Tag Archives: jonathan toews

Toews named Selke finalist

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The first Chicago Blackhawk to ever win the Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward was a guy who wore No. 19 and played at the University of North Dakota.

History may repeat itself.

Another UND product who wears No. 19 for the Blackhawks was announced as one of three finalists for the Selke Trophy this week. Chicago captain Jonathan Toews joins Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron and Detroit Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk as the three finalists.

The other UND player to earn the honor was Troy Murray in 1986. The 2013 winner will be announced during the Stanley Cup Final.

The NHL sent out bios of all the finalists.

Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks

Toews played a leading role in helping the runaway Presidents’ Trophy winners rank first overall in team defense (2.02 goals-against per game). He finished third in the NHL in plus-minus with a career-high +28 rating, including a League-leading +21 away from home; shared the overall lead in takeaways with fellow Selke finalist Pavel Datsyuk (56); placed second in the NHL in face-off winning percentage (59.9%, 559-374); and played an average of 1:25 per game on the NHL’s third-ranked penalty-killing unit (87.2%). The Blackhawks captain is a Selke finalist for second time, having finished runner-up to Vancouver’s Ryan Kesler in 2011.

Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins

Bergeron was the NHL’s top face-off man in 2012-13, winning 62.1% of his draws, as the Bruins ranked third League-wide in team defense (2.21 goals-against per game). He ranked sixth overall and led the Bruins in plus-minus with a +24 rating and played an average of 2:12 per game with his team shorthanded, slightly more than his per-game average on the Boston power-play (2:10). Bergeron is in quest of a repeat Selke win, having claimed the trophy last season in his first appearance as a finalist.

Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings

Datsyuk’s all-around game helped the Red Wings place fifth in the NHL in team defense (2.29 goals-against per game) — their stingiest performance since the 2007-08 Stanley Cup championship season. Datsyuk tied for the League lead in takeaways (56), topped the Red Wings in plus-minus (+21) and posted a 55.0% face-off winning percentage (488-399). The three-time Selke winner is a finalist for the sixth consecutive year, surpassing the streaks of Montreal’s Guy Carbonneau (1986 through 1990) and Bob Gainey (1978 through 1982) as the longest since the award was introduced in 1978.

Who is killing penalties in the NHL?

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On Friday, the NHL named the three finalists for the Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player. They are Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh), John Tavares (New York Isles) and Alexander Ovechkin (Washington).

Several national writers took to Twitter to express their disbelief that former UND standout Jonathan Toews was not among the top three, including Damien Cox from the Toronto Star, Pierre LeBrun from ESPN and Gord Miller from TSN.

Miller wrote: “I know this: There’s only one player in the league Chicago would consider trading Toews for (Crosby) and they’d think long and hard about it.”

You often hear analysts, general managers and coaches talk about Toews and his all-around game. Right away, everyone will bring up his faceoff numbers, which are annually among the league’s best.

But there’s an even better case for Toews with numbers to back it up: Ovechkin and Tavares, for as offensively dazzling as they are, do not kill penalties. In fact, much to my surprise when researching this, many of the league’s top offensive players do not kill penalties.

Former UND center Chris VandeVelde, who spent 11 games in the NHL this season, had more time on the penalty kill this season (11:00) than both Tavares (6:26) and Ovechkin (3:24) combined.

Below, I compiled the top goal scorers in the NHL and the average amount of time they spent on the PK per game. You can see who routinely kills penalties and who doesn’t.

It also should be noted that Chicago finished tied for last in penalty minutes in the NHL this year, which means Toews didn’t have a lot of opportunities for huge shorthanded ice times.

Top NHL goal scorers’ average time on PK per game

1:25 – Jonathan Toews, Chicago (23 goals)
1:12 – Jeff Carter, Los Angeles (26)
0:58 – Jiri Tlusty, Carolina (23)
0:53 – Logan Couture, San Jose (21)
0:43 – Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay (29)
0:31 – Rick Nash, New York Rangers (21)
0:12 – Thomas Vanek, Buffalo (20)
0:08 – Chris Kunitz, Pittsburgh (22)
0:08 – John Tavares, New York Islanders (28)
0:04 – Alexander Ovechkin, Washington (32)
0:01 – Jakub Voracek, Philadelphia (22)
0:01 – Phil Kessel, Toronto (20)
0:00 – James Neal, Pittsburgh (21)
0:00 – Patrick Kane, Chicago (23)

Out of curiosity, I also tracked each UND player and the average number of minutes they spent on the PK each game. You will notice that almost all of UND’s guys in the NHL are counted on to kill penalties.

Perhaps this shouldn’t be a huge surprise: If you are not a two-way, reliable player, it is difficult to play for coach Dave Hakstol.

Of the guys who ended the season in the NHL, only Matt Frattin was not counted on to kill penalties (Frattin did kill penalties at UND).

UND average time on PK per game

2:07 – Matt Greene, D, Los Angeles
1:45 – Travis Zajac, F, New Jersey
1:38 – T.J. Oshie, F, St. Louis
1:27 – Zach Parise, F, Minnesota
1:26 – Drew Stafford, F, Buffalo
1:25 – Jonathan Toews, F, Chicago
1:00 – Chris VandeVelde, F, Edmonton
0:53 – Chris Porter, F, St. Louis
0:18 – Brian Lee, D, Tampa Bay
0:17 – Brad Malone, F, Colorado
0:14 – Joe Finley, D, New York Islanders
0:00 – Matt Frattin, F, Toronto

There was this same debate on the college side with John Gaudreau and his chase for the Hobey Baker Award.

The Boston College forward is much like Alexander Ovechkin – a great offensive talent who can score on the drop of a time, but not a great player in his own end and someone who does not kill penalties for the Eagles.

