You are right. People give Toews so much slack.
He had a "down year" is the most people will say about him, yet if it were Kane that had as crappy of a year as Toews did, there would be no end to the *****ing.
Kane meanwhile pretty much IS the reason (along with a rookie and the goalie) that the Hawks even made it to the postseason.
Also look at Seabrook. He had a "down year" too, is not paid nearly as much as Toews, yet there is no end to the complaints about him.
Fact of the matter is for what Toews' 10.5 million contract is doing to the ability to fill out the rest of the roster, he should have done much better last year than he did.
Kane lived up to his contract last year (and then some, to be honest). Toews didn't. Hopefully he bounces back. But if he doesn't? Then I am going to be worried, as that contract will be much much more of a problem than Seabrook's.
Though I am getting really off-track since this originated from discussing the convention.
Seabrook did not have a down year, he has been steadily trending downwards since 2012. His 2016 numbers were right in line with the projections people had for him, and the reason people were immediately, rightfully, going nuts over the contract he signed mid-season. Anything over 5x5 was going to be considered a disaster by people in the know, and anything over 5x4 was going to be considered overvalue.
By comparison, Toews possession struggles last season are completely out of character. It remains to be seen if they continue, but at this point they are a clear anomaly in the trend.
Everybody knew Kane and Toews were overpaid by at least 1.5 million a piece when they signed their new contracts. Nobody was particularly happy about it. And the organization went all in during 2015 to ensure they got one more cup before they had to account for the new contracts. But the combined 3 million overpayment for two 27 year olds is not comparable to a 3 million overpayment for a single 30+ year old.
Also, for the record, this growing undercurrent characterizing Patrick Kane - face of the Blackhawks, one of the most marketed players in the NHL, consistent top 10 merchandise seller - as some poor, underappreciated middle child who people are just so gosh-darn hard on, is such hilarious, delusional bull****.
