Blackhawks star Jonathan Toews will FINALLY return from chronic immune response syndrome and long-term COVID, as the three-time Stanley Cup winner continues to weigh retirement.
Jonathan Toews is preparing to return to the Chicago Blackhawks lineup after long battling COVID-19 and chronic immune response syndrome for much of the past two years.
Toews hasn’t played since January, when he walked away from the game citing health issues.
Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson announced Friday that Toews will play Saturday against the New Jersey Devils.
As Richardson recalled, Toews told him that his return “wasn’t going to be perfect” and that “it could be ugly.”
But for a 24-45-6 team, that’s not a problem, Richardson explained: “I said, ‘We’re a little ugly right now, so you’ll fit in right now.’
Jonathan Toews prepares to return to Chicago Blackhawks lineup
Toews hasn’t made any long-term plans when it comes to his possible retirement.
“To be completely honest, I’m not close to making that decision yet,” Toews told NBC Sports Chicago. “I don’t feel like with what I’ve been through this year and last season I have enough clarity on what that decision will be.”
The 34-year-old three-time Stanley Cup champion is in the final year of an $84 million contract, having recently lost his old teammate Patrick Kane to the New York Rangers.
Toews returned to the practice ice earlier this week.
He hasn’t played since Jan. 28, but spoke to the media for the first time in weeks Tuesday morning and said he doesn’t know if he’ll play beyond this season.
“I don’t know if it was when we were on the road a long time or before the break and it got to the point where I couldn’t move on the ice and didn’t even want to put my skates on.” or getting out of bed to go to the court, so it was quite difficult there for a bit,’ Toews said, as quoted by The Athletic.
“So, I think it probably took me a couple of weeks of struggling, in my own mind, trying to figure out what the right decision was, whether I should keep trying to get over it, which didn’t really feel like an option anymore… Or like disconnecting and trying to focus my energy on improving.’
Toews couldn’t help but refer to Kane’s absence when he spoke to reporters earlier in the week.
“The guys that have been a part of this room in recent years, I mean, a guy like Kaner that I’ve played with my whole career, and he comes back in the locker room right now and it feels very different, but he’s definitely special.” For me, regardless of what happens in the future this summer, I definitely keep in mind that this could be my last few weeks here in Chicago as a Blackhawk.’
Toews has not played since January as he has battled lethargy and prolonged Covid.