While teammates Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas and Cale Makar lead the points board, Devon Toews quietly goes about his work to help create scoring chances for those players.
“I don’t really have expectations on the production side of things. I just have expectations on what our team does and how I fit into that and contribute to that on a daily basis,” Toews said. “Yeah, I end up on the ice with Cale, Nate, Marty, these guys that are all-world talent. Sometimes I got to let them do what they do. And that’s my job — is to let them do what they do, get them the puck where they can with time and space. Sometimes that becomes a point, sometimes it doesn’t, or sometimes it comes with production, but I feel like I’m doing all the little things right, and the quiet things well.”
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The 31-year-old defenseman is one of the best in the NHL. He plays a crucial role on the top D-pair with Makar and on special teams.
Toews scored his first goal of the season in the 7-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. He has eight points in 25 games, but it’s not about making the scoresheet. Two points for a win is the key statistic for him — which he is clearly a part of with a plus-20.
“His puck-moving is always on, and his ability to transition the puck is always on. He’s a great passer. Sees the ice. He’s intelligent,” head coach Jared Bednar said.
Bednar said Toews’ two-way game has been a bit “quiet” this season. He stressed what his capabilities are and what he wants to see more of from him.
“Him just actually joining and helping create a little more offense, to me, has had a little bit of a slow start. He’s important, whether he does it or not,” Bednar said. “There’s situations that he can continue to jump up and be part of the rush attack and help us on the offensive side and not just focus on D, because he has that ability.”
The Abbotsford, British Columbia native is focused on winning and his role in the team’s success every game. He does not need the attention on his performance as his play speaks for itself.
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“I feel great about my game. I think it’s some of the best hockey I’ve played the last few years,” Toews said. “Numbers might look quiet, but I don’t feel like what I’m doing is quiet, or what I’m trying to do to help this team … things that I do on a nightly basis, day in and day out, a lot of times, go unnoticed, and that’s kind of the way I like it, and that’s kind of what my game style is.”
Toews may not get the spotlight often enough for his contributions on the ice and his leadership role off of it, but the proof is in the results — winning. And this team keeps doing just that.