Savard's view on runs by Toews and Rose

These are heady times on the west side of Chicago where young superstars Jonathan Toews of the Blackhawks and Derrick Rose of the Bulls are leading — and often times willing — their respective teams into the playoffs ... and beyond.

And soaking it all in is former Blackhawk great Denis Savard, who along with Michael Jordan, helped create a similar buzz decades ago at the old Chicago Stadium.

While Jordan was posterizing anyone foolish enough to get in his way, Savard was spin-o-rama-ing himself into Blackhawks lore.

But even Savvy is amazed at what he has been seeing at the United Center in Rose and Toews.

“As they say in sports, give them the ball and they'll run with it and they'll tell everyone to jump on their backs and here we go,” Savard said. “I can speak for Jonathan because I've been with him since he was a kid and started to play pro hockey — that's just how he is.

“They call him Mr. Serious, but that's just how he is, he's all about business, he's all about winning.

“And Derrick is the same way. I watch him play and you can see it.”

Toews collected a pair of assists Wednesday against Florida to establish a new career-high with 44 helpers this season. He now ranks seventh in the NHL with a career-best 74 points (30 goals) and is being mentioned as a serious contender for league MVP.

Rose is among the NBA leaders in scoring (24.8), averages nearly 8 assists per game and has quickly vaulted to the front of the pack in the MVP race.

And for both stars, the blending of talent and leadership is pulled off so gracefully that it's often easy to overlook the fact that each is only 22 years old.

“It's not an easy thing to do,” Savard said. “People will say, ‘Well, they have it,' but it's not that you have it, it's a matter of you want it. And they want it.

“It's awesome. We're lucky.”

As were fans in the 1980s, though Savard says any comparison between himself and Jordan isn't really quite a comparison.

“Michael's way ahead of me, no question,” he said. “In the '80s it was my time, I suppose, along with my teammates. But without teammates you never become what you become — it's a team sport. Michael will tell you that Scottie Pippen was the guy that made room for him at times or got him the ball, and was great defensively.

“Even Jonathan, he needs to play with the guys he's playing with to become what he is.

“You have to elevate your game when you play with him, and the same goes for Derrick.”