Toews DID NOT deliver those Cups....a great team did. He was PART of the machine. Four stud lines (at least in 2010 and 2013), great tending (in 2013, 2015), and a top 4 D without peer (in all years). Toews never should have gotten 10.5....never. Because it meant he had to pick up for lost talent due to his bloated salary. He can't make up for that lost production and the Hawks are unable to provide capable roleplayers around him because he makes so damn much money against the Cap.
- kwolf68

That and his career avg is around 70-75 pts a year. Not 50pts....

boy those those last three games...what beauties...3's are wild

1. 3 goal against period in all 3 games
2. fell behind 3-0 in two of those 3
3. never had a lead
4. outscored 13-3
5. zone play was brutal in both zones
6. this is all on the 5 "skaters" not the craw or fors...

Toews has never been a huge point producer, yet he still got 10.5. There's a reason there used to be an argument for him being one of the best players in the league. He just needs to find his form. And at least for his 10.5 million, he's already delivered 3 cups. Just be glad he's not one of these growing list of players getting over 9 or 10 million plus and have not delivered a thing.
- hawkitect

Neither him nor Kane should have gotten 10.5. Too much for either guy, but they got it based on the playoff performances. They scored a lot of big goals, had huge games and game winning goals. I mean, if you look from 2009 to 2015, Kane/Toews both with 10 GWG. Toews nearly 0.9 PPG and Kane nearly 1.0 PPG. They never were the two best forwards in the NHL, but they were the two most successful at the time because of the great team.

Kane would be worth the money if he was a more rounded player, he has the offensive game, but he doesn't play the hard minutes, kill penalties, or do a lot of the little things that would make him worth that salary. Toews isn't scoring goals. He still had it going in the 2015-16 season and part of last season, but it has been missing the last 15 games or so.

That and his career avg is around 70-75 pts a year. Not 50pts....
- bhawks2241

been trending down for 3 years now...2015 and before years are over as of now; at a lost to see what can get him him back to that level

I'm a bit numb with the realization that the Hawks are a trainwreck...

...and to think that the Bulls are more interesting is just astonishing. ...and I'm not much of a basketball fan.

The Hawks fall into mediocrity (or worse) has been stunningly quick.

been trending down for 3 years now...2015 and before years are over as of now; at a lost to see what can get him him back to that level
- bogiedoc

Like I've been saying...Toews peaked at 26

I'd bet that most of us thought he was entering his prime.

It's a shame really...

I'm a bit numb with the realization that the Hawks are a trainwreck...

...and to think that the Bulls are more interesting is just astonishing. ...and I'm not much of a basketball fan.

The Hawks fall into mediocrity (or worse) has been stunningly quick.
- ArlingtonRob

a team that was 3-20 is more entertaining...oh my...

Wow...

I've been so disappointed in the Hawks that I've stopped paying close attention to the league in general.

Just heard that Johnny Bower passed away.

RIP

a team that was 3-20 is more entertaining...oh my...
- bogiedoc

Well...they're 12-22 now and actually look competent. Showing more interest, desire...and quite frankly more skill...than the guys that lace 'em up.

@CRoumeliotis

#Blackhawks shot attempts: 58 (44 at 5-on-5, 32 on goal total).

Canucks shot attempts: 45 (31 at 5-on-5, 31 on goal total).

5-on-5 scoring chances were 25-22 Chicago. Heat map:




ummm not much happening in front of the nucks net

That and his career avg is around 70-75 pts a year. Not 50pts....
- bhawks2241

Career average (not including the shortened season) is only 65 pts. 63 if you take into account his last 2 58 point seasons. He's only been above 70 points once (10-11).

I'm not exactly helping my argument here. lol.

@CRoumeliotis

#Blackhawks shot attempts: 58 (44 at 5-on-5, 32 on goal total).

Canucks shot attempts: 45 (31 at 5-on-5, 31 on goal total).

