Devon Toews isn’t the loudest player on the ice - and that’s exactly what makes him so effective. While names like Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, and Cale Makar dominate the headlines and rack up the points, Toews is the steady hand in the background, doing the kind of work that doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet but is absolutely essential to winning hockey.
“I don’t really have expectations on the production side of things,” Toews said recently. “I just have expectations on what our team does and how I fit into that and contribute to that on a daily basis.”
That mindset tells you everything you need to know about the 31-year-old defenseman. He’s not chasing numbers - he’s chasing wins. And right now, he’s helping his team do just that.
Playing on the top defensive pairing alongside Cale Makar, Toews brings a level of poise and precision that’s easy to overlook - until you watch how seamlessly he moves the puck or how often he makes the right read under pressure. Whether it’s a clean breakout pass or a subtle shift in positioning to cut off a rush, Toews is constantly putting his team in a position to succeed.
“Sometimes I got to let them do what they do,” Toews said of his high-powered teammates. “That’s my job - to let them do what they do, get them the puck where they can with time and space.”
It’s not glamorous, but it’s winning hockey. And Toews is playing it at a high level.
He finally got on the scoresheet with his first goal of the season during a dominant 7-2 win over the Canadiens, bringing his point total to eight through 25 games. But again, that’s not the number that matters most to him. What jumps off the page is his plus-20 rating - a reflection of how often good things happen when he’s on the ice.
Head coach Jared Bednar sees it too. “His puck-moving is always on, and his ability to transition the puck is always on,” Bednar said.
“He’s a great passer. Sees the ice.
He’s intelligent.”
Still, Bednar believes there’s another gear Toews can hit offensively.
“Him just actually joining and helping create a little more offense, to me, has had a little bit of a slow start,” Bednar noted. “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.”
It’s a fair point. Toews has shown in the past that he can contribute more offensively, and with the way this team moves the puck, there’s room for him to step into those moments when the opportunity presents itself. But even if the numbers stay modest, his impact is undeniable.
“I feel great about my game,” Toews said. “I think it’s some of the best hockey I’ve played the last few years. Numbers might look quiet, but I don’t feel like what I’m doing is quiet.”
He’s right. The tape tells the real story.
Toews is out there every night making smart plays, winning battles, and doing the little things that add up over 60 minutes - and over an 82-game season. His game isn’t built for the highlight reel, but it’s tailor-made for playoff hockey.
And that’s what this team is ultimately built for - the long haul. Toews may not be the face of the franchise, but he’s one of the reasons it keeps winning. Quietly, efficiently, and with purpose.