Blackhawks’ Toews keen to reverse career tailspin
Former Conn Smythe Trophy winner ‘excited about what’s to Come’ in Chicago
There is a row of championship banners hanging from the ceiling in the front entrance of the Chicago Blackhawks’ newly built practice rink. Underneath is a larger-than-life picture of a Jonathan Toews.
It looks like it was taken years ago, when the Blackhawks were a dynastic team that had won three Stanley Cups in a six-year span and Toews was one of the best players on the planet.
Now, according to a recent NHL Network list, he’s not even among the top 20 centres.
Toews doesn’t disagree. But with a week to go before the start of training camp, he seemed to take more offence to his player rating in the latest EA Sports video game.
“I’m just pissed that I went from 89 to 87,” Toews said at the NHL’s annual player media tour on Thursday. “I think that’s going to be the biggest motivator right there. I have to get my rating back up.”
He was only half-joking. But there is some truth to how far he has fallen in recent years.
The player who had fans debating whether he was better than Sidney Crosby, who was a perennial pre-season Conn Smythe Trophy favourite and who was named to the NHL’s 100 greatest players of all-time is no longer the player he used to be.
He doesn’t seem like a star player anymore. If so, he’s a fading one.
Toews scored 20 goals and had 52 points last season. It was the worst year of his career. And based on his age and his declining stats, it could be a sign of things to come.
The last time Toews scored 30 goals was in 2010-11. He has gone the last three years without reaching the 60-point mark. And for the first time since he was a rookie, he missed the playoffs.
The last part is not necessarily Toews’ fault. But considering he and teammate Patrick Kane have matching cap hits of US$10.5 million — among the top five in the league — the Blackhawks need him to justify his contract. And he knows it. If not, the next five years could get even worse.
“I just think for all the veteran guys who’ve had success, it’s time to check your ego,” said Toews. “Start fresh, start over and have that same hunger and mentality that you did as a young rookie in the league. Take nothing for granted.”
It’s not just Toews. With the exception of Kane, who led the team with 76 points last season, the core group that was responsible for so much success in Chicago now looks old and overpaid.
Duncan Keith, who is 35 and has five more years remaining on a contract that carries a $5.538-million cap hit, scored two goals and had a minus-29 rating last season. Brent Seabrook, who has six more years remaining on a contract with a $6.875-million cap hit, no longer looks fast enough to be able to skate on the top defensive pairing.
“The biggest critic is always going to be myself. But if you can use anything to motivate yourself, it’s only going to make you better,” said Toews. “I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of individual success because of our team success over the years. When things don’t go your way, it’s a chance to get better and not only appreciate what you’ve been through before, but analyze what you need to do to get back there. I have to see where I’ve become complacent or satisfied and where I can improve.
“I’m excited about what’s to come.”
People once questioned whether Crosby had lost a step after he began the 2015-16 season with two goals in his first 18 games. He finished the year ranked third in scoring and went on to win backto-back championships.
“It’s very similar,” said Kane. “I remember Crosby had that bad one-half of the season and he came back in the second half and almost won the scoring race. That’s the same thing with John. I would never count him out. He’ll find a way to get back.
“He’s so competitive that it’s unreal. If there’s one guy you don’t want to question, it’s him.”
Can Toews get back to scoring 30 goals and 60 points? Can he justify a contract that seems to be dragging the Blackhawks down?
Maybe. But even if he doesn’t, there’s still value there.
Said Dallas’ Jamie Benn: “If you ask 30 GMs in this league if they want Jonathan Toews, you’re going to get 30 answers of, ‘Yes, please.’ He’s a one-of-a-kind player that doesn’t come around that often.”