Stephanie Racker Jonathan Toews is a name any hockey fan is familiar with, whether or not they root for the Blackhawks. He is considered to be one of the most influential players of his era, with Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins as his only real rival. Going on his tenth season as a Chicago Blackhawk, many believe Toews is Hall of Fame material. Nominated as one of the youngest team captains in NHL history, his leadership skills have helped the Blackhawks capture three Stanley Cups in just six short years. He’s also accumulated seven gold medals in international play (two of which are Olympic Gold) and was the second youngest player in the history of the NHL to be awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy, which is given to the MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. With so many achievements, it’s safe to say that Jonathan Toews definitely isn’t lacking in talent. However, for the first time in his career, some have begun questioning his worth as a player. Just last year, Toews and fellow Blackhawks star Patrick Kane signed identical, multi-million dollar contracts that locked them in with the team for another eight seasons. Although Kane has continued to uphold his production levels since renewing his contract, Toews has been struggling to put up points. While Kane racked up 106 points last season (the highest number of any player in the NHL last season), Toews mustered only 58 points. While Toews’ shooting percentage hasn’t suffered, his ability to find the back of the net has. One reason that may have contributed to his scoring slump is the constant shift and change in his linemates. Due to salary cap restraints, the Blackhawks have struggled to keep their elite and most promising players. Each NHL team cannot exceed paying $73 million in total player salaries. Therefore, when a successful player’s contract is up for renegotiation, the team often loses that player when they can’t meet their new salary demands. What this means is that the Hawks frequently have had to use either less experienced (and thus, less expensive) players in their roster or older veterans past their prime who have signed cheaper, short-term contracts. Under either scenario, these players often aren’t capable enough to play and compete with their elite Stanley Cup teammates. These roster changes have meant that Toews has had to constantly shift to the different playing styles of new linemates, making it more challenging for him to find his “groove” with a pair of players that suit him well. However, even when Toews was reunited earlier this season with his old linemate, Patrick Kane, it was still a challenge for him to score. The Chicago Blackhawks thrive on the ability to rotate all four lines, so the fact that a key member of one of those lines isn’t scoring well is troubling. Fortunately, the team has been able to compensate enough to perform strongly in the Central Division and, with any luck, will continue to do so during the playoffs. No NHL team ever wants to see one of their star players become less productive on the ice. But what many people are forgetting about Toews is that what makes him so valuable to his team isn’t just what’s displayed on the score sheet. Toews’ value also comes from his exemplary leadership skills, strong work ethic, aptitude for defensive plays, ability and willingness to set up chances for other players, and his reliability both on and off the ice. Even during an extended slump, Toews’ value to the Chicago Blackhawks cannot (and should not) be measured by the same statistics that are used with other players. ]]>