Prior to Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Blackhawks and Lightning, Mark Messier went 1-on-1 with CSN's Chris Boden to discuss Jonathan Toews and the team's success.
Toews, along with Ryan Getzlaf and Andrew Ladd, is nominated for the Mark Messier award, given "to the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice during the regular season."
Messier has nothing but high praise for the Blackhawks captain.
"I know how much pressure is put on a captain at an early age," said Messier. "Jonathan came in here when he was named captain early and has never taken a backwards step. He's grown into an incredible captain, leader, inspirational on and off the ice. The way he's carried himself, the messaging to the fans, his initiatives that he's involved in off the ice -- what more can you say? Easy guy to like on and off the ice."
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Part of a dynasty himself with the Edmonton Oilers in the 1980s, Messier gives his take on if the Blackhawks should be considered a dynasty if they win their third Stanley Cup in six years.
"Certainly gotta be in the conversation especially with the challenges that we have nowadays to keep a team together and a competitive team together," said Messier. "It's just incredible. When you're on the run that Chicago has been on for the last few years, there's a lot of bouquets thrown around, not only from management and ownership but also from the players on the ice that are logging the minutes.
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"No one person wins alone. This has been a team effort not only on the ice but off the ice, and an incredible, incredible story if they're able to go on and win again this year."
See what else Messier had to say in the video above.