5-on-5 scoring chances were 25-22 Chicago. Heat map:




ummm not much happening in front of the nucks net
- bogiedoc

Gudbranson effect! You guys need to trade a first for him....

Darth did that look any better from your vantage point?

That was ugly fam.

There are serious problems with this team and if this keeps up, I think you may see Hawks management change their mind about waiting until the Summer to make a big deal.

I didn't like the lines from the start, I hated the effort all night and I know you all didn't enjoy the outcome.

See you tomorrow with a quick gameday preview.
- Justin Lowe

Both the Canucks and Blackhawks played poor games. Overall the Hawks were the better team, but the Canucks seemed to have better (albeit fewer) quality chances.

Forsberg is fine, the team just payed an egg defensively in front of him.

Toews wasn’t great or even good, but he’s not as bad as some people think. Saad on the other hand was a total ghost. I’d get him away from Toews ASAP, he’s making a bad situation worse.

Kane and Schmaltz played well. Schmaltz has so much speed and he clicks with Kane. I think #8 is still finding his game, but he’s a keeper for sure. Hartman was like a dog with a bone all night lone, I have zero complaints about his game.

Kampf has ok (real ok, not a Q ok), I’d continue to play him to see how he develops. The problem is that the Hawks have several guys who aren’t necessarily hurting the team, but they’re not contributing either - Toews, Sharp, Kampf, Hayden, Forsling, Rutta (I liked his game tonight), Hinostroza, and Panik. At this point I might even include DeBrincat as he’s seems to have cooled off.

This team has a lot of new faces. I don’t know if their issues are more related to a lack of talent or lack of chemistry. Either way, losing Crawford and now possibly Anisimov for an extended period of time doesn’t help the situation.

Darth did that look any better from your vantage point?

That was ugly fam.

There are serious problems with this team and if this keeps up, I think you may see Hawks management change their mind about waiting until the Summer to make a big deal.

I didn't like the lines from the start, I hated the effort all night and I know you all didn't enjoy the outcome.

See you tomorrow with a quick gameday preview.
- Justin Lowe

Regarding the outcome, I had a night out with my two youngest sons and we were all cheering loudly for the Hawks. That’s a great night in my books regardless of the score.

Right now there are only 10 teams with fewer points than the Hawks, and we are within 4 points of 5 of those teams. We've got a chance for a good lottery pick.

Right now there are only 10 teams with fewer points than the Hawks, and we are within 4 points of 5 of those teams. We've got a chance for a good lottery pick.
- Dieselhead

If this team is going to miss the playoffs then why not get the best pick possible.

In the absence of a trade all we can do is re-arrange the chairs on the titanic. Out of sheer boredom I’ll do just that, maybe it will help me fall asleep.

12-19-38
8-40-88
20-64-48
17-57-14

(Assuming AA is out for a while).

If this team is going to miss the playoffs then why not get the best pick possible.

In the absence of a trade all we can do is re-arrange the chairs on the titanic. Out of sheer boredom I’ll do just that, maybe it will help me fall asleep.

12-19-38
8-40-88
20-64-48
17-57-14

(Assuming AA is out for a while).
- DarthKane

New Rule: When creating new line combinations, do not place #19 on the top line. At best #19 is a 3rd line center.

You might as well place #64 on that top line.

I missed the game, but followed online a bit. Had an exchange with one of the beat writers re: Toews. They also seem (like Foley) to be holding back less and less:

John Dietz @johndietzdh
Toews has puck ... loses puck. Can't figure him out this year.

Me:
Has been noticeable for a couple of seasons at least. Chronic injury? Post-concussion issues? Have any of you on the beat asked? Are you barred from asking? (Not that you'd get a straight answer)

John Dietz‏ @johndietzdh
We've asked. He deftly dances around the question over and over again.

I'm assuming "He" is Toews. Definitely something being unreported/not discussed right now.

It is pretty obvious what is wrong with this team -it is all Kempny, Panik, and Honstroza's fault....

