"A terrific two-way center with speed to burn, Toews has great hands and one-on-one moves. With his size, he can also just overpower defenders, out-muscle them. Toews is a great shot as well and an excellent passer of the puck."

Speed? Nope.
Overpower defenders? Nope.
One-on-One moves? Nope.

What the (frank) happened to this guy?
- EnzoD

I would guess it is something degenerative. He seems to have 5-6 really strong shifts per night, but can't sustain it through the entire game (or for a number of games in a row).

I can't imagine that different training styles could have that big of an impact on the finished product of a guy who has been playing hockey his entire life.

Yep - 5'10 / 170ish, but plays bigger than that.
- Justin Lowe

Who we talking about here Kampf or Paquette?

Schmaltzy has good one on one moves too. Debrincat a bit.
- JRoenick97

I'd agree on both.

Who we talking about here Kampf or Paquette?
- walleyeb1

I think Paquette...

Edit: I would rather have Palat I know that the cap hit would be difficult to afford /Manage.

This article really hones in on just how difficult it really is to ice a Stanley Cup caliber team. A team needs:
The horses,
Health,
The right breaks.
And the 'Hawks did it three times in 5-6 years.
The entire organization, from toilet scrubber to Rocky, will ALWAYS have my appreciation. Because I know they want to get back to The Cup.
- 35Tony0

That's why if a team is a top four Cup contender, they need to add the final pieces to position themselves to win it all; like the Hawks did a few times. That's why as bad as the Danault trade looks now, I still appreciate the spirit of what Stan did at the time.

It also means that if a team is NOT a top four Cup contender - or at least not a top 8 - they really shouldn't be buyers at the deadline for expiring contracts. A good deal for a guy with some affordable term left on his contract, fine, but save the mortgaging the future for moments when the future is now.

If I'm Q, I go:

Saad-Toews-Panik
Schmaltz-AA-Kane
Hartman-Kampf-Debrincat
Hinostroza-Wingels-Hayden
- Justin Lowe

I'd go:

Saad - Toews - DeBrincat
Schmaltz - AA - Kane
Hinostroza - Kampf - Hartman
Bouma - Wingles - Hayden

It means Panik on the outside looking in with Sharp. If you really want Panik in, I'd put him on the fourth for Bouma.

I would guess it is something degenerative. He seems to have 5-6 really strong shifts per night, but can't sustain it through the entire game (or for a number of games in a row).

I can't imagine that different training styles could have that big of an impact on the finished product of a guy who has been playing hockey his entire life.
- Chunk

It's either a serious health issue, or a lack of commmitment to training. I've touched on this a few times the last month, but to reiterate.....if Toews doesn't have the leg strength/endurance that he used to, that would explain a lot in terms of his lack of speed/explosion in his stride, and his inability to win puck battles due to fatigue. However, that does not explain why the puck seems to be a hot potato/hand grenade on his stick far too often. Where is the explanation for his lack of dangles/puck skill? Confidence? Cap Hit vs Production pressure weighing on his mind? IDK what the reason, but like Justin says, the eye test and the stats show a very under-performing player.

I appreciate all that Toews has brought to the Hawks in his career. We should all be thankful.

The concussions, cross checks, number of games have taken their toll on him mentally and physically.

He is still a very good 200' center. Is he elite? No. Is he a top 15 center in the league? Probably not. Would every team in the league like to have him on their team? Yes. (without taking into consideration his cap hit)

He is not producing offensively what you would expect a $10.5 mil player to produce. Could that have been predicted when he signed his contract? Maybe.

Could he bounce back and lead the Hawks to another cup? Unlikely, but he has had 10 to 20 game runs where he has been outstanding, as recently as the end of last last year in the regular season.

The one thing I truly believe is that he is doing everything he can, playing hard, eating right, training right, not partying outside of the rink, etc....

