Toews on Kane: "He could be at the top of the scoring list all the time"

[mban]

From an article in today's Chicago Tribune:

"He's always been that player that wants to play big in the big games," Toews said. "(But) you never see him satisfied. He always wants to be better and to prove himself as one of the best players in the world. He's understanding, too, that he could be at the top of the scoring list all the time, but being part of (the Hawks), with the talent we have," sacrifices need to be made for the team's goals.

"It takes guys like Kane understanding that and I think he really does," Toews said. "It goes to show his leadership skills."

I thought that was an interesting comment in light of the recent discussions about top players not scoring much. I wonder how much of that is a deliberate choice on the part of the team, like this article suggests.

Click to read more...

 

[blinds]

Sorry, but what sacrifices is Kane making? He has to backcheck and can't cherry pick at the blue line? Is 20 minutes a game not enough ice time? Why does more talent mean more sacrifices?

Sounds like an excuse that doesn't really fit a rather one-dimensional winger. He plays some of the easiest minutes in the NHL. What star player isn't making the same "sacrifices" as Kane? This just seems like nothing more than his teammate pumping his tires.

 

[tucker3434]

One teammate pumping another teammates tires? Unheard of.

 

[kovatroll*]

Does anyone really care what crybaby Toews says while talking up his teammates. teammates say stuff like this all the time when asked to comment on each other.

 

[Stats01]

Yeah this is just a bunch of ass kissing

 

[Machinehead]

You always hear "x would score more if he didn't play with crap teammates" and then you hear "x would score more if he didn't have to fit into one of the best lineups in the league."

 

[HanSolo]

My teammate is good!

Stop the presses. We've got front page stuff!

 

[HawksBeerFan]

Does anyone really care what crybaby Toews says while talking up his teammates. teammates say stuff like this all the time when asked to comment on each other.

Tell us how you really feel.

Are you mad at the 2x Cup champ?

 

[EbonyRaptor]

Sorry, but what sacrifices is Kane making? He has to backcheck and can't cherry pick at the blue line? Is 20 minutes a game not enough ice time? Why does more talent mean more sacrifices?

Sounds like an excuse that doesn't really fit a rather one-dimensional winger. He plays some of the easiest minutes in the NHL. What star player isn't making the same "sacrifices" as Kane? This just seems like nothing more than his teammate pumping his tires.

Is he still a one dimensional player? The answer is no. Your opinion on Kane is outdated.

Kane is not the only elite player in the league that plays a team game and sacrifices some level of personal stats, but he is one of them. There are also elite players who have put personal stats above team.

 

[buttman*]

Sorry, but what sacrifices is Kane making? He has to backcheck and can't cherry pick at the blue line? Is 20 minutes a game not enough ice time? Why does more talent mean more sacrifices?

Sounds like an excuse that doesn't really fit a rather one-dimensional winger. He plays some of the easiest minutes in the NHL. What star player isn't making the same "sacrifices" as Kane? This just seems like nothing more than his teammate pumping his tires.

Well there is the handicap of playing with Toews, Sharp, Hossa, Keith, and Seabrook on the PP. Playing with those guys will hurt your numbers.

Nice speech by Toews but it's complete hogwash. Did he say this right after he picked Kessel because he is "coachable"?

Toews needs to become a politician after he is done.

 

[member 151739]

Kane could definitely score more points on a team like the Sabres or the Oilers. Everything would run through him. That's not the case on the Hawks.

 

[EbonyRaptor]

The title to this thread is misleading. The article is about Kane having leadership qualities - not about him sacrificing scoring stats.

 

[ecemleafs]

i agree.

 

[blinds]

Is he still a one dimensional player? The answer is no. Your opinion on Kane is outdated.

Kane is not the only elite player in the league that plays a team game and sacrifices some level of personal stats, but he is one of them. There are also elite players who have put personal stats above team.

Who is this? I really hope you don't try to tell me that doing well on a team that is doing bad means the players doing well are putting personal stats above team. That's lazy thinking.

