Bruins star agrees Toews deserved award
Not even Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron could argue that Jonathan Toews wasn’t a deserving winner of the Selke Trophy.
Toews took home the award Friday for being the NHL’s best defensive forward this season in a close vote over Bergeron, who actually had more first-place votes.
“Jonathan had a terrific season and it’s well deserved for him, but it’s the last of my worries right now,” Bergeron said Saturday before Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.
“I’m worried about me and my teammates and the task at hand and the goal we set for ourselves.”
Toews’ Blackhawks teammates couldn’t think of a guy more perfect for the award.
“He had a great season offensively and defensively and does a lot for our team,” Patrick Kane said. “He kind of fits that Selke player perfectly with faceoffs, penalty kill and plus-minus, things like that. He’s very accountable in that area so it’s very deserving for him.”
Since Toews and Kane broke into the league together in 2007 they have combined to win the Calder Trophy (Kane), the Conn Smythe (Toews), the Selke (Toews) and, of course, the 2010 Stanley Cup.
Kane said there isn’t a Hawk who doesn’t respect the captain.
“I don’t think it’s about respect; I think he has it from everyone in this room,” Kane said. “He leads not only on the ice, but off the ice by example with just the way he plays. I guess that’s the epitome of a leader when you’re doing that. He’s kind of the perfect mold for a leader.
“I don’t think there’s any question in the room who the leader of the team is. He kind of makes this team go. I think we’ve grown up a lot together the last six years. I know we’re two different people, but we’re pretty much alike in a lot of ways.”
Hawks coach Joel Quenneville knows how lucky he is to have a player like Toews as his captain.
“I thought Johnny had a real solid year when I look offensively what his production was like,” Quenneville said. “But defensively we keep scoring chances for and against and he had one of those years where that the number jumped off the charts. Playing against top lines shift in, shift out, that says a lot.
“I think his awareness on both sides of the puck makes him the type of player that he is. It really was well-earned and well-deserved.”
Toews was asked if he always considered himself a two-way player.
“I don’t think I was ever a cherry-picker,” joked Toews. “I think it was always a part of my game. I was competitive defensively as well. I didn’t like to give up goals, maybe that was just part of my nature.
“I definitely learned a lot when I played high school hockey in Minnesota at Shattuck-St. Mary’s. That’s where they really emphasized playing a complete game and I just kind of carried it from there through college hockey (at North Dakota) to the pro level.”