Where Does Marian Hossa Rank Among the NHL's Best 2-Way Forwards?

Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are the Chicago Blackhawks' Gold Dust Twins. When they signed massive contract extensions together this summer, it hammered home just how important they are to the team, its fans and the league itself.

But the Blackhawks are a team that has star power up and down the lineup. One of the biggest stars—and most important players—is Marian Hossa.

He is among the most gifted offensive players in the game, and he has been since he came into the league as a 19-year-old with the Ottawa Senators in 1997-98.

Hossa, 35, has scored 30 or more goals eight times in his career, and he scored a career-high 100 points for the Atlanta Thrashers in 2006-07.

Since coming to the Chicago Blackhawks prior to the 2009-10 season, Hossa has been a fixture for the team on the top line with Toews, and it's not just his ability to make plays on the offensive end. He is one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL, and that goes a long way in explaining why the Blackhawks have won two Stanley Cups in the last five years and been solid contenders throughout his run in Chicago.

Toews and Boston's Patrice Bergeron (twice) are the last three Selke Trophy winners. That's the honor that goes to the top defensive forward in the league, and they are probably the two most well-rounded forwards in the league.

Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings is another superb two-way player, and he won the Selke Trophy three times. However, the 36-year-old Datsyuk has not been immune to age and injuries, so he's not the dominant player he had been for years.

Ryan O'Reilly of the Colorado Avalanche is another relentless two-way player. O'Reilly, 23, is still improving and has not yet reached his peak, but his effort on the defensive end is already among the best in the league. 

O'Reilly led the league with 83 takeaways last year, and that's because of his intuitiveness, aggressiveness and a desire to keep the puck out of his own net.

Put Hossa in the same group with Datsyuk and O'Reilly, right behind Toews and Bergeron.

Now consider that Hossa and Toews play on the same line together—along with Patrick Sharp—and it helps explain why the Blackhawks have been so formidable. Both men have exceptional on-ice Corsi figures, with Toews at plus-22.06 and Hossa at plus-18.36 during the 2013-14 season, according to Behind the Net.

What that means is that both are outstanding at possessing the puck, passing it, creating scoring opportunities and taking it away from the opposition.

Toews told Tracey Myers of CSNChicago that having Hossa on his line is a big reason why they have been so successful when it comes to shutting down opponents.

The key for Hossa in the upcoming season is staying healthy and remaining in the lineup. Hossa was healthy throughout the majority of last season as he played in 72 games, scored 30 goals and 30 assists and compiled a plus-28 rating.

Hossa has had several injuries throughout his career, most notably concussion, back and shoulder issues. Hossa works hard to take care of himself in the offseason and between games, and head coach Joel Quenneville was not surprised that "Hoss" was able to play as much as he did last year.

As long as Hossa can stay in the lineup, he is a difference-maker. He has the skills on offense and defense that allow him to make plays, hold on to the puck and take over the game. 

While he may not be quite as accomplished as Toews on the defensive end, the fact that they play together is one of the main reasons the Blackhawks remain one of the elite NHL teams and have legitimate championship aspirations.

He needs to remain at that level in 2014-15 if the Blackhawks are going to play championship-caliber hockey once again.