Toews announced on Instagram that he won't play in 2023-24.
Toews has battled health issues related to long COVID over the last few seasons and wants to take some time to focus on getting better. However, he's not retiring and still might return in 2024-25. The 35-year-old had 15 goals and 31 points in 53 contests with Chicago last year. Toews entered the summer as an unrestricted free agent after completing his eight-year, $84 million contract.
Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews: Scores one more goal with Chicago
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Toews found the back of the net in Chicago's 5-4 overtime loss to Philadelphia on Thursday.
Toews' marker came on the power play and reduced Philadelphia's lead to 4-3 midway through the second period. Ultimately, the Blackhawks still lost the game and they were long since eliminated from the playoff race, making Chicago's season finale moot from that perspective. Even with the goal, Toews' 15 tallies and 31 points in 53 contests in 2022-23 represents a far cry from the sort of numbers the 34-year-old produced in his prime. Even still, it was a goal to remember, because it was likely his last with the Blackhawks. Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson has already announced that the team doesn't plan to re-sign Toews this summer. The veteran forward has 372 goals and 883 points in 1,067 career appearances with the Blackhawks, and he played a key role in their Stanley Cup championships in 2010, 2013 and 2015.
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Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews: Final game with Blackhawks
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Toews will play his final game as a Blackhawk on Thursday.
Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson sent out a statement saying that the Blackhawks will not re-sign Toews in the offseason. The 34-year-old will play his 1,067th NHL game Thursday, all with Chicago -- look for him to get a massive ovation as he led the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup championships as the team's captain. Toews has only 14 goals and 30 points in 52 games this season. It remains to be seen if he'll retire at the end of the campaign or enter free agency in the summer.
Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews: Assist in return from illness
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Toews (illness) picked up an assist in 14:00 of ice time Saturday in a 6-3 loss to the Devils.
Toews fired one shot and laid one hit. It was his first game since Jan. 28. He had previously announced on Feb. 21 that he was stepping away to deal with the effects of long COVID and Chronic Immune Response Syndrome, which caused him to miss the entire 2020-21 season. Toews looked out of sync early, but seemed to get better over the course of the game. It remains to be seen how much he can contribute over the rest of the season.
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Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews: Set to return Saturday
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Toews (illness) will play Saturday versus New Jersey, Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson told Charlie Roumeliotis of NBC Sports Chicago.
Toews hasn't played since Jan. 28 because of "long-COVID-19" symptoms. He has 14 goals and 28 points in 46 contests this season. There's a chance that Richardson will ease him back into the lineup Saturday after being unavailable for roughly two months, so he might get less than his 2022-23 average of 17:55 of ice time.
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Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews: Back on ice
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Toews (illness) has been skating and could return to practice soon, Scott Powers of The Athletic reports.
It's still unclear if Toews will get back in the lineup before the end of the season, as Chicago has just 10 games remaining. The veteran center hasn't played since Jan. 28, so it's encouraging to see him skating again. He has 28 points this season and is set to become an unrestricted free agent.
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Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews: Staying around team
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Toews (illness) has been working out and interacting with his teammates, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
There still isn't a firm timeline for Toews' return to action, but the fact that he's around the team is a positive sign. The 34-year-old has been dealing with "Long-COVID-19" symptoms related to a previous infection with the virus, which has made it difficult for him to be physically well enough to play. He hasn't been ruled out for the season, though the Blackhawks will not need to rush him back.
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Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews: Won't be traded
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Toews (illness) won't be moved before the trade deadline and is expected to be out until at least March, Emily Kaplan of ESPN reports.
Toews is dealing with "long-COVID-19" symptoms that caused him to step away in early February, but the Blackhawks have some optimism that he can get back in the lineup sometime in March. The 34-year-old center and the team reportedly made a joint decision not to explore trades elsewhere while he remains in uncertain health. Toews has recorded 14 goals and 28 points through 46 appearances this season.
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Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews: Starts skating
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Toews (illness) has skated a couple of times this week, Mark Lazerus of The Athletic reports.
Toews has been out of action since Jan. 28 with a non-COVID illness, but it has taken its toll on the center, who has missed the last five games. He will not play Friday in Ottawa and more will be known when the Blackhawks return home Sunday to face the Maple Leafs. Toews has 14 goals and 28 points in 46 games and could be headed elsewhere by the trade deadline, as he is in the final season of his contract.
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Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews: Lands on retroactive IR
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Toews (illness) was placed on injured reserve by the Hawks on Wednesday retroactive to Feb. 7, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Toews was already expected to be sidelined giant the Leafs on Wednesday, so his IR designation won't impact when he can return to the lineup. Max Domi figures to continue holding down the first-line center role while Toews is on the shelf while Jason Dickinson steps into the second line. Toews lingering illness concerns could limit Chicago's ability to move him at the deadline as has been widely suspected. If Toews doesn't get traded, he will hit the open market during the offseason.
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Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews: Likely out for two more games
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Toews (illness) will probably miss Chicago's next two games, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The Blackhawks play in Montreal on Tuesday before visiting Toronto on Wednesday. Toews is currently still working out in Chicago. His availability for Friday's contest at Ottawa is unclear at the moment. Toews, who has been out since Jan. 28, has recorded 14 goals, 28 points and 79 shots on net in 46 games this season.
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Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews: Expected to miss more time
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Toews (illness) isn't expected to play Friday against Arizona or Saturday versus the Jets, Scott Powers of The Athletic reports.
It appears Toews will likely miss at least two more contests with the illness that held him out of Tuesday's loss to the Ducks. Jason Dickinson will likely continue to occupy a top-six role until Toews is ready to return.
Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews: Not expected to play Tuesday
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Toews (illness) is not expected to play Tuesday against Anaheim, Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Toews did not practice Sunday and Monday due to a non-COVID illness. He has produced 14 goals and 14 assists in 46 games this season. Chicago is slated to get Tyler Johnson (ankle) back in the fold Tuesday versus the Ducks.