Someone break the blender -as there isn't any point to using it - and hasn't been since the silly idea of the 'lottery slot' alongside Toews and Hossa a few years ago --- although they didn't really have to go and spread that type of dysfunctional to the rest of the lines.


:/

Now the threads are starting to unravel from the “baseball “, The guy that should be on the hot seat is John McDonough for giving in to Scotty Bowman and replacing Dale Tallon in favor of his son. You guys all want the coaches head, how about Rocky and McD coming out and firing their general manager who put with this mess together in the first place. Horrible trades, giving out stupid contracts,Trying to make this a feel good PR show with drafting too many kids from Illinois which is not the hockey hotbed that people think it is, most of them undersized Smurfs, Ryan Hartman is a bust, Hino is an AHL player , next schmaltz is better served in a no check hockey league ,and this massive PR crap and inflated ticket prices, I wonder how many empty seats We will start to see at the United Center pretty soon. And as a season ticket holder probably looking at another price increase for next year. This one is not on the coach it is on the general manager. How many GM’s did McDonagh go through when he ran the cubs, it’s about time he fires this one.
And while I am on the subject about kids with Illinois roots, look at Scott Darling, I said before he’s nothing more than decent back up goalie that has never played a full season as a starter, Ron Francis is going to regret that move!

Oh that was the 2010, 13 and 15 Chicago Toewses?? Hockey is a team sport and his cap hit forced this team to part with talented players. His production, shift to shift impact, and overall game are unacceptable and it's not really even close. He just so happened to play with the best 200ft winger of the 21st Century and as soon as Hossa declined, Toews went to crap.
- EnzoD

Ya RIGHT Toews never had anything to do with it .Hossa never won a cup before coming here ,and played on some great teams . That's why Crosby asked if he wanted to be captain of the Olympic Team ,or Babcock when asked who his best player was :said anyone playing with number 19 .Toews game has never been qualified by points never will be . He may be playing through something mental (coaching) physical (back ) .But really he is a team player and when his team struggles so will he . You and the rest of the Toews blamers really show your true colors when times are tough .As Don Cherry would say your just a bunch of front runners ..

Ya RIGHT Toews never had anything to do with it .Hossa never won a cup before coming here ,and played on some great teams . That's why Crosby asked if he wanted to be captain of the Olympic Team ,or Babcock when asked who his best player was :said anyone playing with number 19 .Toews game has never been qualified by points never will be . He may be playing through something mental (coaching) physical (back ) .But really he is a team player and when his team struggles so will he . You and the rest of the Toews blamers really show your true colors when times are tough .As Don Cherry would say your just a bunch of front runners ..
- oldduffman

I agree with you duff man, unfortunately a guy that’s going to take the fall here probably will be the coach, and these guys stepped all over the coach last year and a half, if I was rocky my first call would be to Mike Keenan or Darryl Sutter, they would weed out all the soft players right away and the players that only want to give a half assed effort and they would probably argue with the GM on some of the players that they draft undersize soft Smurf players that don’t bring it to compete every night, I’ll stand by what I say Ryan Hartman will be a bust,And I stated my case about some of the other undersized players before. Just my opinion that is all.It is on Rocky in the team president here at this point!

New Rule: When creating new line combinations, do not place #19 on the top line. At best #19 is a 3rd line center.

You might as well place #64 on that top line.
- Dieselhead

YES SIR we will follow your orders!

Looking at two games at the UC
Friday Jan 12 against the Jets
Sunday Jan 14 Wings

Anyone looking to move 2 tickets - Section 219 or the other side

The way the team is going I’m likely nuts.

Text 902 888-7000

Looking at two games at the UC
Friday Jan 12 against the Jets
Sunday Jan 14 Wings

Anyone looking to move 2 tickets - Section 219 or the other side

The way the team is going I’m likely nuts.

Text 902 888-7000
- Colbyboy

vivid seats has seats for a ridiculous $250 bucks....but you probably knew that...

anybody paying that kinda $$$ to watch this team has to have their sanity questioned...