Seriously Though (blackhawks)

blackhawks

Seriously Though

By Theo Fox

Mar 31, 2022 • 10:25 pm

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When he was named team captain in 2008 after his rookie year, Toews was the third youngest player to earn that role in NHL history behind Sidney Crosby (Penguins) and Vincent Lecavalier (Lightning). Toews has arguably been considered the best captain in the league as well.

While this blog won't discuss what his status with the Hawks will be beyond this season as that's a conversation for the offseason, the focus instead is on what I believe is integral to Toews' legacy that doesn't get talked about much yet seems to matter a lot to his peers.

Sure, Toews is one of the best all-around forwards and three-zone centers in his NHL generation and could easily be considered the very best for a stretch of time during Chicago's Cup era. Furthermore, Toews has been a warrior in high-stakes games, series, and rivalries.

However, in interviews with current and past teammates, many value Toews for how he takes time to genuinely interact with every single person on the team whether on game days or practice days. Even when players have been at their lowest, Toews has been there for them.

Case in point is Daniel Carcillo commending Toews for caring for the human side of pro athletes. In Carcillo's situation, he struggled with the sudden death of close friend and former Hawk rearguard Steve Montador. Toews consoled Carcillo during that rough emotional patch.

Though their time in Chicago was short for each of them, Andrew Desjardins and Slater Koekkoek also thought highly of Toews for not only his compassion but also for creating a welcoming environment for them as newbies -- especially ones who were just role players.

Many have posited that Brent Seabrook was the true captain of the Hawks even though he only wore an A while Toews wore the C. Regardless of the merit of that opinion, one could say that Toews took care of the team and Seabrook took care of him. The top leader is human, too.

The highlights, accolades, and championships are what I will remember about Toews' legacy as a player. But that human element is what I will remember about his legacy as a captain. In his career, Toews got the moniker Captain Serious. Part of it is due to his perpetual game face.

Another part of it is he took the lives of his teammates seriously, which again, mattered to them considerably and perhaps the most.

Tribute from Patrick Kane

Tribute from Former Teammates
Tribute from the Opposition
Tribute from the NHLPA
Tribute to 3 Cup Raises

Blackhawks Game Summary

Thursday Boxscore

DeBrincat - Strome - Kane Kubalik - Toews - Raddysh Borgstrom - Dach - Lafferty Katchouk - R Johnson - Entwistle

de Haan - S Jones McCabe - C Jones Stillman - Gustafsson

Delia Lankinen

Scratches: T Johnson, Kurashev, Vlasic

1st Goal (0-1): Barkov (Forsling, Verhaeghe) 2nd Goal (0-2): Lomberg (Thornton, Gudas) 3rd Goal (0-3): Forsling (Reinhart, Marchment) 4th Goal (0-4): Barkov (Huberdeau, Reinhart) PP

SOG For/Against: 37/44 PP: 0-for-3 PK: 2-for-3 Faceoffs Won: 54%

Highlights

This seems to happen quite a bit for Kirby Dach. Keep an eye on your surroundings, #77.

Blackhawks Notebook

Not only would Vlasic get ice time in actual games but also get the feel for a playoff push and hopefully postseason action at the pro level as the Hogs strive for a berth. He could slot in for either Isaak Phillips or Nicolas Beaudin on the Rockford blueline.

Suggested D pairs for the Hogs:

Vlasic - I Mitchell Kalynuk - Regula Galvas - Beaudin Phillips

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IceHogs Game Summary

Tuesday Boxscore

Hardman - Reichel - Connolly Altybarmakian - McLaughlin - Busdeker Morrison - Gicewicz - Barratt Pour - G Mitchell - Gabriel

Phillips - I Mitchell Kalynuk - Regula Galvas - Beaudin

Soderblom Gillam

1st Goal (1-0): Connolly (Galvas, Beaudin) 2nd Goal (2-0): McLaughlin (Kalynuk, Altybarmakian) 3rd Goal (2-1): Olivier (Del Gaizo, Biega) 4th Goal (2-2): Del Gaizo (Biega, Burke) 5th Goal (2-3): Knott (Huntington, Biega) PP 6th Goal (3-3): McLaughlin (Regula, Reichel) PP 7th Goal (3-4): Smith (Schneider, Donovan) PP 8th Goal (3-5): LaBate (unassisted) EN

SOG For/Against: 30/37 PP: 1-for-4 PK: 1-for-3

Highlights

IceHogs Notebook

The Athletic Chicago has also reported that the Hawks are one of many NHL teams vying for the services of left winger Andrei Kuzmenko who is an offensive dynamo in the KHL. Even if the Hawks are lucky to land him, they would still likely flip him for futures at the 2023 TDL.

However, a useful player could be right under their nose.

A natural center, Dylan McLaughlin continues to state his case for parlaying his productivity in the AHL into an NHL contract whether with the Blackhawks or another franchise. Is there anything to lose signing him to a one-year deal at $750,000, so why not Chicago?

After missing a month while being in concussion protocol, Dylan McLaughlin has come back strong with 2 points in each of the last 3 games (3 goals, 3 assists). He's now up to 31 points in 40 games (9 goals, 22 assists) which are all career highs in his third season.

McLaughlin is an excellent skater with agility, speed, and evasiveness. He's a crafty playmaker who can equally set up teammates and snipe on his own. Used on both special teams, he excels at playing with pace and entering the O zone unscathed by the other team.

In the AHL, McLaughlin is a top 6 center along with Hawks top prospect Lukas Reichel. However, if the NHL is in his future, McLaughlin could be a reliable middle 6 center who can play in all situations and put up 30-40 points if he hits full potential.

Big if but why not take a chance on him during a rebuild.

Additional notes:

* One prospect who has bulked up is Beaudin as his increased muscle mass is quite noticeable in pictures where he's wearing street clothes; hopefully this added size and strength will amp his stock as he refines his defense.

* Michal Teply (right shoulder) and Josiah Slavin (right ankle) are day-to-day with different injuries.

* Cale Morris (left hip) has been activated from injured reserve.

* Forwards Chad Yetman and Riley McKay as well as defenseman Cliff Watson have been sent down to the Fuel of the ECHL.

* A pair of goalies swap places as Tom Aubrun has been recalled from the Fuel while Mitch Gillam went back to Indy after being released from his professional tryout despite pitching a shutout in his AHL debut.

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See you on the boards!

Sources: Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald, NBC Sports Chicago, The Athletic Chicago

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