It has been said the Blackhawks, and Toews himself, pace themselves during the regular season. That sounds very negative, like they are not giving their all. I look at it differently. Great players find an extra higher gear at times, especially in big games or in the playoffs. That was the most disappointing thing about the playoffs last year. They could not find that extra gear, Toews, Kane, or anyone else. I think if they could have gotten a few breaks in game one or two they might have been able to find that gear and get better as the playoffs went on, as is their tradition.
- -Doh-

It's either a serious health issue, or a lack of commmitment to training. I've touched on this a few times the last month, but to reiterate.....if Toews doesn't have the leg strength/endurance that he used to, that would explain a lot in terms of his lack of speed/explosion in his stride, and his inability to win puck battles due to fatigue. However, that does not explain why the puck seems to be a hot potato/hand grenade on his stick far too often. Where is the explanation for his lack of dangles/puck skill? Confidence? Cap Hit vs Production pressure weighing on his mind? IDK what the reason, but like Justin says, the eye test and the stats show a very under-performing player.
- EnzoD

anyone else notice but 19 often has a few passes each game that remind me of TT passes - of the soft variety

>>What are your thoughts on the Hawks current status at center?<<<

umm...

I'd go:

Saad - Toews - DeBrincat
Schmaltz - AA - Kane
Hinostroza - Kampf - Hartman
Bouma - Wingles - Hayden

It means Panik on the outside looking in with Sharp. If you really want Panik in, I'd put him on the fourth for Bouma.
- matt_ahrens

I'd go with that lineup as well. The wild cards to me are the 3rd line wingers. Hartman needs to play, IMHO, so then it would boil down to one of Hinostroza, Sharp, or Panik.

anyone else notice but 19 often has a few passes each game that remind me of TT passes - of the soft variety
- glennjpawlak22

Seabrook has had some whiff passes lately, too.

"A terrific two-way center with speed to burn, Toews has great hands and one-on-one moves. With his size, he can also just overpower defenders, out-muscle them. Toews is a great shot as well and an excellent passer of the puck."

Speed? Nope.
Overpower defenders? Nope.
One-on-One moves? Nope.

What the (frank) happened to this guy?
- EnzoD

He became the NHL Crash Test Dummy for cross-checks.

I'd go:

Saad - Toews - DeBrincat
Schmaltz - AA - Kane
Hinostroza - Kampf - Hartman
Bouma - Wingles - Hayden

It means Panik on the outside looking in with Sharp. If you really want Panik in, I'd put him on the fourth for Bouma.
- matt_ahrens

I'd go 8 as 1C and 10 as 2LW just to give this boards contributors what they want. Park 19 until he gains 10 lbs

I think Paquette...

Edit: I would rather have Palat I know that the cap hit would be difficult to afford /Manage.
- BGKarras

Yeah I’d pass on Paquette, let’s see what Kampf can do.

I'd go 8 as 1C and 10 as 2LW just to give this boards contributors what they want. Park 19 until he gains 10 lbs
- riozzo

Yeah, was wondering what people would roll out as lines if Toews were to actually sit as either a healthy scratch or player on LTIR.

Who we talking about here Kampf or Paquette?
- walleyeb1

Paquette.

Loved what I saw out of Kampf in the preseason, but he's definitely caught in the logjam of lower line C's. I'm all in favor of him getting more minutes at the AHL level and hopefully contributing to the big club in a year or two.

What concerts were this week?
- riozzo

I do not want to let the idea that this athlete is an irresponsible drug or alcohol user whom chooses to get messed up because he enjoys it, it maybe needs it because he has been doing it so many years....and he sometimes lands on IR due to it.

Maybe secretly Bowman wanted to trade him because if this.

Or I might be reaching. But if it holds even a shred of truth, it is probably covered up ..

ssshhh.....sssh.

Yeah I’d pass on Paquette, let’s see what Kampf can do.
- walleyeb1

Paquette is bigger than what was earlier stated. He is not a big scorer, but he is not receiving a scorer's salary either. He is cheap and has snarl in his game as I have noted when we played TB and by looking at his career stats. Kampf will just end up being Kero's twin. If available, I would rather have a Paquette type for our lineup.

