Vanek just had 40 goals in a secondary role in his soph season after 48 points in a very limited role in his rookie season. This is after a ppg in his rookie season as a 20-year old in the 'A', as well as tearing up the NCAA for two years.
He's a future top 5 scorer in the league, I don't see how that's not special.
He´s really good, but if you use the word "special" and name the two best young players in the world in Crosby and Ovechkin with Vanek than I don´t agree with you.
He´s as special as Eric Staal, Dion Phaneuf maybe Heatley, Spezza but Crosby has proven that he´s in his own league.
As for Toews, he MAY not put up over a PPG as E. Staal or Vanek but to write him off this early as not being special is beyond me. Let´s see what he can do in his first two NHL seasons.
He was an outstanding College player, has won several world championships and is known as a great leader and clutch player and now he plays really good at the mens world championship at age 19.
I really don´t know what else you are looking for in a 19 year old kid to see something special but to be tied in scoring with Rick Nash while collecting 3 of 4 assists against the best opponent thus far, not being out of place, not hurting his team with errors, showing great on-ice vision, speed, puck control like a pro... I think he has all the tools to be special!