Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews watched the Stanley Cup playoffs this past spring and much like the team’s fanbase he wasn’t happy with the outcome.
The Blackhawks’ biggest divisional rival, the Blues, defeated the Bruins in seven games to win the Stanley Cup. With the Blues’ victory in their fourth Stanley Cup Final, 49 years after their last appearance and in their 52nd year, they became the final active franchise from the 1967 expansion to win the Stanley Cup.
Toews joined ESPN Chicago’s “Waddle and Silvy” program Thursday and expressed how he felt about the Blues’ championship win.
Silvy: “So the Blues win it all. I want to know from you as a bitter rival of the Blues, did you watch? Did it kill you to watch? And like was there a part of you that was happy for them considering where they came from?”
Toews: “There was no part of me that was happy, let’s make that clear. At the end of the day, I think they made some big moves in the offseason last year. To me, them tanking at the start of the year was a huge underachievement. I’m not ready to give them as much credit as everyone else was this year.”
Listen: Toews interview starts at 26-minute mark.
Toews was asked about his remarks Friday prior to the team’s 12th annual fan convention at Hilton Chicago.
Jonathan Toews on the Blues winning the Cup: “Watching that Stanley Cup final, it was weird, I was cheering for Boston, didn’t want to see St. Louis win, but it just had that feeling that they were just too good, they weren’t going to be denied.”
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) July 26, 2019
The Blackhawks missed the playoffs for a second straight year despite career years by Patrick Kane and Toews among others.
The Blues like the Blackhawks made a coaching change last November by promoting Craig Berube from associate coach to replace Mike Yeo. St. Louis found itself in last place in the NHL in points Jan. 3 with a 15-8-4 record because they had played the fewest games. Six teams had worse records by points percentage and the Blues were a mere three games under .500. The Blues went on a 30-10-5 run after that point to finish third in the Central Division to earn a playoff spot behind rookie goaltender Jordan Binnington.
The Blackhawks went 4-1 last season against the Blues, including a 2-0 mark with Jeremy Colliton as the team’s head coach. Toews scored four goals — including a hat trick that was capped by an overtime winner Oct. 6 — and two assists in the season series.
2018-19 season series: Chicago vs. St. Louis
Oct. 6: 5-4 OT Chicago win at St. Louis
Oct. 13: 4-3 OT Chicago win
Oct. 27: 7-3 Chicago loss at St. Louis
Nov. 14: 1-0 Chicago win (Colliton’s first win)
April 3: 4-3 SO Chicago win (Colliton-Berube first matchup)
2019-20 season series: Chicago vs. St. Louis
Dec. 2: at Chicago
Dec. 14: at St. Louis
Feb. 25: at St. Louis
March 8: at Chicago