Comparing the Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews to the Best All-Around Centers in NHL

Jonathan Toews has been contributing at a high level since his rookie season in 2007-08, and he has arguably been the Chicago Blackhawks' best player since his sophomore campaign.

More than his scoring ability, Toews' greatest strength has been his all-around play. He will score big goals, but he will also do an excellent job as a playmaker, faceoff man and a defensive player.

Toews has been a part of two Stanley Cup-winning teams and two gold medal-winning Olympic teams. He is among the best all-around centers in the game, but how does he compare with the other outstanding centers?

In this piece, we will look at Patrice Bergeron, Sidney Crosby, Ryan Getzlaf and John Tavares and compare them to Toews in the aforementioned categories.

All Corsi figures courtesy of BehindTheNet.ca.

Scoring

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1. Sidney Crosby

There's little doubt that Crosby is the most accomplished offensive player among these centers, and he has the hardware to go with it.

Crosby has led the league in scoring twice and also come away with the Hart Trophy (most valuable player) twice. He is one of the game's most accurate shooters, and his ability to think two or three steps ahead of the competition allows him to set up his teammates with numerous scoring chances.

He is an excellent stick-handler and a brilliant passer. He scored a league-high 104 points last year and has 26 points and a 23.74 Corsi-on rating this year.

2. Ryan Getzlaf

The Ducks are one of the top teams in the Western Conference because they have a dramatic one-two punch in Getzlaf and Corey Perry. While Perry is a great finisher, Getzlaf can create offensive chances and is also a first-rate scorer. He handles the puck with dexterity and can wait that extra split second before shooting or making the pass to a teammate.

Getzlaf scored 87 points in 2013-14 and has 17 points with a 10.05 Corsi-on rating this year.

3. Jonathan Toews

Offense may not come quite as naturally to Toews as it does to Crosby and Getzlaf, but when Toews makes up his mind that he needs to score or the Blackhawks need a goal, his determination is relentless.

That aspect is backed up by his size and strength (6'2", 208 lbs) along with his skill. Toews is an exceptional skater, and his speed allows him to burst into the clear to take advantage of a scoring chance.

He scored 68 points last year and has 16 points and a 28.96 Corsi-on rating this season.

4. John Tavares

The Islanders have a chance to climb in the Eastern Conference this season, and they know that Tavares can be counted on to create scoring chances on a consistent basis. Tavares sees the ice well, and that allows him to make passes that other players wouldn't even consider. He is also an accurate shooter who can go top shelf with his wicked wrist shot or deft backhand.

Tavares scored 66 points last year (in 59 games) and has scored 18 points in his first 18 games this season to go along with an 11.14 Corsi-on rating.

5. Patrice Bergeron

Bergeron does not have the same kind of offensive skill as the other players on this list, and it seems like he concentrates on the other areas of his game a bit more than his offensive production.

However, he has scored a lot of huge goals for the Bruins and knows how to rise to the occasion when his team needs him most.

Bergeron scored 30 goals and 62 points last season and has 15 points and a 21.53 Corsi-on rating this season.

Playmaking

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1. Getzlaf

It's nearly a dead heat between Getzlaf and Crosby in this area, but we give a slight edge to the Ducks star in this category because he makes it more of a priority to set up his teammates than Crosby does. Getzlaf has the size and strength to hold off a defender, and that gives him just a little bit of extra time to look for the late rusher and dish a perfect pass.

2. Crosby

He sees the ice the way Bobby Fischer used to see the chess board, and that allows him to set up highlight-reel plays on a regular basis. Many times, those passes will surprise some of his teammates, so they must be on high alert if they are going to convert those passes into goals.

Since Crosby regularly is among the league leaders in assists, it's clear that his Penguins teammates are looking for those passes, and that's a big part of the reason that Pittsburgh is such a dangerous offensive team.

3. Tavares

The Islanders are lucky because their star player is also their hardest-working player. Tavares is constantly trying to find a way to get better by communicating with his coaches and teammates, and that allows him to deliver picture-perfect passes. He is strong on the puck and can slow the game down, leading to defensive breakdowns by his opponents.

4. Toews

The Blackhawks captain is always willing to take a hit or go into the corner and battle for the puck just so he can gain possession and set up a scoring opportunity. While Toews may be better known for his strength and quickness, which allow him to take the puck to the dangerous areas in front of the net, he is also a superb passer who comes through with his best efforts when the game is on the line. 

