The end of the line may be near for the Chicago Blackhawks legend.
In the wake of persistent prolonged COVID symptoms and chronic immune response syndrome, which has limited him to just 46 games this season, Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews is reportedly considering retirement.
According to a report by John Dietz the daily heraldtoes is seriously considered walking away from the gameThe Blackhawks have been preparing internally to see if this decision could come to pass.
Despite those whispers, the 34-year-old has been with the team for the past two weeks and attended several recent home games, while the Blackhawks have continued to publicly say they are hopeful of returning.
Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson said, “I know he’s scrambling to take the next step.” “Hopefully he’ll get there.”
Toews has been out of the lineup since January 28 and missed several games this season with a “non-COVID illness” before releasing a statement clarifying his condition in mid-February.
“Playing through these symptoms has been really challenging,” Toews said in the release. “Over the past few weeks it has gotten to a point where I had no choice but to step back and focus on getting healthy.”
Should Toews ultimately choose to walk away from the game, the Winnipeg native will leave a lasting impact not only on the lone franchise, but on the entire NHL.
A three-time Stanley Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, Toews is recognized for both his outstanding play on the ice as well as his exceptional leadership.
His steady demeanor earned him the moniker Captain Serious and helped make him the third-youngest permanent captain in NHL history and the fifth-youngest permanent captain at the time of the honor. He has been the longest-serving captain in Blackhawks history, a mark he surpasses his closest peers by nearly 500 games.
As far as his on-ice excellence goes, Toews’ 1,060 games ranks fifth in the nearly 100-year history of the Blackhawks organization, while his 880 points in store rank seventh for the franchise.
Toews is in the final year of his eight-year, $84 million contract. He has 14 goals and 28 points in 46 games this season.
