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

[Jumptheshark]

if Kane plays ten more years, does not miss a game and become a pts pre game player for the next 820 games he will have 1364 at 25 just a head of Shanahan--but can he stay healthy and get 10 years of being a pt a game player? I predict he ends his career with just over 1000pts

 

[Arpeggio]

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

To be fair, the Oilers do have three first overalls on their roster, plus Eberle. I think Kane would find someone to work with.

He wouldn't get any decent outlet passes from the defencemen, but I think he'd be fine in the offensive zone.

 

[ArGarBarGar]

From an article in today's Chicago Tribune:


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.

Like others have said, this is a bunk opinion of a guy who is just pumping his own teammate's tires.

Kane has a pretty freaking great situation in Chicago, both for personal and team accolades.

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

What a great non-story.

 

[Wrath]

If any forward played like the Florida Panthers version of Pavel Bure, they would probably score more points than they do now.

I don't doubt that Kane could be leading the league in scoring, especially this season when nobody is even on 100 points/82 game pace, but lets not pretend that Kane is the only PPG+ forward who is defensively responsible.

 

[thesaadfather]

This thread has been terribly predictable.

Why pull out this one part of an article about something completely different? It was a terrific piece of writing about Kane's leadership and one comment was pulled out of context. Don't see how it's a controversial statement either considering what Kane has done throughout his career.

 

[Davebo*]

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.

Your comment says it all - about you. Toews has a HoF career underway - two cups and two Olympic gold - and still just a kid in my eyes. I'd love to have this 'crybaby' on the Habs.

 

[The Hockey Tonk Man]

Toews should rip the C off his jersey & pass it on to Kane

 

[Siludin]

"Top scoring winger could be an even bigger scoring winger if he had to score more."

 

[CpatainCanuck]

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.

Spot on. Kane is in one of the best situations possible for a scoring winger. Basically every coach in the league requires all their players to backcheck occassionally...that is the rule, not the exception.

Let's see Kane go to Buffalo, be given no defensive responsibilities, and see his scoring totals rise...

 

[DearDiary]

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.

There's zero reason to believe that. Kane has one of the highest offensive zone start percentage in the NHL. You really thinking going to a terrible team where he will start most shifts in the defensive zone is going to pad his stats? Where's the logic in this?

 

[Trottier]

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.

Bingo.

I love the reactions. "Excuses"..."Pumping his tires..."

Well...yeah! Toews is complimenting him, highly. (He's not "making excuses" for an elite talent who needs none). As he should.

That's what teammates and peers do. They admire GREAT players. As opposed to consistently and often futily looking to shoot holes in them. <<< That's done here on HF.

In this case, one great player (Toews) who knows Kane and his game better than anyone else is heaping admiration on a guy who has been a big cause in Chicago being a multiple Cup winner and perennial threat.

News? No.

Worthy of derision?

 

[WarriorofTime]

He would probably win a scoring title if he played on Toews line.

 

[Fear the Wushu]

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.

Toews thinks Kane is a team player on one of the best offensive teams in the league??? That must be a joke. The definition of the sacrifice of one's offensive game is Patrick Elias, Kane is not even close to that level of sacrifice.

 

[Nothingman*]

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

Only on the PP does he get to play with the'top' players on the Hawks. Otherwise it is Versteeg, Richards, TT, Bickell, or whatever lineup Q puts him with because he knows he will perform.

You must watch zero Hawks games. Which is hard as often as they are on national TV.

 

[Nothingman*]

There's zero reason to believe that. Kane has one of the highest offensive zone start percentage in the NHL. You really thinking going to a terrible team where he will start most shifts in the defensive zone is going to pad his stats? Where's the logic in this?

We will tell Q to start him more in the D zone to prove his greatness to HF.

Q is a fairly smart guy knowing that it is best to have your best O player spend as much time in the O zone. I mean....**** that. Wear him out on the PK, starting in the D zone, etc. or.....start him in the O zone where he rules. Only on HF.....