5. Bergeron

While Bergeron is again the fifth-ranked player in this category, he is a remarkable playmaker who uses his superb skating ability and instincts to gain a positional edge on his opponents and set up teammates.

Bergeron will use his quickness to dart around the net and throw a near-perfect pass in the slot. He also will keep his head up so he can stick-handle around a defender and then make a cross-ice pass without looking at his teammate.

Faceoffs

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1. Bergeron

There's just a feeling of supreme confidence every time Bergeron steps on the ice to take a faceoff. Since puck possession has become such an important part of any team's plan for success, a center who can win faceoffs consistently is going to give his team a big advantage.

Bergeron won 58.6 percent of his faceoffs last season, and he does it with quickness, instincts, strength and a willingness to fight for the puck. Bergeron is winning 60.8 percent of his faceoffs this season.

2. Toews

He's just a tick behind Bergeron, as he won 57.2 percent of his faceoffs last year. Toews has the ability to get the leverage advantage on just about any other opponent in the faceoff circle. He is extremely quick and will battle hard to get the puck even when the draw appears to be lost. Toews is winning 58.2 percent of his faceoffs this season.

3. Crosby

The superstar does not appear to be as fully engaged as Bergeron or Toews when he enters the faceoff circle, but he still managed to win the battle 52.5 percent of the time last year. His remarkable hand-eye coordination comes into full effect in the faceoff circle, and that can lead to clean wins that set up immediate scoring opportunities. Crosby is winning 49.8 percent of his faceoffs this season.

4. Getzlaf

He will battle in the faceoff circle and uses his strength to get the puck, but Getzlaf does not have the success level in this area that he does as a scorer or playmaker.

Getzlaf won the faceoff battle 49.0 percent of the time last year, and it's difficult for Anaheim head coach Bruce Boudreau to believe that Getzlaf is going to win this battle on a regular basis. Getzlaf is showing improvement this season, winning 54.6 percent of his faceoffs thus far.

5. Tavares

There's almost no difference between the Islanders' star and Getzlaf in the faceoff circle, so it's difficult to give one the edge over the other. Tavares won 49.1 percent of the faceoffs that he took in 2013-14, and while he continues to work hard in this area, it's not the most impressive part of his game. Tavares is struggling at the dot this season, winning just 45.8 percent of his faceoffs.

Defense

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1. Bergeron

He has been an exceptional defensive player since he made the Bruins roster as an 18-year-old rookie in 2003-04. Bergeron sets the example for his team because he is nearly always in the right position, and he is at his best when it comes to play in his own zone. Bergeron is a two-time Selke Trophy winner as the best defensive forward in the NHL.

2. Toews

There's very little difference between Bergeron and Toews in this category, and no player can match Toews when it comes to turning defense into offense. He knows how to position himself properly and can block a shot or a pass and turn it into an odd-man rush quickly. Toews won the Selke Trophy following the 2012-13 season.

3. Getzlaf

While not quite at the level of the top two in this category, Getzlaf will use his size, strength and positioning to take the puck away from his opponents and start a play moving in the right direction. He has a long reach and does an excellent job of getting his stick in the passing lanes.

4. Crosby

He does not appear to pay as much attention to the defensive part of the game as he does in regard to the offensive side of things, but he often takes care of his defensive responsibilities because he has possession of the puck so much of the time. Crosby likes to pick his spots when attempting to steal the puck, and that can lead to breakaway opportunities. However, if he makes a poor read, that can leave his team in a vulnerable position.

5. Tavares

He has come a long way in this area and has continued to work diligently to get better. Tavares may rank fifth in this category, but he is a solid defensive player. He may not always get the support he needs from his teammates, but he is a smart and aware defensive player.

Overall

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We gave each player five points for finshing first in a given category, four for second and so on. In the case of a tiebreaker, we gave the edge to the scoring category. In a very tight race, Crosby takes the title, but Getzlaf and Toews were right on his heels.

1. Crosby (14 points): His ability to make the brilliant offensive play gives him the slight edge.

2. Getzlaf (14 points): Just a notch behind Crosby in the scoring category puts him in second place.

3. Toews (13 points): Simply one of the most talented players in the game with an overwhelming work ethic.

4. Bergeron (12 points): Not always as consistent in the offensive end as the top three.

5. Tavares (7 points): May have the greatest upside of anyone on the list.