NHL Best Players: Jonathan Toews and Pavel Datsyuk

For the last three or four years NHL fans have debated who is the better player, Sidney Crosby or Alexander Ovechkin. Those two players sell a lot of jerseys but, currently the argument should focus on two other players. 

Those that appreciate two-way hockey and the complete hockey player should tune into the NHL’s Central Division in the Western Conference.  As of this moment, the Chicago Blackhawks Jonathan Toews and the Detroit Red Wings Pavel Datsyuk are the two most complete hockey players in the world. 

Sure, when Crosby is healthy, he may be considered the best. Sadly, without a complete season last year due to a concussion and no real timetable for his return this season he cannot be categorized as the best in the game right now. 

Ovechkin is a scorer, and should be admired only for what he does on the offensive side of the game.  

Toews is a star, a leader and a complete player at the age of 23. Shamefully, Pavel Datsyuk has been the most overlooked player in the NHL for the last 10 years.    

Call me a loyalist, a homer, or whatever you wish, but this is the truth and here is why.

Skill

There is no better puck-handler in the game of hockey than Datsyuk. He is incredibly talented, has a wicked shot and is tremendous at moving the puck. He can protect the puck as good as anyone in the sport and creates opportunities for his teammates.  Datsyuk may be the best perimeter player in league and is able to dish the puck effectively from this area.    

On the subject of protecting the puck, Toews also deserves praise. His corner work is exceptional in either end of the ice. He is constantly around the puck and will win the 50/50 battles. His wrist shot is lethal and he is strong at moving the puck. Toews excels around the net, whether it is getting to the net in the offensive zone or supporting the play in his own end of the ice.   

Hockey Sense

The smartest hockey players see the game a few plays ahead of them and Datsyuk and Toews are no different in this regard.  

Datsyuk is particularly gifted in this fashion because he is the best neutral zone hockey player in the world and is in control and creative at moving the puck up ice. His passes are hard, crisp and on the tape. Once in the offensive zone he is crafty and will find seams and openings to thread the needle. 

Toews has a different style than Datsyuk, but moves at a controlled pace.  His more hard-nosed approach is effective as he draws attention from the opposition when getting to the net. Like Datsyuk, Toews has the ability and the awareness to create opportunities by utilizing his teammates through neutral ice or inside the opposing blue-line. He is a good passer, but Toews’ best attribute is skating into open space without the puck while on the attack.  

Defensive Responsibility

Whether it is winning the majority of their face-offs (Datsyuk 54.6 in 2011, Toews 56.7) or supporting the play down low, it is what these two do in their defensive zone that separates them from the pack.  

Datsyuk has won four straight Lady Byng trophies (2006-2009) and won the Selke Trophy three consecutive times (2008-2010).  He is in the mix every year to win one of these two awards. 

Toews was nominated for the Selke this past season and you can expect him to be in a candidate for that award every year moving forward.  

They are both primary penalty killers on their teams and if you want to talk about responsible play, consider their penalty minutes. Datsyuk had 15 penalty minutes last season, and 26 for Toews.  

Offensive Prowess

Twice Datsyuk has had 97-point seasons. In 2008-2009 he lead his team in scoring by 25 points (Zetterberg 73). When the Red Wings won the Cup in 2008 he had 23 points in 22 playoff games.  

Last season Jonathan Toews led the Blackhawks in scoring with 76 points in 80 games. In the 2010 postseason he led the league with 29 points in 22 games, winning the Conn Smythe and the Stanley Cup for Chicago.  

It is rare that a player can dominate the sport at both ends of the ice and be their team's best offensive and defensive player.

Situational Play

Some players are offensive machines, excelling on the powerplay, while others are have a more defensive minded style and penalty killing is a specialty.  There are a few players in the NHL that are essential at both. 

Datsyuk logs the most ice time on the Red Wings and despite criticism suggesting otherwise, is still a premier penalty killer. He will be the first guy off the bench to kill a penalty for Babcock during the postseason. On the powerplay you will find Datsyuk at his familiar spot on the boards, operating for the Red Wings’ overload.  

10 of Toews’ 32 goals in 2010-2011 were on the powerplay.  When the Hawks run the overload, Toews is down low, often accepting a pass and driving straight to the net. Typically on the penalty kill Toews will be the first player on the ice with either Patrick Sharp or Marian Hossa.  With his high faceoff winning percentage, he will often take most if not all defensive zone draws on the penalty kill.

Leadership

If the Red Wings were allowed to elect two players to wear the “C” Datsyuk would be the other one.  At 33, when Nicklas Lindstrom moves on, Datsyuk will be Detroit’s next captain. He leads by doing and has a presence in the locker room.  He would be the captain on most other NHL teams.  

In July of 2008 Toews was named captain of the Hawks at the age of 20.  He is “Captain Serious” and the best leader in the NHL.  He single-handedly put a depleted squad on his back last February and kept them in the playoff hunt. His goal to tie Game 7 of the first round series against the Vancouver Canucks defined his character and determination.

Winning

With two cups to his name, Datsyuk remains the best player on a perennial power.  He has led his team to the Stanley Cup Finals three times and is the most important ingredient on the club.  When you talk of the all time best players it all comes back to winning games, and Datsyuk has done just that. 

Toews has won Internationally in the World Junior Tournament and in the Olympics.  In 2010 he won Olympic gold, was the most outstanding forward in that tournament, won the Conn Smythe and the Stanley Cup.  

During the Olympics when asked who his best player was, Mike Babcock simply said, "Whoever is playing with Jonathan Toews. "