For the first time in more than two months, Jonathan Toews will be on the ice for a Chicago Blackhawks game Saturday night.
The longtime Hawks captain, who hasn’t played since Jan. 28 because of what he said were challenges with chronic immune response system and long COVID-19, is expected to return against the New Jersey Devils at the United Center, coach Luke Richardson said Friday.
“He said he felt good today and he’s like, ‘Well, I’m not going to be perfect, it might be ugly,’ “ Richardson told reporters at Fifth Third Arena. “And I said, ‘We’re a little big ugly right now, so you’ll fit right in.”
Toews, 34, has missed the last 26 games for the Hawks, who at 24-45-6 entering Friday were tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the fewest points (54) in the NHL. He returned to practice Tuesday, saying “it’s definitely nice to be back and be on the ice with the guys.”
Toews on Feb. 19 announced through a team statement that he would be stepping away. On Tuesday, Toews took a mostly reflective tone during a nearly 14-minute news conference and strongly hinted that because of his health issues, these could be his final days in a Hawks sweater — or any NHL sweater.
“Both (possibilities), if I’m being fully honest,” the center said. “I feel like I’ve said it already, that I’ve gotten to the point where my health is more important. I feel like I have much more to give with my experience in the game and knowing how to play the game, but when day after day you’re just pushing through pain, it’s just like, to what end?
“When you’re young and you’re playing for a Stanley Cup and everyone’s playing through something, that means something and it’s worthwhile. But I’m at that point where it feels like more damage is being done than is a good thing.”
Toews, who has 14 goals and 14 assists in 46 games in 2022-23, stopped short of saying definitively he would retire after the season.
“We’ll see how things play out,” he said. “I can’t get myself or get ahead of myself because every time I do, that’s when I create the expectations (and) you get on a bit of a mental roller coaster.
“I’ve said this quite a bit over the last few years, just trying to stay in the moment and take it day by day.”
This is Toews’ 15th season with the Hawks since they selected him with the No. 3 pick in the 2006 draft. He helped the team win three Stanley Cups in the 2010s and ranks in the top 10 in franchise history in games played (1,060), goals (371), assists (509) and points (880), among several other categories.
