Toews

[Bigfoot]

What seems to be off with Captain? Is it physical, is it mental, is he just tired. What do people here think is wrong with him at this stage of the season. Share thoughts in here.

 

[ClydeLee]

Grim has gotten to him.

 

[Ares]

I think it is mental at this point.... hes just not made the plays he normally has in prior years.

I think the slump has gotten in to his head and hes making more mistakes trying to break out of it.

And to be fair, he is still playing fine on D.... on the PK.... hes just not been the offensive force we need on our top line that we have seen in prior years.

I don't think it helped that Q keeps feeding him and Hoss a new LW every other night.... Bigfoot, Garbutt, Hob Goblin, Shaw, TT... basically you have only needed to shut down 2 guys on our top line all year and with Toews in a slump its more like 1 guy (Hoss)

 

[HawkWriter]

It is hard to say what is going on here but I don't think anyone here is happy with his current play. I doubt it is the new contract or him taking it easy because of that. Toews is a highly skilled player who has one of the highest compete levels out there. I think there are two issues - his changing linemates and the mental side of things. Just seems he is overthinking everything and isn't playing stupid. Stop thinking and hopefully things will come to him. I get the feeling that once he gets a couple garbage goals here that things will start to change and his confidence will get back. Confidence is a powerful thing out on the ice and I think Toews's might be at an all time low right now.

 

[Novak]

Maybe he just sucks?

 

[Bigfoot]

Ive always thought it was more mental then anything. Have 0 consistency in line mates, and shuffling has to create some sort of doubt. I agree a couple of garbage goals might just be what he needs, but would like to see Teuvo fill that LW role to help with continuity, but not sure his skill set matches up with the style Toews plays.

 

[Bigfoot]

As much as I love Panarin and Kane together, I wouldn't be opposed to splitting them up, and moving Teuvo with kane. Just seems at times Panarin gets locked in on feeding the puck to Kane, when there are better options available

 

[HawkWriter]

As much as I love Panarin and Kane together, I wouldn't be opposed to splitting them up, and moving Teuvo with kane. Just seems at times Panarin gets locked in on feeding the puck to Kane, when there are better options available

I'm still a fan of...

X/Toews/Kane
Panarin/Anisimov/Hossa

I really think that Toews/Kane work well and that Panarin and Hossa would feed well off eachother. I just don't know if I like TT next to Toews/Kane. Who knows, we might see that second line broken up at some point now that Kane is off his streak.

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

Anyone have the numbers on scoring in the NHL to this point, compared to past seasons.
It feels that the numbers are down as a whole, especially when you have guys like Crosby, Stamkos and Toews failing to register points on a consistent basis.

So is the solution for the Hawks one big power line, a prevent line and two "energy" lines (which basically means 3 energy lines while one line does all of the forechecking)?

 

[Bigfoot]

@bigfoot I think toews needs to get more physical, maybe do some mma training and listen to death metal b4 games, and maybe drop his gloves and **** someone up. That would get him out of his slump.

An email I got from a poster no longer with us, with his take on Toews

 

[Tater]

@bigfoot I think toews needs to get more physical, maybe do some mma training and listen to death metal b4 games, and maybe drop his gloves and **** someone up. That would get him out of his slump.

An email I got from a poster no longer with us, with his take on Toews

Hmmmm, who could that be from....?

 

[Mattia]

The second line work so good, do not separate it...I think also other lines are a bit improving (except vs the Avalanche)

 

[Ares]

Hmmmm, who could that be from....?

Ima guess HHM.... HHM has a long burning hate for Toews

 

[A.C. Milan]

@bigfoot I think toews needs to get more physical, maybe do some mma training and listen to death metal b4 games, and maybe drop his gloves and **** someone up. That would get him out of his slump.

An email I got from a poster no longer with us, with his take on Toews

thoughts and prayers... free Grim

 

[DMelt36]

Ive always thought it was more mental then anything. Have 0 consistency in line mates, and shuffling has to create some sort of doubt. I agree a couple of garbage goals might just be what he needs, but would like to see Teuvo fill that LW role to help with continuity, but not sure his skill set matches up with the style Toews plays.

Here's the problem with that, IMO

Teuvo isn't a LW.

Now, it appears the Hawks have already decided that Teuvo isn't a center (although it still feels like they never gave him a fair shot at proving he was/wasn't).