I appreciate all that Toews has brought to the Hawks in his career. We should all be thankful.

The concussions, cross checks, number of games have taken their toll on him mentally and physically.

He is still a very good 200' center. Is he elite? No. Is he a top 15 center in the league? Probably not. Would every team in the league like to have him on their team? Yes. (without taking into consideration his cap hit)

He is not producing offensively what you would expect a $10.5 mil player to produce. Could that have been predicted when he signed his contract? Maybe.

Could he bounce back and lead the Hawks to another cup? Unlikely, but he has had 10 to 20 game runs where he has been outstanding, as recently as the end of last last year in the regular season.

The one thing I truly believe is that he is doing everything he can, playing hard, eating right, training right, not partying outside of the rink, etc....

It has been said the Blackhawks, and Toews himself, pace themselves during the regular season. That sounds very negative, like they are not giving their all. I look at it differently. Great players find an extra higher gear at times, especially in big games or in the playoffs. That was the most disappointing thing about the playoffs last year. They could not find that extra gear, Toews, Kane, or anyone else. I think if they could have gotten a few breaks in game one or two they might have been able to find that gear and get better as the playoffs went on, as is their tradition.
- -Doh-

You are correct with everything you mention. Should bookmark it and roost from time - to - time particularly when Toews is questioned.

https://theathletic.com/1...rs-masquerade-as-centers/

This is a super informative article for positioning breakdowns and why guys like Keith and Seabs are still very valuable to this team to coaches versus why fans may not be the best judges of what happened on plays. It is subscription based.

Paquette is bigger than what was earlier stated. He is not a big scorer, but he is not receiving a scorer's salary either. He is cheap and has snarl in his game as I have noted when we played TB and by looking at his career stats. Kampf will just end up being Kero's twin. If available, I would rather have a Paquette type for our lineup.
- 67hawks

Kampf and Kero are nowhere near the same playing style. That's just silly.

I second this, great work as always JL.

In a previous blog somebody brought up Luke Glendening as a possible trade target for Stan. While Glendening may not seem like a glamorous acquisition he could be just what the doctor ordered....especially for Toews.

Glendening is a solid defensive centre who is great on face offs. He could take some of th defensive pressure from Toews and allow the captain to focus on offense. Toews will always be a two-way forward, but he wouldn’t have to be the number one option anymore in defensive situations.

Glendening’s cap hit is reasonable, $1.8 million for this season and 3 more. That checks off some boxes for Stan.

The only question mark would be the cost to acquire Glendening. As much as I am a fan of the idea I don’t think this is a guy worth mortgaging the future for. So off the table would be DeBrincat, Forsling, Jokiharju, and Sikura. That being said, Detroit would want some combination or prospects and/or picks. I’d be ok parting with Hayden, Snuggerud, Hinostroza, Mitchell, Krys or pretty much any of the other unsigned prospects. It’s just a matter of finding the right combination that would satisfy what Detroit wants/needs.
- DarthKane

I don't know that I would be convinced to trade a large size forward with yet unrealized potential in Hayden. Of course you have to give up something of value in trades; Detroit's Holland, the GM, will not be fleeced. I could be so glad to have a center like that, however, that I might eventually get over the loss of Hayden

So....
Are you saying that you would trade Hayden straight up for Glenndening? Interesting. And i am withholding an opinion on Kampf, whom a post compared as Kero's twin. I would hope, better than that. Better or more ability offensively and the thick body (?) Kampf better along boards? Although Kero is quietly under appreciated or under valued because he lacks amazing skills, still i bet Kampf is the more talented and better along boards.

Agree with this?

Who we talking about here Kampf or Paquette?
- walleyeb1

Brayden Point, Center for TBL. Paquette is like 6'1 199lbs. I think Kampf is roughly the same as Paquette as well.

Justin was saying Brayden (i think his first name is Brayden?) Point is like a younger Toews, but in a smaller body that plays big.