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Video Transcript
Let’s go to a positive story here.
Let’s go to a positive story here.
Jonathan Toews got a hero’s welcome in Chicago.
Jonathan Toews got a hero’s welcome in Chicago.
Playing his first game against the Blackhawks, as he is now of course with his hometown Winnipeg Jets.
Playing his first game against the Blackhawks, as he is now of course with his hometown Winnipeg Jets.
Toews an absolute franchise icon for the Hawks.
Toews an absolute franchise icon for the Hawks.
Captain Serious himself, future Hall of Famer, three Stanley Cups, in the Windy City.
Captain Serious himself, future Hall of Famer, three Stanley Cups, in the Windy City.
gets a long-standing ovation, had a great tribute.
gets a long-standing ovation, had a great tribute.
Mike, I’ll go to you first on this one.
Mike, I’ll go to you first on this one.
What’s your favorite example of a player returning, quote-unquote, “home”, with his new team?
What’s your favorite example of a player returning, quote-unquote, “home”, with his new team?
Well, f- first off, Ryan, I had goosebumps watching that, and I think, you know, you didn’t have to be a Blackhawks fan or even a Toews fan, and side note, Drew, I don’t know, man.
Well, f- first off, Ryan, I had goosebumps watching that, and I think, you know, you didn’t have to be a Blackhawks fan or even a Toews fan, and side note, Drew, I don’t know, man.
I saw your comment on Twitter.
I saw your comment on Twitter.
You’re, you’re saying that, you know, every young center was modeling their game after Jonathan Toews.
You’re, you’re saying that, you know, every young center was modeling their game after Jonathan Toews.
I 100% agree.
I 100% agree.
you talk to coaches, you know, every coach was probably saying, “Watch how Jonathan Toews plays, not just offensively, in the defensive end and in his assignments.”
you talk to coaches, you know, every coach was probably saying, “Watch how Jonathan Toews plays, not just offensively, in the defensive end and in his assignments.”
“That’s how you have to play if you wanna get to that next level.”
“That’s how you have to play if you wanna get to that next level.”
So I agree with everything you said.
So I agree with everything you said.
People that don’t appreciate Jonathan Toews, I don’t know what you’ve been watching during that whole Stanley Cup run and- Yeah his dynasty, era with the Blackhawks.
People that don’t appreciate Jonathan Toews, I don’t know what you’ve been watching during that whole Stanley Cup run and- Yeah his dynasty, era with the Blackhawks.
So just first and foremost, it was incredible just how long that ovation was.
So just first and foremost, it was incredible just how long that ovation was.
Right.
Right.
Like, no, I’ve never seen that before.
Like, no, I’ve never seen that before.
Like, he, he was at one point going, “All right, enough, enough.”
Like, he, he was at one point going, “All right, enough, enough.”
Like, “There’s, there’s a game to be played here, guys.”
Like, “There’s, there’s a game to be played here, guys.”
Yeah.
Yeah.
“I, I gotta go home after this.”
“I, I gotta go home after this.”
So that was amazing.
So that was amazing.
you asked me what was the, the best kind of homecoming.
you asked me what was the, the best kind of homecoming.
I- I’ll go Mats Sundin when he came back to Toronto with the Vancouver Canucks.
I- I’ll go Mats Sundin when he came back to Toronto with the Vancouver Canucks.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Had a similar situation.
Had a similar situation.
Like, you I, I think they showed, like, a close-up of Mats Sundin, and there were, like, tears in his eyes.
Like, you I, I think they showed, like, a close-up of Mats Sundin, and there were, like, tears in his eyes.
Like, it was to the point where you’re going, “Why is he even on the ice?”
Like, it was to the point where you’re going, “Why is he even on the ice?”
Like, put him on the bench for the, the faceoff.
Like, put him on the bench for the, the faceoff.
And at least with, like, some of these homecomings, they the coach is wise enough to say, like, “All right, you don’t have to go on the ice now.