Go look at the majority of Teuvo's highlights and the vast majority of them are on the right side of the zone. He's so, so much better as a RW when he can play on his off-wing.

But the Hawks have two pretty good ones already in Kane and Hossa, and no one is going to suggest playing Teuvo over them.

So the Hawks still don't have a LW that can skate with Toews and Hossa on the top line. At some point, I think Q needs to take a serious look at breaking up the Toews and Hossa combo to see if we can get those guys rolling, as Hossa isn't faring much better than Toews is. Not entirely sure how to line everyone up, but if this Toews slump continues, my thought would be to start by pairing Toews with Kane and then work from there.

 

[HawkWriter]

^^^ If TT isn't a LW on this team...then where does he fit in? I know he hasn't played a lot of Center (his natural position at one time) but I think there is good reason for that...he would likely get eaten alive out there. When the Blackhawks traded for AA, I really felt it was because they needed a 2c for now and the future, meaning TT wasn't going to be that guy. TT needs to adapt and needs to play more consistent. He has been putting up points which is definitely a step in the right direction but there are still a lot of things he needs to improve on. I am starting to wonder if he is ever going to become that player that people think he will develop into, even though my expectations have been far less than the average fan around here when it comes to TT.

 

[HawkWriter]

Anyone have the numbers on scoring in the NHL to this point, compared to past seasons.
It feels that the numbers are down as a whole, especially when you have guys like Crosby, Stamkos and Toews failing to register points on a consistent basis.

So is the solution for the Hawks one big power line, a prevent line and two "energy" lines (which basically means 3 energy lines while one line does all of the forechecking)?

Scoring is down about .20 goals per game at this point compared to last year from what I have been able to gather. Hard to say why, especially considering there were a few things added this offseason to assist the offensive team (notably the change in giving the offensive team an advantage on faceoffs).

You are right though...a lot of big names are down this year. Could be that it is just sample size at this point and those stars still have streaks in them, but something is definitely up.

 

[Bigfoot]

I don't think Teuvo is a NHL C, just doesn't have the size. Like a couple other said he is better suited for the RW, but as long as Hoss and Kaner are there he isn't cracking top 6 from RW. That would leave third line RW, but from a physical stand point I don't think a 3rd line role fits him well.

I look at Panarin, and think this is what I envisioned the type of player Teuvo would be. I still think he can be a very good Top 6, but it will take time.

If we broke up Toews and Hoss like melt mentioned. Does Hoss move back to 3rd line. Do you then slot Teuvo at RW,if so who plays LW on the 19 86 line. We have really only one LW that is a threat in Panarin, bit is it time to split him and Kane apart.

Good thing is we have options and time. I trust eventually soon the pieces will fall into place.

 

[HawkWriter]

If you could trade TT for a top 6 LW do you do it? Obviously a lot of things factor into the decision...but I would certainly, 100%, entertain the thought. Would want to get a guy back that is under contract for more than this year and would have to figure out how to make the cap right since the player would likely have a bigger one than TT, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Blackhawks have had conversations.

Also, I was surprised when the Blackhawks traded Versteeg this offseason since I thought at $2mil he was really good value. Obviously if they could have traded Bickell, then Versteeg would likely be here still. He is a guy that showed throughout last season that he could play in the top 6 on the left side. Had some consistency problems but would certainly be better than any of the options that we have seen so far this year.

 

[DMelt36]

I don't think Teuvo is a NHL C, just doesn't have the size. Like a couple other said he is better suited for the RW, but as long as Hoss and Kaner are there he isn't cracking top 6 from RW. That would leave third line RW, but from a physical stand point I don't think a 3rd line role fits him well.

I look at Panarin, and think this is what I envisioned the type of player Teuvo would be. I still think he can be a very good Top 6, but it will take time.

If we broke up Toews and Hoss like melt mentioned. Does Hoss move back to 3rd line. Do you then slot Teuvo at RW,if so who plays LW on the 19 86 line. We have really only one LW that is a threat in Panarin, bit is it time to split him and Kane apart.

Good thing is we have options and time. I trust eventually soon the pieces will fall into place.

Let's be honest here: Hossa is struggling every bit as much as Toews is this season. And it's not like we can use the "he's still young" argument for Hossa. He's gonna be 37 in a month. Hossa on the third line would make him a better 3rd line RW than most teams have and would be even better if that move got the top two lines going.

You know what one of the best solutions for all of this would be? If Bryan Bickell suddenly started playing well again. High hopes, I know.