The Hobey ended up going to St. Cloud State’s Drew LeBlanc, an all-around player, and I have a feeling that the Hart Trophy will go to Sidney Crosby (:41 of PK time per game).

NBC highlights Toews

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NBC highlighted former UND standout Jonathan Toews during Sunday’s broadcast of Hockey Day in America.

NBC analyst Keith Jones said: “I can’t think of a better captain in the NHL.”

Former NHL general manager Mike Milbury answered: “I can’t think of a better one in many, many years.”

NBC also showed a graphic highlighting five college players who were playing in the Blackhawks-Kings game. After two periods, Toews has 1 goal, 1 assists, 2 points, 6 shots on goal and is 13-1 on faceoffs.

The European option

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The NHL is inching closer and closer to a lockout and it appears virtually certain that one is going to happen for at least some length of time.

So, what happens to the former UND players who are under NHL contracts?

The guys who are on two-way deals — such as Chay Genoway, Ben Blood, Jason Gregoire and Brock Nelson — will likely play in the American Hockey League (this also means AHL and ECHL roster spots may be ultra-competitive this season).

During the last lockout, Zach Parise was one of the guys who played in the AHL on an entry-level deal.

But for the guys who are on one-way deals and cannot go to the AHL, it is either sit and wait or go to Europe.

According to several news reports recently, Jonathan Toews is among the NHL players considering going to Europe. His agent told a newspaper that he would under the right circumstances and timing (read more here).

During the last lockout, a handful of players did this as well, including UND’s Jason Blake. That lockout lasted an entire season.

It’s hard to believe that the NHL could possibly put its fans through another year of no hockey, but the players will have to keep their games up somehow. And that might mean superstars are headed to Europe.

Toews named to Power 100 list

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Former UND star Jonathan Toews is the most powerful hockey player in the world, says Bloomberg Businessweek magazine.

Bloomberg Businessweek made its annual list of the 100 most powerful athletes based on statistics, the popularity and viewing audience of the sport, endorsement earnings and their reach on social media.

Toews is ranked No. 69 overall and is the top hockey player on the list.

The only other hockey players on the list are Daniel Sedin and Tim Thomas.

Check out Toews’ profile and the entire list here.

Toews won’t play in All-Star Game

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Jonathan Toews has been selected to his third NHL All-Star Game, but he won’t play in it because of an injury.

The former UND standout is ailing from what’s being called a “left arm injury.” Toews won’t play in tonight’s game for the Blackhawks and will sit out the All-Star Game. He’s expected to come back soon after that.

Toews currently is in the race for the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s MVP. He ranks second in the league with 27 goals. He has 50 points in 49 games.

Here’s a recent story in the Edmonton paper saying that Toews should win MVP.

Toews named NHL All-Star again

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Jonathan Toews is headed to his third straight NHL All-Star Game.

The NHL announced the rosters today for the game that will be played on Sunday, Jan. 29. Toews, just 23 years of age, also played in the 2009 and 2011 Games. There was no All-Star Game in 2010 because of the Olympics.

Toews has 22 goals and 42 points for the Chicago Blackhawks. Toews also leads the NHL in faceoff percentage at 61.5 percent.

As a reference point, recent Hall of Fame inductee Ed Belfour was selected to six NHL All-Star Games. Toews is halfway there.

Roseau’s Dustin Byfuglien also was picked for the team. He’s the only Winnipeg Jet to make it.

View complete all-star rosters here.

Toews runner-up for Selke; sixth in MVP voting

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Former Sioux All-American Jonathan Toews finished runner-up in the voting for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, which goes to the best defensive forward in the NHL, and sixth in voting for the Hart Trophy, which goes to the league’s MVP.

Vancouver Canucks forward Ryan Kesler, a former Ohio State player, won the Selke with 105 of 127 first-place votes. Toews, of the Chicago Blackhawks, finished second and Detroit Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk finished third.

Toews was attempting to become just the second Sioux to win the Selke. The first was Troy Murray, who strangely enough also wore No. 19 for the Blackhawks. Murray won it in 1986. He serves as a radio analyst for Hawks games.

Toews, who led the NHL in faceoff wins, likely will have several more shots at the Selke Trophy in his career (and one a guy who might provide stiff competition in the future is former teammate Travis Zajac).

Toews also finished sixth in MVP voting behind winner Corey Perry of the Anaheim Ducks, Daniel Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks, Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators and Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins.

The NHL awards were handed out in Las Vegas at the annual awards ceremony. Toews attended with his family.

Other notable items from the awards voting:

  • Toews finished fifth in Lady Byng voting. Lady Byng goes to the player who best couples high skill level and gentlemanly conduct. Martin St. Louis of Tampa Bay won it. Niklas Lidstrom finished second, Loui Erickson was third and Patrick Marleau fourth.
  • Former Sioux forward Dave Tippett finished seventh in the Jack Adams voting for coach of the year. Tippett won the award a year earlier.
  • Roseau production Dustin Byfuglien finished seventh in Norris Trophy voting. Byfuglien will play for Winnipeg next season.

Toews named Selke finalist

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Former Sioux forward Jonathan Toews is a finalist for the Selke Trophy, which goes to the NHL’s top defensive forward.

Toews led the Chicago Blackhawks in scoring with 76 points and was second in the NHL with 93 takeaways. He also had 32 goals and was usually responsible to play against other teams’ top lines.

The other finalists for the award are Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk and Vancouver’s Ryan Kesler.

The last Sioux player to win Selke was Troy Murray, who currently calls Blackhawk games on the radio. He won it in 1986.

Toews also scored a stunning, shorthanded goal to tie Game 7 last night with less than two minutes remaining. The Hawks lost, but Toews’ legend grew a little bit with the goal.