 

[Riddum]

Kane might have the smoothest hands in the league.

 

[izzy]

Only on the PP does he get to play with the'top' players on the Hawks. Otherwise it is Versteeg, Richards, TT, Bickell, or whatever lineup Q puts him with because he knows he will perform.

You must watch zero Hawks games. Which is hard as often as they are on national TV.

Ah yes, Kane is stuck with such offensive blackholes as Brad Richards who has never been on pace for less than 50 points! And Kane nevvver puts up Powerplay points nor does he lead the league in offensive zone start %. He also doesn't play with last years #2 defensemen point leader!

Don't say people don't watch the games just because you want to believe Patrick Kane is some offensive wizard, I'm well aware of where Kane plays.

 

[ArGarBarGar]

We will tell Q to start him more in the D zone to prove his greatness to HF.

Q is a fairly smart guy knowing that it is best to have your best O player spend as much time in the O zone. I mean....**** that. Wear him out on the PK, starting in the D zone, etc. or.....start him in the O zone where he rules. Only on HF.....

Nobody is saying they should put Kane in those positions.

Bingo.

I love the reactions. "Excuses"..."Pumping his tires..."

Well...yeah! Toews is complimenting him, highly. (He's not "making excuses" for an elite talent who needs none). As he should.

That's what teammates and peers do. They admire GREAT players. As opposed to consistently and often futily looking to shoot holes in them. <<< That's done here on HF.

In this case, one great player (Toews) who knows Kane and his game better than anyone else is heaping admiration on a guy who has been a big cause in Chicago being a multiple Cup winner and perennial threat.

News? No.

Worthy of derision?

I don't think anyone is surprised at Toews piling on compliments to a teammate and good friend.

Do you believe that there was something to what Toews said in the OP? Would Kane be able to put up better numbers if provided a different scenario? That playing on the Blackhawks is somehow a detriment to his personal stats and he has to sacrifice for the team to win?

 

[Boxscore]

I agree with Toews. What he says has merit. When has Kane campaigned for better line mates, more PP time or better offensive zone starts? He also passes the puck quite a bit. If Kane was a "me-me" guy, he'd be hogging a full 2 minutes on the PP like someone in Washington.

 

[Marina]

Remember when Kane said Kessel was the best guy he ever played with (or something along those lines)?

Just teammates being friendly in the media imo. Could Kane score more on a worse team, possibly, I don't know why it's at all relevant though. I think he'd much rather take the Hawks success over a couple more goals.

 

[TOML]

Lol. No he couldn't. Get serious.

 

[Boxscore]

Remember when Kane said Kessel was the best guy he ever played with (or something along those lines)?

Just teammates being friendly in the media imo. Could Kane score more on a worse team, possibly, I don't know why it's at all relevant though. I think he'd much rather take the Hawks success over a couple more goals.

I think what Toews was getting at is - IF Kane was 100% motivated by his personal points, he would act differently to make sure he got them. And it makes sense. He has the raw talent to score 100-120 points a year IMO. I think, talent-wise, Kane is as gifted as Crosby or Malkin.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

I agree with Toews. What he says has merit. When has Kane campaigned for better line mates, more PP time or better offensive zone starts? He also passes the puck quite a bit. If Kane was a "me-me" guy, he'd be hogging a full 2 minutes on the PP like someone in Washington.

You live in the past. Ovechkin only plays 1 minute per PP, after which he shifts with Carlson or Niskanen.

Ovi passes the puck often. The reason why he has a shoot first mentality is simply that he has the best shot in the world.

Anything else ?

 

[Nothingman*]

I think what Toews was getting at is - IF Kane was 100% motivated by his personal points, he would act differently to make sure he got them. And it makes sense. He has the raw talent to score 100-120 points a year IMO. I think, talent-wise, Kane is as gifted as Crosby or Malkin.

Pretty much this.