I like Barch already. I like writing though. I like that he tried to write something good and elegant.
I wrote my own blog post on the lockout, and I think it's probably the best thing I've ever written. Writing is my favorite hobby and somewhat of a passion to me.
It can be among the most cathartic and therapeutic things you can do. I don't blame Barch for doing it. Not saying his logic is all there, but he tried. Good on him.
Toews is the more complete player, I don't think that's without question.
But we have so many forwards who are good on both sides of the puck (Elias, Zajac, Henrique, Josefson, Zubrus) - that we really need someone who is just going to fire away at the net.
A Devils team with Toews and no Kovalchuk would have a lot of sweet passing... but this team needs those Kovy one-timers.
Toews is the more complete player, I don't think that's without question.
But we have so many forwards who are good on both sides of the puck (Elias, Zajac, Henrique, Josefson, Zubrus) - that we really need someone who is just going to fire away at the net.
A Devils team with Toews and no Kovalchuk would have a lot of sweet passing... but this team needs those Kovy one-timers.
Perhaps, but it's hard to predict how the make up of this team will look in two years. Toews is also a lot younger.
Stan Fischler @StanFischler
I'll be emceeing the Lou Lamoriello Roast -- a benefit -- on November 7 at the Yogi Berra Museum. I'm gold that Yogi will be there.
Kovalchuk, no question? Toews has developed into an elite two-way center who is now a PPG guy. He dominates the ice when he's out there.
I think I take Toews.
yep, for me, no question. kovy is also a PPG player, locked into a friendly cap hit, who can kill penalties just as easily as he can score on the PP. especialyl with our new assistant coach, who i think will utilize kovy better than ever.
the main reason i take kovy though has nothing to do with stat sheets (gasp!) he's a team first, warrior type of player. that, coupled with his natural abilities makes him quite a rare gem.
yep, for me, no question. kovy is also a PPG player, locked into a friendly cap hit, who can kill penalties just as easily as he can score on the PP. especialyl with our new assistant coach, who i think will utilize kovy better than ever.
the main reason i take kovy though has nothing to do with stat sheets (gasp!) he's a team first, warrior type of player. that, coupled with his natural abilities makes him quite a rare gem.
While I appreciate Kovalchuk's new found defensive game, he's still nowhere near the level of Toews in that respect.
Toews is probably one of the five most complete players in the NHL.
And the reason I don't like arguments like the "team first, he's a warrior" type is because every Chicago fan would say the same thing about Toews. What exactly are we proving?
While I appreciate Kovalchuk's new found defensive game, he's still nowhere near the level of Toews in that respect.
Toews is probably one of the five most complete players in the NHL.
And the reason I don't like arguments like the "team first, he's a warrior" type is because every Chicago fan would say the same thing about Toews. What exactly are we proving?
i dont want him to be as defensive as toews. plus, youre comparing a center to a wing, the latter has much less defensive responsibility. put kovy on a line with zajac, and youre set. we dont need 2 zajacs on the same line. as nice as that sounds, our GF totals would dip.
also- 1)i couldn't care less what chicago fans think, not sure of that statement's relevance and 2) not out to prove anything to anyone. toews and kovy are 2 great players, and any team would be lucky to have either. my preference is kovy, yours is someone else.
i dont want him to be as defensive as toews. plus, youre comparing a center to a wing, the latter has much less defensive responsibility. put kovy on a line with zajac, and youre set. we dont need 2 zajacs on the same line. as nice as that sounds, our GF totals would dip.
also- 1)i couldn't care less what chicago fans think, not sure of that statement's relevance and 2) not out to prove anything to anyone. toews and kovy are 2 great players, and any team would be lucky to have either. my preference is kovy, yours is someone else.
Two Zajacs? You're really underselling Toews.
Toews has posted similar offensive statistics as Kovalchuk the last three seasons while playing a more premium position and affecting the defensive side of the puck more.
Lest we forget that Toews is also five years younger than Kovalchuk. While Kovy possesses the offensive skillset to be productive well into his 30s, he's out of his peak offensive years and probably won't be posting 50g and 95p ever again.
