Most valuable player on the Hawks

[albertGQ]

With Duncan Keith likely to be suspended and maybe even some playoff games, my buddy and I were discussing how much the Hawks will miss him. Personally, I think Keith is the most or second most valuable player on the team. I have Kane and Keith in a virtual tie for first with Toews in third. Just wondering what others opinions are.

Yes, I know Toews has won at every level & was the best player on the Canadian Olympic team in 2010. But is he still the MVP on the Hawks?

Kane, Keith and Toews all have a Conn Smythe but Toews is the only skater in NHL history to win a Conn Smythe trophy while being a minus player in 2010. He was also 5th in goal scoring on his own team that playoff year behind Hossa, Kane, Bolland & Sharp.

I don't think Toew's "intangibles" are enough to close the gap on Kane's offensive superiority.

[skudr248]

Kane & Panarin have been on fire this year, I credit Panarin for his offensive production this year

[flames_fan_down_under]

I guess the way I thought about it is if I could have any player on the Blackhawks I would take Patrick Kane. I also like that he scored the winner against Philly in OT to win a Stanley Cup.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Keith. He is out there a LOT, and in all situations. I think he has more of an impact on every game than Kane and Toews do.

[Erick Estrada]

That's a tough one because IMO you can argue without any of these players the Hawks are in hard to win a Stanley Cup. I say Keith because without him that blue line isn't Stanley Cup caliber and it's asking way too much to expect Seabrook to pick up all that slack on the back end. Both Toews and Kane have had the odd disappearing act in the playoffs and they have always persevered.

[GranteedEV]

It's Keith. When they hit the playoffs he plays 30-50 minutes a game and pretty much never gives up a dangerous scoring chance against while generating a ton of offense.

[Itse]

I like this definition I've read somewhere:
Kane gets you to the playoffs.
Toews gets you to the cup.

Ultimately a team game of course, no one player makes a team. Still, I voted Toews.

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by Itse

I like this definition I've read somewhere:
Kane gets you to the playoffs.
Toews gets you to the cup.

Ultimately a team game of course, no one player makes a team. Still, I voted Toews.

Kane and Keith won the Conn Smythe when the Hawks won their cups. Kane deserved it the first time and Keith definitely deserved it the second time.

Which isn't a slight to Toews but I think both those players are better than Toews even in the playoffs.

[mile]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Kane and Keith won the Conn Smythe when the Hawks won their cups. Kane deserved it the first time and Keith definitely deserved it the second time.

So did Toews in 2010.

edit: nm, missed your point. Yeah, you can argue each of the three have taken the Hawks to the Cup in their Conn Smythe winning years.

[East Coast Flame]

Go with Kane, but man is Keith ever close. Keith was an absolute monster that playoff run he won the Conn Smythe.

Really though, you do an expansion draft and all three are likely top 10-15 picks. Crazy.

[dammage79]

Without Kane you don't score. Well score enough to win cups. Voted Kane.

[DJones]

I did not expect Keith to be 3rd in the poll. After last year I think it has to be Keith.

[Roof-Daddy]

I voted Keith, but honestly all three of them are huge for that team, and basically take turns being the MVP.

Hopefully our young core develops into the pillars those three are.

[mikephoen]

I voted Keith, but it's a tough call. One factor in Keith's favor that I don't think anyone has mentioned is his artificially low cap hit, which makes paying for other players possible.

[thefoss1957]

I voted Kane...the catalyst for much of the 'Hawk offense.

On the Keith incident.

IDK if Keith will miss any playoff time...Coyle finished the game, and the DOPS seems to take "severity" of injury into account...I expect 4 or 5 games. What is the minimum for the "in-person" review, 3 games? 'Hawks have 5 left on the schedule.

On the play...retaliatory? yes, unnecessary? Yes. undisciplined? Yes.

But, I was shocked that Coyle didn't get tagged for at least 2 minutes, himself. It looked like he got his stick high at Keith's mouth to start the play, and then jerked Keith's legs out to dump him.

Unfortunately, Keith, in frustration, swung wildly from his back. It seems that Keith can be goaded into these sort of retaliations, getting even with Sedin's uncalled cheap shot, taking out a missed trip by slashing Gaudreau, and this Coyle stuff...and this is wrong, however, I still hold that crappy Officiating adds to the incidents of, not just Keith's, but many of the other incidents of frustration/retaliation that you see in the league.

[FlamesAddiction]

I am saying Kane this year. He has been electric all season.

[Samonadreau]

Not a "player" but Quenneville is just as important as any player on that team. Best coach in the game. Knows which buttons to push and when.

[nightfx]

Throughout a whole season I'm going to say Kane.

Any one of those three can easily be MVP in the playoffs however.

[Enoch Root]

Toews
Keith
Kane

[PlayfulGenius]

slightly off topic, but do you feel Brodie has the potential to be as good as Keith? ... obviously, they're not the exact same player, but I feel Brodie might turn out to be as valuable to the Flames once they're in contention ... I don't necessarily expect it, but I feel it's within reason as a possibility, based on his recent trajectory.