Blackhawks: Jonathan Toews will need to step up next season

The Chicago Blackhawks played alright throughout this season. While I do not think they would have made the playoffs in 2019-20 they proved they could compete. Next year should be better for this team, as long as you can have a great year from Jonathan Toews.

Sidney Crosby has single-handedly lead his team to the playoffs more than once, and while Jonathan Toews is no Crosby, they did use to be compared to one another. I believe that Toews played like any good captain this season, and in 70 games he managed to put up 60 points, but they are going to need him to be even better next season.

While I do not think that Jonathan Toews is going to lead the Chicago Blackhawks in goals or assists, I do think they are going to need to lean on him even more in the team’s own end while also expecting him to continue to put up points offensively.

Dylan Strome is going to be the Blackhawks number one offensive center next season. I think the team is expecting him to step up a lot next year. Kirby Dach is going to continue to improve and should be great in the neutral zone. Dach has a great reach and has shown he has dekes and moves to get around any opponent. Toews, on the other hand, is going to be used more in the team’s defensive zone.

I think that Toews is the best center on this team for any faceoff situation this team is in. I would put him out for the penalty kill and the power play and feel confident that he is going to get this team the puck. Basically, because of that same thought process, I think next season the Blackhawks are going to be starting Jonathan Toews in the defensive zone more than the offensive zone.

Toews might not be the center of the future for the Blackhawks, but he still is the center of the present and a member of the top 100 players of all time. We are going to need him to have a few more good years if the Blackhawks are going to compete for the Stanley Cup once again!