Ex-NHL winger Viktor Stålberg has called for his former captain Jonathan Toews to be fast-tracked in to the Hall of Fame.
The 38-year-old, who retired from the game in June this year to call time on a career that saw him win the Stanley Cup on three occasions, spent 15 years at the Chicago Blackhawks, were he played alongside Stålberg.
According to the Swede, Toews was a standout professional and leader, even if he approached the role in his own manner.
“I think Jonathan Toews was the youngest captain after [Sidney] Crosby but the one thing with Toews is that he was a leader by example,” Stålberg told Ozoon.
“He’s not a huge outspoken guy. He would not stand up and give long speeches or motivational things like that but the way he played the game, the way you could see the competitiveness in his eyes, I think that’s what made him a leader.
“I’ve had other players in locker rooms that are way better at speaking, or more outgoing, or whatever, but obviously with his skill set, playing the right way, doing it almost every game, and there were very few games where he ever took a shift off, he had that drive to always be better. To always win. To compete for every face-off, every battle, and lead by example.
“That’s what gets guys rallying around you, and it didn’t matter if it was a 15-year-old or a veteran. They all said they could follow this 19-year-old because he played the right way.”
Stålberg is adamant that Toews should already be inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame.
“Yes, Jonathan Toews should 100% be in the Hall of Fame,” he added. “I texted him when he retired to tell him I can’t wait for your Hall of Fame party. I think he should be there. He’s won everything from the Olympics to the World Championships to the World Juniors and obviously the Stanley Cups.
“He’s been a huge influence on all these championships. He’s not just been a bystander. He’s been dominant every time. Look at the Olympics in Vancouver. He started on the fourth line and he was the top scorer of the tournament. He found a way. He was always the weight that tipped the scale so for me he was an incredible player, and he did for a long time.
“Maybe he didn’t put up 120 points every night of every season. There are guys that had better numbers for sure. It was about the intangibles, the matchups he had. He was going up against Joe Thornton, he was going up against Patrice Bergeron, he was going up against the best teams, and the best players of every single team, and was still able to produce. He never got frustrated when things didn’t go well. He just kept working away at it.
“I think Jonathan Toews deserves an early induction into the Hall of Fame.”