The offensive gap between Kovalchuk and Toews isn't very big. It's probable, over the next five years, that Toews will outproduce Kovy.
And I made that comparison to point out that saying things like "he's got fire", "is a warrior", etc., is pretty useless when comparing two players.
Toews has posted similar offensive statistics as Kovalchuk the last three seasons while playing a more premium position and affecting the defensive side of the puck more.
Lest we forget that Toews is also five years younger than Kovalchuk. While Kovy possesses the offensive skillset to be productive well into his 30s, he's out of his peak offensive years and probably won't be posting 50g and 95p ever again.
The offensive gap between Kovalchuk and Toews isn't very big. It's probable, over the next five years, that Toews will outproduce Kovy.
And I made that comparison to point out that saying things like "he's got fire", "is a warrior", etc., is pretty useless when comparing two players.
toews is more like patrick kaleta. sure, hes good in his own end, and he led the league in SHG for the past 2 years, but that isnt something i want on our team.
players that are 6'3 and 230 lbs do not offensively peak until their low 30's. i honestly think kovy has yet to set his record scoring pace- the best is yet to come. players like toews are more prone to injury. plus- look at his pal patrick kane. the guy is a borderline alcoholic, and thats not something i want attributed to our players. thats what i mean when i talk about character, leadership, and being a warrior. kovalchuk exudes qualities that toews doesnt have right now. could he get them in the future? maybe. but if he does wisen up, when his contract is up, he's due for a big raise. kovy's contract takes him through retirement, which is very important.
im not going to comment further on your age comments, as that is a form of ageism and honestly, it makes me sick to my stomach to hear about. lets keep this conversation classy, ok?
toews is more like patrick kaleta. sure, hes good in his own end, and he led the league in SHG for the past 2 years, but that isnt something i want on our team.
players that are 6'3 and 230 lbs do not offensively peak until their low 30's. i honestly think kovy has yet to set his record scoring pace- the best is yet to come. players like toews are more prone to injury. plus- look at his pal patrick kane. the guy is a borderline alcoholic, and thats not something i want attributed to our players. thats what i mean when i talk about character, leadership, and being a warrior. kovalchuk exudes qualities that toews doesnt have right now. could he get them in the future? maybe. but if he does wisen up, when his contract is up, he's due for a big raise. kovy's contract takes him through retirement, which is very important.
im not going to comment further on your age comments, as that is a form of ageism and honestly, it makes me sick to my stomach to hear about. lets keep this conversation classy, ok?
toews is more like patrick kaleta. sure, hes good in his own end, and he led the league in SHG for the past 2 years, but that isnt something i want on our team.
players that are 6'3 and 230 lbs do not offensively peak until their low 30's. i honestly think kovy has yet to set his record scoring pace- the best is yet to come. players like toews are more prone to injury. plus- look at his pal patrick kane. the guy is a borderline alcoholic, and thats not something i want attributed to our players. thats what i mean when i talk about character, leadership, and being a warrior. kovalchuk exudes qualities that toews doesnt have right now. could he get them in the future? maybe. but if he does wisen up, when his contract is up, he's due for a big raise. kovy's contract takes him through retirement, which is very important.
im not going to comment further on your age comments, as that is a form of ageism and honestly, it makes me sick to my stomach to hear about. lets keep this conversation classy, ok?
nope. toews has better defensive traits, but kaleta is significantly better in terms of offensive upside. so to me, they are a wash. i might actually give the slight edge to kaleta, only because his skating stride reminds me of a young ron tugnutt
nope. toews has better defensive traits, but kaleta is significantly better in terms of offensive upside. so to me, they are a wash. i might actually give the slight edge to kaleta, only because his skating stride reminds me of a young ron tugnutt
at first i thought you were serious but when you compare skating with a player and a goalie then its a joke. If not then here are there career stats since you think Kaleta is better
Kaleta GP 267 G 26 A 24 pts 50
Toews gp 361 g 144 A180 pts324
