Quoting: Jbarre6
He’s overpaid and because of that the Blackhawks are struggling. Just say it as it is.
The inconsistent argument is also bogus. Consistency is part of being good. He is approaching bad contract.
The Hawks finished first in the Western Conference last season... So what, the Hawks have struggled this season but that will happen when you lose a signficiant portion of your team in Panarin, Hossa, Hjalmarsson, Kruger, Darling among others and replace them with rookies and role players.. The Hawks have iced 14 rookies this season.
The entire team has had a flat season, and I'm not going to blame Toews for this..
Toews inconsistency is the only reason why he's not the best player in the league, but that doesn't mean he's not a great player... If Toews was consistent he would be up there with McDavid, because when Toews is on his game and is playing to all of his abilities he is a McDavid type player but unfortunately that type of play comes and goes... I will say tho that in clutch moments you usually get that elite player, so when the game is on the line you want Toews on the ice.
Either way Toews resume has 10.5 per written all over it, and it would be kind of difficult to haggle with a resume like that - and the face of your franchise - when it comes to negotiations. You could bet that GM's would have been drooling if Toews hit the UFA market and there is no doubt in my mind he would have had numerous offers and would have signed for at least 11-12 elsewhere....... Also, do you have any idea how unpopular it would be here in Chicago if Bowman haggled with Toews and he signed elsewhere and the Hawks got nothing? you don't want to know........ Bill Wirtz was hated because he drove Roenick, Belfour and Chelios out of town - Bowman letting Toews get away would show the fans nothing has changed... Also players would think twice before they signed here knowing that the franchise wouldn't reward even their best players that brought cups to the city.
Like I said it's not as simple as you make it out to be.
10.5 is not that bad - his contract is front-loaded too. Also 2-3 years down the line 10.5 will look tame compared to the 13 Tavares will get and the 13+ Matthews will get.