Why Jonathan Toews is the most accomplished player in hockey

There are better hockey players in this world than Jonathan Toews, though you'd have plenty of fingers left if you counted. There are more dynamic offensive players and there are better penalty killers. You might be able to name a better defensive forward, but you'd have to do a lot of explaining. 

But when it comes to hockey careers, hockey accomplishments, who has a better trophy case than the 25-year old center for the Chicago Blackhawks? 

Toews scored the first goal in a 3-0 win, a victory that handed Canada its second consecutive Olympic gold medal. In the gold medal game against the US in 2010, Toews opened the scoring with a goal halfway through the first period. That game had a similar outcome - Canadian gold. 

Team Canada called upon Jonathan Toews to kill penalties against the dangerous American attack and he take his turn against the potent and precise Swedish PP. 

When Canada gained the man advantage, there was Toews, taking key offensive zone faceoffs and centering a five-man Canadian power play with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf.

Which is to say: Jonathan Toews was a key member of a gold medal-winning hockey team. He did it all, playing a huge role for a great team. Again. 

Just as, this past spring, he wore all these same hats as well as the captain's C for the Stanley Cup winning Chicago Blackhawks, his second Cup triumph in three years. 

The first time Chicago reached the Cup finals, Toews was named the Conn Smythe winner as the most valuable player during the playoffs. In 2013, he won the Selke trophy for being the best defensive forward in the game. 

Two Stanley Cups, two gold medals, world junior championship and world hockey championship in the same year. Team success, individual awards, Toews can claim them all. 

Is Sidney Crosby a better player? Nobody is ready to say anything otherwise. But the resume Jonathan Toews already built in his young career is second to none. The benefiticary of playing on great teams? Of course. But each and every one of those teams were made significantly better by Jonathan Toews - proud owner of the most enviable resume in professional hockey.