Waiting for a Decision

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I Was listening to radio show Gretzkys on XM-204 in the car on the way home from work this afternoon and I don't know what it is with Bob McKenzie from TSN but he seems to be this big time cheer leader for Jonathon Toews; hey bob we get it, Toews kid can play hockey. To listen to Mckenzie talk on the radio show its appears to all but a done deal on Toews signing with Chicago. Realistically speaking it’s basically what we have been feeling all along up here in Grand Forks. I have said a few times over on Sioux Sports that we should just accept that fact he is already gone, thanks for the two years and good luck Jonathon. The fact that he isn't signed yet does say a few things. 1.) the decision isn't as done of a deal as some have suggested. 2.) Maybe Chicago is low-balling him or not giving him the contract that he thinks he deserves. 3.) Maybe there is a lot of pressure from teammates.

I am not much of an optimist when it comes to talented players staying in school when the big money is being dangled in front of them. I suppose you can take the delay in the signing two ways; Toews really hasn't made up his mind and the media pundits are trying to sway Jonathon into making a decision, or maybe this is really a tough decision; add to that some players already decided to come back for another season might be making a once cut and dried decision that much harder. Maybe it’s not easy telling your fellow team mates that you don’t want to come back for another shot at an NCAA title. It's a stretch, I know. I’m a realist and I don’t see him coming back for next season, but I wouldn’t complain if he did in fact decided to come back. Could you imagine him and Trupp on the same team?

Personally, I want to get this over with so we can worry about something else this summer, whatever the decision is so be it. This the only thing I could see is Toews wants another crack at an NCAA title and possibly another kick at the can with the Canadian WJC. Three gold’s in a row by a player would be unprecedented.

Frankly if I was a player with a lot of talent like Toews and was looking at the prospect of playing for the Chicago Black hawks, mind you this is the same team that is owned by Bill Wirtz, I would look at it as Chicago as being a professional purgatory and wouldn't be in any hurry to sign. Chicago a once proud hockey franchise has been run into the ground.

It's almost like Canada is starving for another star and have anointed Toews as the next one.

Toews Impresses

There were a few eyebrows raised when Team Canada chose Chicago Blackhawks prospect Jonathan Toews for its World Championship squad.

But the way this young player has performed in the tournament shouldn't be a surprise.

The first time I saw Jonathan Toews in action was at Hockey Canada's summer evaluation camp in preparation for the 2006 World Junior Hockey Championship in Vancouver. I was blown away by how he played in those scrimmages.

I thought that Jonathan Toews was Bryan Trottier.

Everything that Toews has done since then has led me to believe that this is a very good comparison. He is a complete hockey player when you factor in his offensive and defensive play, pressure and physical play. He is the complete and total package.

Off the ice, he is fluently bi-lingual, and has the character to be a great star. Ten years from now, we'll still be talking about him - as the NHL's most complete player.