I think Toews is the best all round hockey player in the NHL and I think Kane is the most skillful and dangerous. The fact that I can say that and still not disagree with you (that right now Keith is playing the best hockey) speaks volumes for how great Dunc has been. When they're all firing, no team can stop them.
Don't forget that splitting Hossa off the first line woke him up also. Maybe Toews and Hossa play too much sword fighting (passing) fucking around...they know each other too well. 2 goals in 2 games after 40 game slump doesn't seem like an accident. Richards may benefit from being allowed to use his speed and skating more and maybe he isn't the best pairing with Kane. It would be really cool if Richards-Hossa and either Versteeg/Bickell or somebody could get that second line going without Kane. Right now we have a defense that compliments each other amazingly.
You've got the Keith, the hitter in Seabs, the blocker in Hammer, and the streaky guy with some flair in Oduya. Breaking up those 4 is going to be painful unless Johns and Pokka are phenomenal, and even then they are still too young, especially Pokka.
With Oduya, Seabs, Kruger, Saad, Sharp all needing contracts moved or addressed this is the last chance with this core. Obviously the elements of rebuilding are in place and we will be good again next year, but it may take 2-3 years to retool the defense were we to lose 2 more of them.
The way Vermette is leading that third line is also irreplaceable. This overloaded salary thing is probably going to get voted out of the league after this Hawks run, but our farm is the healthiest its ever been imo.
Lets just win this one and then I can't wait to see how the club looks next season. With the salary cap increase I think there is still a small chance we can keep Sharp. Keep Saad, add Panarin, and trade bickel. If anything, the top 6 is going to be even better next year. Panarin has to be better than Bickell, and Tuevo will be pushing anybody around for minutes.
