Toews is NOT the answer!
Posted 12:16 PM ET | Comments 14
(Believe it or not, this is written as cautious optimism and is not meant as a rant. Read on.)
Toews is not going to turn this team around and make them a playoff team. Toews is not going to make all of the disgruntled fans return. Toews is not going to make Chicago media realize that there is a sport called hockey. Toews is not going to save Chicago Blackhawks Hockey. He will not have the same impact on the team or the NHL of that kid in Pittsburgh. Young kid. Lefty. Plays center. His name escapes me. Toews simply is not the answer.
I say this for two reasons. 1) Being a Hawks fan for a long time, you learn not to get too excited. Actually, that is true for fans of any Chicago based team. I didn't believe the White Sox would win the World Series in '05 until the final out was made. We used to get excited. Then, our hopes and dreams would get smashed. So, you learn to not expect much. 2) There is no need to put added pressure on him. Any one of the aforementioned items would be a lot for a 19 year old kid to shoulder. I would have bet a lot of money that Crosby had no chance to live up to his billing. He was built up so much that it seems his only option was to fail somewhere. He did live up to the hype. But, that is no reason to try it again on Toews. Let's just let the kid play.
Now, keeping #1 in mind, this scenario looks very similar to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh was down and out and needs some young blood. They got Sid. Chicago is down and out and needs some young blood. They got Toews. In Pit, Sid couldn't do it himself. So, Malkin and Stall dropped in. In Chicago, Jonathon can't do it himself. So, Kane (assuming Hawks choose him) and Brophey just may stop by. Though, this is not meant to be 1 = 1 type comparison. More of a A-B-C is very similar to D-E-F scenario.
So, there is light at the end of the tunnel. In Pittsburgh, that light turned out to be sunshine that lit up a new world for them. Only time will tell what that light will be for Chicago. Could just be a little hole for optimists to peer through as they look at the rest of the league. Could be a flashlight that is at least showing them to correct way to go. Of course, that light could also be a train.
So, I'll say it again. Toews is NOT the answer.
But, he is a start.
Toews is not going to turn this team around and make them a playoff team. Toews is not going to make all of the disgruntled fans return. Toews is not going to make Chicago media realize that there is a sport called hockey. Toews is not going to save Chicago Blackhawks Hockey. He will not have the same impact on the team or the NHL of that kid in Pittsburgh. Young kid. Lefty. Plays center. His name escapes me. Toews simply is not the answer.
I say this for two reasons. 1) Being a Hawks fan for a long time, you learn not to get too excited. Actually, that is true for fans of any Chicago based team. I didn't believe the White Sox would win the World Series in '05 until the final out was made. We used to get excited. Then, our hopes and dreams would get smashed. So, you learn to not expect much. 2) There is no need to put added pressure on him. Any one of the aforementioned items would be a lot for a 19 year old kid to shoulder. I would have bet a lot of money that Crosby had no chance to live up to his billing. He was built up so much that it seems his only option was to fail somewhere. He did live up to the hype. But, that is no reason to try it again on Toews. Let's just let the kid play.
Now, keeping #1 in mind, this scenario looks very similar to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh was down and out and needs some young blood. They got Sid. Chicago is down and out and needs some young blood. They got Toews. In Pit, Sid couldn't do it himself. So, Malkin and Stall dropped in. In Chicago, Jonathon can't do it himself. So, Kane (assuming Hawks choose him) and Brophey just may stop by. Though, this is not meant to be 1 = 1 type comparison. More of a A-B-C is very similar to D-E-F scenario.
So, there is light at the end of the tunnel. In Pittsburgh, that light turned out to be sunshine that lit up a new world for them. Only time will tell what that light will be for Chicago. Could just be a little hole for optimists to peer through as they look at the rest of the league. Could be a flashlight that is at least showing them to correct way to go. Of course, that light could also be a train.
So, I'll say it again. Toews is NOT the answer.
But, he is a start.
Wow, I don't understand your rant. Is Toews being presented as the team saviour? Of course it takes more than one, I think most people know that. I do like how the BHwk's are shaping up again. Hope you guys keeps handzus too... hope they all have a healthy season!
Touted as a team savior? Not really. But, he is seemingly being billed as a player that can turn the team around. I really didn't mean this as a rant, per se. More of a "He ain't Crosby, but he ain't bad" type of thing. Just a beaten down Hawks fan being cautiously optimistic with a hint of sarcasm.
its a great point one player does not make a team but I think he could really help towards the turn around he may not be the total answer but he could part of the answerFlamestr
While he may not be the answer, he will definitly be a piece of it. Here is to hoping the Blackhawks get back on the map (so I can really HATE them) and Wirtz decides to sell the team. Not necessarily in that order.
wow. sure he's not the ANSWER but its a darn good start. this kid is a player and i'd be thrilled to have him in boston but alas...be patient my man. as a b's fan i feel your pain but you gotta give props when the organization actually does something good.
Fine, trade him to Montreal. I'll even give up Koivu for this guy. Toews is a fantastic player, and will probably be captain within five years in Chicago. He's not Crosby, of course, but Toews is a special player in his own right. Toews isn't really the flashy type...his career pth will probably look similar to Jordan Staal's when both players are done, in that they both project to be fantastic two-way threats for years. Although actually, I see more potential in Mr. Toews. Maybe he's not the Hawks' savior, but Toews is the one guy they build around. He will be worth more to the Hawks than Kane (if they pick him), Havlat, or Barker ever will.
your an idiot
I second Hawk Head. You are an idiot
all of you the have no faith in Jonathan Toews and never did...I sure hope you are enjoying the taste of leather (and the blade)!
Message Posted
Here i am way after the fact leaving a comment. The Hawks have 3 cups to their name and their fans, me totally included, have felt unbelievable glory, over and over again. Toews was the answer until a few years ago when he ??? got a drop dead gorgeous blonde, decided to save the world, started eating home grown vegetables and forgot about hockey. I criticised him for these past 3 years and suggested he sink his teeth into a few McDonald's burgers and start getting back to HOCKEY playing. Well this season, as has recently been written about, definitely feels different. And JT looks totally different from the past 3 years. Perhaps he is the answer - - - again?