Sunday we got an update on the status of captain Jonathan Toews and it was revealed that he is battling the symptoms of Long Covid and his continued fight with Chronic Immune Response Syndrome. Then it was later confirmed by GM Kyle Davidson that with the uncertainty of his health that the team will not be looking to trade him by this years deadline.
Toews seems confident that he will return to the ice at some point this year, and for many the question has turned from trade destinations to what is next for the captain. He can sign an extension and stay in Chicago, he can test the market this summer to try and continue his career, or for me the best option is to finish this season out and retire as a Hawk, the way it should be.
We all know that Toews is a competitor and he wants to continue to play at a high level and build on his legacy, but at the end of the day what more does he have to prove? His legacy is set and he is going to be a future Hockey Hall of Famer. He has won at every level he has competed at including international U17 Gold Medal (also won MVP), 2 World Junior Gold Medals, 2 World Championship Gold Medals, 2 Olympic Gold Medals (Named Best Forward at 2010 Games), and World Cup of Hockey Championship.
Then once he made the jump to the NHL we all know what happened then, 3 Stanley Cups, 1 Conn Smythe (2nd youngest player to win one and youngest captain to win the award)., Selke winner in 2013, 2015 ESPY Best NHL Player, and was named one of the top 100 greatest NHL Players during the leagues Centennial Anniversary. He is a member of the 1000 games played club, and has a stat line of 357 goals and 495 assists for 852 points. He will go down as one of the all time greatest face-off winners in league history and despite the rough few years he will still arguably go down as one of the best two way players to ever play the game.
By the time this season ends he will be 35 years old; he has been battling these health issues, and no matter what he seems to try, it just doesn’t seem to work and it is doing more harm than good. At a certain point you have to ask yourself when enough is enough. It might be time for Toews to think about life after hockey and how important it is to be as healthy as you can for everyday life. The mind and heart might still believe he can be the same player he once was, but if the body just isn’t there, why make it worse on yourself?
Toews for me is one of my all time favorites, and seeing his career come to an end this way is a heart breaker. You want these players to go out on their own terms and you would hope that the reason he hangs it up is because of age, but to see his hand get forced in this direction is tough. However, there is nothing for him to be ashamed of. He was a hell of a player who helped change this franchise for the better. He helped put the Blackhawks back on the map and for that I will forever be grateful. If this is really the end, I am glad it will end with him in a Blackhawks sweater.
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