Not a bad role model for Hawks' Toews
The Blackhawks can only cross their fingers and hope Jonathan Toews develops into Joe Sakic someday.
Toews, the Hawks' 20-year-old captain, at least is on his way.
It will be the NHL's youngest captain and its oldest on the ice tonight at the United Center when the Hawks host the 39-year-old Sakic and the Colorado Avalanche.
Hawks coach Joel Quenneville has a history with Sakic, having coached the future Hall of Famer in Colorado, first as an assistant in the mid-1990s and later as the head coach from 2005-08.
"Joe, as one of the leaders, is no maintenance," Quenneville said. "He's a perfect captain. He goes about his business where he just leads by example. He's himself, how he carries himself on and off the ice, in the gym, by his practice habits and work habits in games."
Quenneville sees a lot of those same traits in Toews.
"Why John is captain is because of the way he is," Quenneville said. "Just continue to be yourself and don't worry about being captain. He's a special player and right now we don't want to put a lot of pressure on him.
"We want to make sure he develops progressively and consistently. I think the focus for him is how he plays and that other stuff, as a staff and as a teammate, we should all absorb some of the responsibility in the leadership department."
Toews considers Sakic a role model, even going so far as choosing to wear uniform No. 19 when his favorite No. 9 wasn't available out of respect for Sakic and Steve Yzerman.
"I think he's one of those soft-spoken guys off the ice that just let's his playing and everything he does on the ice speak for him," said Toews, who could be describing himself instead of Sakic.
"You have to respect that, guys that don't seek the attention, that just go out and play and enjoy the game. I think he's a simple guy, and there's nothing wrong with that. It's something I really respect out of him."
Toews remembers playing against Sakic for the first line last season, and it was in that game on Oct. 19, 2007, at the United Center when Toews scored his most memorable goal by weaving his way through the Avalanche defense and beating goalie Jose Theodore.
"He was one of my favorite players growing up, and it was pretty cool getting to play against him last year," Toews said. "He's a good guy and a good player, obviously, with everything he has accomplished."
Toews is now a full training camp and 11 games into his first season as captain with no difficulties to report.
"There's no added pressure there, I don't think," Toews said. "I've just been going about my business as I normally would; nothing has changed. I think guys respect that. They don't expect me to change the way I am and who I am and the way I act in the locker room every day. Everyone leads in their own way, so it's definitely not just my job to be the leader in the dressing room."
<p class="factboxheadblack">Tonight's faceoff</p> <p class="News">Blackhawks vs. Colorado Avalanche at the United Center, 7:30 p.m.</p> <p class="News"><b>TV:</b> Comcast SportsNet</p> <p class="News"><b>Radio:</b> WGN 720-AM</p> <p class="News"><b>At a glance:</b> After starting 0-3, the Avs had won five of seven going into Sunday's game at home against San Jose. Andrew Raycroft is expected to get the start in goal for the Avs against Nikolai Khabibulin. This starts a five-game homestand for the Hawks.</p> <p class="News"><b>Next:</b> Calgary Flames at the United Center, 6 p.m. Sunday.</p> <div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=247651">Change in shootout order pays off </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>