Raves for Toews after gold-medal game

For fans of the Blackhawks who have watched Jonathan Toews play on a nightly basis for the last three years, they have known what all the fuss is about.

Now the rest of the world does.

Toews, the 21-year-old Hawks captain, was the best all-around player on the Canadian Olympic team that captured the gold medal on Sunday with a 3-2 win over the United States in overtime.

Even before Toews got the goal that opened the scoring in the first period Sunday, his value to Canada had been on display for two weeks.

Toews finished the Olympics with 1 goal and 7 assists and he led the tournament in plus-minus.

Following Sunday's thrilling final against the Americans, Toews was named the best forward of the Games in earning a spot on the all-tournament team.

Earlier in the tournament after one of Canada's games, coach Mike Babcock was asked whom he thought his best players were that night.

"Anyone who plays with Jonathan Toews," responded Babcock, the coach of the Detroit Red Wings who last spring called Toews a player a franchise could build around.

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville was not surprised that Toews' play at both ends of the ice during the Olympics was opening eyes.

"I think we really have a true appreciation of what he does," Quenneville said. "He does all the little things well. In his own end the trust factor is in place; faceoffs, matchups, offensively that line is always productive or effective or contributes in an offensive way.

"Johnny with the puck and around the puck, he seems to find it and keep it and protect him well."

As the Olympics progressed Toews centered one of Canada's key lines with Rick Nash and Mike Richards.

"I think at the start of it everybody probably had him in that fourth-line spot, but that line always seems to be the key line for them and the responsible line," Quenneville said. "They've assumed and absorbed lot of responsibility as this tournament progressed. Johnny gets talked about a lot, but it's very well deserved."

Toews, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook all can come back to the Hawks knowing they made key contributions to Canada's gold-medal winning effort in Vancouver.

"I think all of our guys represented the Blackhawks well," teammate Patrick Sharp said.

Kane, who comes home with a silver medal, got better for the U.S. as the tournament progressed. He had 2 goals for the Americans in their semifinal win over Finland, then Sunday assisted on both U.S. goals, including Zach Parise's tying score with 25 seconds left in regulation that sent the game to overtime.

Marian Hossa was a force for a Slovakia team that finished fourth in the medal round.

"Our guys played well," Quenneville said.

Now it's back to work with the Hawks for Toews starting Tuesday night in New York against the Islanders. Toews will resume centering the Hawks' top line for Kane and Sharp, having proved he is one of the best players in all of hockey.

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<li><a href="/story/?id=362555&src=152">Crosby's goal gives Canada hockey gold <span class="date">[02/28/10]</span></a></li>

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