And at least with, like, some of these homecomings, they the coach is wise enough to say, like, “All right, you don’t have to go on the ice now.
Like, you can just stay on the bench” because- Yeah there’s a lot of emotions, I imagine, for a guy like Toews and for a lot of these guys who spent their entire career with one team, and now they have to go into the visiting room.
Like, you can just stay on the bench” because- Yeah there’s a lot of emotions, I imagine, for a guy like Toews and for a lot of these guys who spent their entire career with one team, and now they have to go into the visiting room.
So, you know, well done by Chicago fans.
So, you know, well done by Chicago fans.
that, that is such a great market.
that, that is such a great market.
I think once they start winning again, it’s gonna be fantastic for Connor Bedard and that next gen. Yeah, and I mean, it’s funny.
I think once they start winning again, it’s gonna be fantastic for Connor Bedard and that next gen. Yeah, and I mean, it’s funny.
I got killed by so many Like, Pittsburgh people were writing me saying And what I meant by this is, like, when I was growing up as a kid, like, I didn’t think I had the ability to be Sidney Crosby.
I got killed by so many Like, Pittsburgh people were writing me saying And what I meant by this is, like, when I was growing up as a kid, like, I didn’t think I had the ability to be Sidney Crosby.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So people are, like, comparing Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews.
So people are, like, comparing Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews.
But yes, clearly Sidney Crosby’s one of the top five players of all time.
But yes, clearly Sidney Crosby’s one of the top five players of all time.
But Jonathan Toews was a guy who just did everything so well that as a young player, it’s like you thought you could do, you could become more like Jonathan Toews than you could Sidney Crosby.
But Jonathan Toews was a guy who just did everything so well that as a young player, it’s like you thought you could do, you could become more like Jonathan Toews than you could Sidney Crosby.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Now, I think that if you look at his thing, I mean, he’s got three Stanley Cups, won the Conn Smythe at 22 years old, two Olympic gold medals.
Now, I think that if you look at his thing, I mean, he’s got three Stanley Cups, won the Conn Smythe at 22 years old, two Olympic gold medals.
And to me, that was the coolest return of, like Michael said, anywhere that I’ve witnessed in a long time.
And to me, that was the coolest return of, like Michael said, anywhere that I’ve witnessed in a long time.
I think, too, just, like, everything he did, I mean, how bad that team was for so long.
I think, too, just, like, everything he did, I mean, how bad that team was for so long.
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
And then the era.
And then the era.
I mean, there’s people I know in Chicago who literally said that the Blackhawks, like, gave them a very enjoyable 10 years of their life, just all the fun they were able to have through these playoff runs.
I mean, there’s people I know in Chicago who literally said that the Blackhawks, like, gave them a very enjoyable 10 years of their life, just all the fun they were able to have through these playoff runs.
And, he’s just a guy that, like you said, not only Like, people are talking about his points, and that’s another thing.
And, he’s just a guy that, like you said, not only Like, people are talking about his points, and that’s another thing.
Like, he wasn’t a guy who scored 100 points every year.
Like, he wasn’t a guy who scored 100 points every year.
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
But he was a guy who you’d have on the ice if you needed a goal.
But he was a guy who you’d have on the ice if you needed a goal.
You’d have a guy on the ice taking the faceoff if you had to protect a lead, and he was just kind of the ultimate professional throughout his entire career.
You’d have a guy on the ice taking the faceoff if you had to protect a lead, and he was just kind of the ultimate professional throughout his entire career.
So I thought it was awesome.
So I thought it was awesome.
And, kind of going back to echoing what Michael said, it’s like Chicago as a sports town, it’s like I can’t wait for the Blackhawks to be good again, ’cause it’s just such a fun market to have involved in the game, and, it was awesome to see.
And, kind of going back to echoing what Michael said, it’s like Chicago as a sports town, it’s like I can’t wait for the Blackhawks to be good again, ’cause it’s just such a fun market to have involved in the game, and, it was awesome to see.