But please tell me, how does he sacrifice stats to play a team game? Is he playing a lot of PK? Starting a lot in the defensive zone to protect leads? Playing against top competition? Oh no, he must just have to backcheck occasionally now like every other forward, what a huge sacrifice.

He's playing 20 minutes a night at ES and PP getting 66%+ offensive zone starts against bad competition. 8th in the league among forwards for PP/TOIG. I don't know what he's sacrificing, because any forward in the league would want to have it as good as him.

I agree he's playing a team game, just not that he's sacrificing his scoring to do it. His scoring is what helps the team and he's deployed to maximize it.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Pretty much a nonstory. Plenty of these guys out there.

 

[izzy]

Kane could definitely score more points on a team like the Sabres or the Oilers. Everything would run through him. That's not the case on the Hawks.

Probably not, he'd have no one to work with offensively. He can create chances but not an unlimited amount.

 

[Regal]

You always hear "x would score more if he didn't play with crap teammates" and then you hear "x would score more if he didn't have to fit into one of the best lineups in the league."

It's not an either or. Not every player is the same, and not every player would be affected the same way in each situation. The better the player, typically the less dependent he is on the rest of the lineup, and the more he's affected by his icetime and deployment. Also, not every player on a good team is in the same favorable situation. Kane has had some boat anchor centermen over the years.

I think for Kane specifically, his totals would be similar in most situations. The one scenario where I think he could leap up in totals is if he had an elite scoring center who he meshed well with, on a team where they were the go-to line in all offensive situations without much defensive accountability. I think this is basically what happened with Martin St. Louis.

 

[massivegoonery]

I agree he's playing a team game, just not that he's sacrificing his scoring to do it. His scoring is what helps the team and he's deployed to maximize it.

He's deployed to maximize the team's total scoring, which is why he ends up anchoring a line with whichever leftover players don't slot in anywhere else, instead of with Toews/Sharp/Hossa.

 

[Rebuilt]

Does anyone really care what crybaby Toews says while talking up his teammates. teammates say stuff like this all the time when asked to comment on each other.

Toews cant hear your disdain for him. His cup rings are blocking his ears.

 

[EbonyRaptor]

Who is this? I really hope you don't try to tell me that doing well on a team that is doing bad means the players doing well are putting personal stats above team. That's lazy thinking.

But please tell me, how does he sacrifice stats to play a team game? Is he playing a lot of PK? Starting a lot in the defensive zone to protect leads? Playing against top competition? Oh no, he must just have to backcheck occasionally now like every other forward, what a huge sacrifice.

He's playing 20 minutes a night at ES and PP getting 66%+ offensive zone starts against bad competition. 8th in the league among forwards for PP/TOIG. I don't know what he's sacrificing, because any forward in the league would want to have it as good as him.

I agree he's playing a team game, just not that he's sacrificing his scoring to do it. His scoring is what helps the team and he's deployed to maximize it.

Ovechkin until very recently and Kessel to name two.

So now you say he's playing a team game which is different than your first post when you called him a one-dimensional player. OK.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

This is essentially one player kissing his best friend's ass in front of the media. What did you expect Toews to say ? "Kane isn't one of the best players in the world." ?

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Ovechkin until very recently and Kessel to name two.

So now you say he's playing a team game which is different than your first post when you called him a one-dimensional player. OK.

Ovechkin putting his stats ahead of the team's needs ?

I can tell you don't watch a lot of Caps games then.

 

[Frank the Tank]

Kane could definitely score more points on a team like the Sabres or the Oilers. Everything would run through him. That's not the case on the Hawks.

Not with the outlet passes he would receive from the Oilers defense. They are way below the level of what he currently receives from Keith and company.

 

[Party Kane]

Kanes my favorite player but i highly doubt he'd score anymore than he would now. He's surrounded by talented players in all positions to help him put up big points

 

[DanZ]

Is he still a one dimensional player? The answer is no. Your opinion on Kane is outdated.

Kane is not the only elite player in the league that plays a team game and sacrifices some level of personal stats, but he is one of them. There are also elite players who have put personal stats above team.

He doesn't sacrifice any stats. Even when he was a one-dimensional winger he was scoring at about the same rate he is now.