?

He's not just a third line centre, he's a bad one. And who says I have no credibility? No one with any of their own, that's for sure.

Anyways, since their top two centres are Krejci and Bergeron, are you trying to say Backes will play on the fourth line?
- James_Tanner

My God man...

Tanner, you are the greatest troll on hockey buzz. Congrats
- CanuckDon

Uneducated people tend to think anyone who doesn't tell them exactly what they want to hear is a troll.

I am the farthest thing from a troll, but most people who comment on internet articles are just angry and bored, so I'm OK if guys like you want to take shots at me.

I know I'm doing good work and so do most of the approximately 100 000 people who read this blog every month.

My God man...
- Nucker101

Please tell me how Backes is a good third line centre? Show your work, I did.

Saying david backes is a bad 3rd line centre is exactly why you have zero credibility. Like come on man
- TylerSeguin19

Saying that you were going to Georgetown when you clearly weren't is exactly why you have zero creibility. Like come on man.

Great music! I listened to take me somewhere nice, maybe 1000 times in the past 6 months. Crazy seeing it on here. We have the exact same taste in music. But I don't always agree with you on hockey. Cheers, JT. Keep the great tunes coming
- Gomey

Such a great song.

I'd rather someone think I had great taste in music than agree with me on hockey.

Jets and Oilers make it, but no Blackhawks.
- SimpleJack

You heard it here first. The depth down the middle of Edmonton and Winnipeg will be the difference.

Uneducated people tend to think anyone who doesn't tell them exactly what they want to hear is a troll.

I am the farthest thing from a troll, but most people who comment on internet articles are just angry and bored, so I'm OK if guys like you want to take shots at me.

I know I'm doing good work and so do most of the approximately 100 000 people who read this blog every month.
- James_Tanner

I have a double major from UBC and a CFA. What are your academic credentials ?
I'll patiently wait your response

You can entertain dude, and I don't think you are stupid. Just quit the trolling. You don't need it to get hits

I have a double major from UBC and a CFA. What are your academic credentials ?
I'll patiently wait your response
- CanuckDon

2 year college degree in General Arts and Science +
4 Honours English Degree (Cum Laude) from Laurentian + a Masters in English from Ryerson.

I have a double major from UBC and a CFA. What are your academic credentials ?
I'll patiently wait your response

You can entertain dude, and I don't think you are stupid. Just quit the trolling. You don't need it to get hits
- CanuckDon

In what way am I trolling? I can always defend why I said something and I can't think of a single example of saying something just to say it.

Please define what trolling means, because maybe I don't know. I thought I did, because it seems like something someone says when they don't like what you said.

2 year college degree in General Arts and Science +
4 Honours English Degree (Cum Laude) from Laurentian + a Masters in English from Ryerson.
- James_Tanner

So you can write an essay...that's swell, you should have expanded your educational base. You are literate so that is something

In what way am I trolling? I can always defend why I said something and I can't think of a single example of saying something just to say it.

Please define what trolling means, because maybe I don't know. I thought I did, because it seems like something someone says when they don't like what you said.
- James_Tanner

Well, the majority of your articles are very anti Canuck. You predict them to finish last most years and labeling Bo Horvat as the worst 3rd line center is....classic Tanner. I think you can write I just notice you target certain fanbases. I assume it's for hits but perhaps it's not

Uneducated people tend to think anyone who doesn't tell them exactly what they want to hear is a troll.

.
- James_Tanner

Bookmarked for the future.

So you can write an essay...that's swell, you should have expanded your educational base. You are literate so that is something
- CanuckDon

People are pretty ignorant, I find, about English degrees.

First, whatever you major in, half your classes end up being economics, psychology, history, sociology etc.

But in English - especially at University level - you hardly ever talk about "english" most of what you learn is whatever the various novels are about, which actually makes it so that most Lit students have extremely wide knowledge bases, which is why, historically, we make the best Jeopardy players.