Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews was one of the centers’ top trade targets ahead of the 2023 NHL trade deadline, and he naturally garnered attention in the rumor mill because of it. Additionally, he’s still been a solid contributor to the Blackhawks’ lineup. He has had a strong attacking performance as he has 14 goals and 28 points in 46 games played. With that, his strong defensive play and excellent leadership ensured that he attracted interest in the league as well.
But now the Toews Sweepstakes has come to an abrupt end The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus reported that the future Hall of Famer will not be traded due to the illness that has sidelined him since the All-Star hiatus. Shortly after that report, Toews himself released a statement He announced that he is still battling both Long COVID symptoms and Chronic Immune Response Syndrome symptoms. So, at the end of the day, it makes sense for the veteran to stay in Chicago.
Toews health is far more important than any trade
With the Blackhawks rebuilding, there was no question that Toews had the potential to be a valuable commodity. With teams like the Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Winnipeg Jets and Boston Bruins all appearing suitable for him, Chicago could have made a decent return for him. At the end of the day, however, there’s no question that his health matters far more than any hypothetical trade.
Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Additionally, Toews had complete control over whether or not he would be traded as he carries a full no-movement clause. While it seemed possible he might be willing to forego it after expressing frustration at the team’s rebuild, it’s entirely understandable why he’d want to stay at this point.
It’s also important to note that Toews has not been confirmed to be officially over for the season. While speaking to the media, General Manager (GM) Kyle Davidson noted that he has hopes for the Winnipeg native can return to the lineup this season and then confirmed he remains in place. However, given the severity of his symptoms, this is not a guarantee and he should not return until he feels completely well. As already mentioned, health comes first.
Could Toews be brought back next season?
With Toews staying there for the rest of the season, I wonder if the Blackhawks might be ready to bring him back for next season. Although they are in the process of rebuilding, it could be to their advantage to keep him as a mentor to the club’s younger players. This of course makes him one of the team’s greatest legends, so it would make sense for them to at least consider the prospect of bringing him up front.
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Of course, Toew needs to feel completely healthy if he wants to continue his career after this season. Still, he’s certainly still a useful NHL forward skill-wise, so it would be great for the Blackhawks to keep him as captain beyond this year. Of course, if Toews decides to return to Chicago, it would be at a far lower cost than his current $10.5 million. This is another reason why this should at least be considered by Blackhawks management.
Toews deserves tremendous respect
Whatever comes next for Toews, the entire hockey world has to give him immense respect. His Chronic Immune Response Syndrome cost him his entire 2020-21 season, but he came back and still proved a hardworking and effective forward for the Blackhawks. It’s never easy for a player to miss an entire campaign and come back, but Toews made it and has continued to do well.
Chicago Blackhawks’ Jonathan Toews celebrates a goal with teammates Patrick Kane, Taylor Raddysh, Philipp Kurashev and Max Domi (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
I sincerely hope Toews returns to the lineup with the Blackhawks this season as he was one of the top players of his generation. In his 15-year NHL career, he has 371 goals, 509 assists, 880 points and a plus-155 rating. He was a 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy winner, 2013 Selke Trophy winner, 2015 Mark Messier Leadership Award winner, and a six-time All-Star. Most importantly, he guided the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup championships and was one of the main reasons for their immense success in the 2010s.
Still, with this news, the best thing is that Toews aren’t being traded by the Blackhawks this season. While landing a few draft picks or prospects for him might have been beneficial to the Reconstruction, the importance of Toews’ health makes all of that irrelevant. We hope Toews feels better every day and feels good enough to return to the game sometime before the end of the campaign. The Blackhawks just aren’t the same without their well respected leader.
Source: thehockeywriters.com
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