Rob Grabowski – USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago Blackhawks‘ 2013 season has been nothing short of spectacular, and there are many reason for the team’s success. Corey Crawford and Ray Emery have turned in one of the best performances by a goaltending tandem in recent history, Marian Hossa has been a clutch scorer and Patrick Kane has elevated every aspect of his game. Sometimes lost in the shuffle is the consistent play of captain Jonathan Toews, who isn’t as flashy as Kane but is scoring just as regularly. The Blackhawks continue to be rewarded for their choice in captain, as Toews brings much more to the team than just scoring.
As a Detroit Red Wings fan, I’ve been less than impressed by the performance of Henrik Zetterberg this season as he wears the “C” for the first time. Nicklas Lidstrom left some huge skates to fill, but Zetterberg has almost appeared lost while trying to lead this season. While I won’t be rooting for the Blackhawks anytime soon I will easily admit I respect their captain and have been blown away by his performance this season. Toews is right near the top of the Blackhawks’ leaderboard with 21 goals and 46 points, trailing Kane by only three points. While the captain deserves a nod for the Hart Trophy, Kane seems more likely to get the attention come awards season.
In addition to his scoring, Toews is also one of the best face-off men in the league, ranking in the top five in face-off wins this season. He’s also a staggering plus-28, while his next closest teammates clock in with plus-18. Toews has proven to be a great mentor for winger Brandon Saad, who is enjoying a breakout season while playing on the captain’s line. He contributes in every aspect of the game, leads by example and has four game-winning goals this season. When it comes to picking a model captain in today’s NHL, there really isn’t much more one could ask for.
Jonathan Katje is an NHL senior writer for Rant Sports. You can follow him on Twitter or add him to your circles on Google Plus.
