Chicago's 'Big 4' (Toews, Kane, Sharp, Hossa)

[Carcillo]

Jonathan Toews
- 7th in scoring with 18 goals, 16 assists, 101 SOG
- on pace for 46 goals, 41 assists, 258 SOG

Patrick Sharp
- 8th in scoring with 17 goals, 17 assists, 118 SOG
- on pace for 43 goals, 43 assists, 302 SOG

Marian Hossa
- 9th in scoring with 14 goals, 20 assists, 113 SOG
- on pace for 36 goals, 52 assists, 295 SOG

Patrick Kane
- 21st in scoring with 8 goals, 23 assists, 104 SOG
- on pace for 20 goals, 58 assists, 266 SOG

These guys are carrying the Blackhawks offense. When's the last time four guys from the same team put up 80+ points in a season?

[bondon]

Saw one of the Hawks beat writers mention this on Twitter last night.

Absolutely nuts. Keith is doing quite well for himself too with 20 points in 28 games. Then after that there's a significant drop-off to the next guy but that's to be expected. Incredible thing is they're middle of the pack in PP opportunities per game (13th) and aren't even at the very top in PP% (7th). With numbers like those you would think that they would have to be tops in both categories.

Strong even strength play. I think the one that will surprise people the most is that Sharp is over point/game. I find Sharp to be extremely underrated, there aren't very many people that think he can top 75 points. I have a side bet going on with dyz for this season. I'm taking Sharp for 82 points in a full 82 or 1.1 points per game or better.

[Italbro]

This is very similar to the montreal 4some

Gomez
Gionta
Cammalari
Andrei K

all 4 combines for 80 points

[bondon]

This is very similar to the montreal 4some

Gomez
Gionta
Cammalari
Andrei K

all 4 combines for 80 points

LOL. Oh man +rep to you for that one, I nearly spat my coffee out all over my computer.

[metaldude26]

I dunno but I the Caps in 2008-09 and 2009-10 were close with OV, Backstrom, Semin and Green.

This Blackhawks team is just a finely tuned machine. Really fun to watch even if you aren't particularly a fan of the players/team.

Toews just does it all. Kane is a magician. Sharp is a swiss army knife. And I think Hossa is the key to it all. Maybe not the best player in the bunch but he brings a different dynamic and now that he's finally healthy since the Blackhawks didn't go far last season he is bringing his top game.

[Shoeless]

Saw one of the Hawks beat writers mention this on Twitter last night.

Absolutely nuts. Keith is doing quite well for himself too with 20 points in 28 games. Then after that there's a significant drop-off to the next guy but that's to be expected. Incredible thing is they're middle of the pack in PP opportunities per game (13th) and aren't even at the very top in PP% (7th). With numbers like those you would think that they would have to be tops in both categories.

Strong even strength play. I think the one that will surprise people the most is that Sharp is over point/game. I find Sharp to be extremely underrated, there aren't very many people that think he can top 75 points. I have a side bet going on with dyz for this season. I'm taking Sharp for 82 points in a full 82 or 1.1 points per game or better.

Any chance to get in on the action on Sharp, b0ndon? The guy has a drought for a month every year along about January - it may not happen this year but he has been pretty consistent in that drought in the past.

[Carcillo]

I dunno but I the Caps in 2008-09 and 2009-10 were close with OV, Backstrom, Semin and Green.

Close, but not quite there.

I checked it and the answer is Detroit in 05-06 season:
- Datsyuk 87
- Zetterberg 85
- Shanahan 81
- Lidstrom 80

And the last before that was Pittsburgh in 00-01
- Jagr 121
- Kovalev 95
- Straka 95
- Lang 80

[bondon]

Any chance to get in on the action on Sharp, b0ndon? The guy has a drought for a month every year along about January - it may not happen this year but he has been pretty consistent in that drought in the past.

Sure but all we're bettin is bragging rights

I think three/four years ago that pattern was much more extreme, but in the past two years Sharp has been pretty good from January-on. Actually, the last two seasons the time of year that he started to slow down was December, and I think the fact that he's not only avoided that trend but is doing the complete opposite may be a sign that he's maturing as a player.

I mean last year he got 71 points in 74 games, and was on an absolute tear and I would debate that he would have gotten there last season if not for that knee-on-knee that Lepisto (I think?) caught him with that took him out for some games near the end of the season. That Sharp-Toews-Kane line was nuts.

[ovi42]

I love Patrick Sharp. Everything about his game just does it for me. I think he's been underrated playing with the other three, but i'm really happy to see him doing so well(bias alert, he's on my team!)

Hossa; can't say it's surprising beyond that fact that i wasn't entirely sure if he'd have another year where he was a top-tier player in the league. I thought those days may have been behind him, but so far so good.

Towes and Kane are the real surprises to me here. Kane, because i thought he'd be the leading scorer on the Hawks at this point in the year. But what a magician is right. The guys hands are unreal. And Toews because i bought into the theory that he was too good as an all around player to put up huge points. He's my favorite player in the league along with Iggy, so i'm really happy to see him breakout of that mold. I just wish he was on my squad!

[STONE.]

When I moved Sharp+ for B. Richards last summer, I was ecstatic. Still waiting for Richards to show up.

I've been a VERY happy Hossa owner though.

It saddens me, as a Nucks fan, but they'll be scariest in the playoffs if they can get the goalie situation firmed up. Those four seem to have another level when it counts.

[One87]

Close, but not quite there.

I checked it and the answer is Detroit in 05-06 season:
- Datsyuk 87
- Zetterberg 85
- Shanahan 81
- Lidstrom 80

And the last before that was Pittsburgh in 00-01
- Jagr 121
- Kovalev 95
- Straka 95
- Lang 80

I knew the Pens had one and thought either Was or Det as soon as the question was posed
. Thanks for the stat check. Definitely rep worthy.

[Carcillo]

Won't be long before it's 'Big 5'.

Jeremy Morin has been called up.