Blackhawks Legend Jonathan Toews ‘Not Totally Retiring’ from NHL, Will Take Time Away

Longtime Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews announced Thursday he isn’t retiring however can also be not able to hit the ice within the speedy future.

“I might wish to announce that I’m not totally retiring, however I’m taking time away from the sport once more this season,” he wrote on Instagram. “I can not deny my love for the sport of hockey and nonetheless really feel the eagerness for competing at my highest stage.”

He supplied extra particulars:

“Nonetheless, these previous couple of seasons have been very tough contemplating my well being challenges. My focus is to offer myself the time and area to totally heal and luxuriate in life to the fullest as soon as once more. Alongside the best way I’ve met a number of individuals who have struggled with well being points pertaining to lengthy COVID, persistent immune response syndrome, and different related instances which can be fairly complicated. I now acknowledge the significance of someday sharing the main points of my well being journey with you all.

“Thanks to all of you who’ve supported me and revered my privateness within the course of.”

That he is not going to be taking part in within the close to future comes as little shock as his standing with the Blackhawks was put into query with the hiring of Kyle Davidson as common supervisor in 2021-22.

Davidson made it clear that Chicago was going to enter a full-scale rebuild, and with Toews’ contract expiring after the 2022-23 season, it was unlikely the franchise was going to re-sign him.

Davidson confirmed on April 13 that the franchise wouldn’t be re-signing the 35-year-old ahead this summer season.

Toews additionally told reporters on the time that the “considered taking part in for one more crew proper now’s thus far behind my thoughts,” so it was unclear whether or not he would need to proceed taking part in elsewhere.

“I at all times thought I might retire a Blackhawk and a part of me nonetheless believes in that, so we’ll see,” he mentioned.

The Blackhawks chosen Toews third total within the 2006 draft, and he made his NHL debut in the course of the 2007-08 season. In 1,067 video games with Chicago throughout 15 seasons, he notched 372 targets and 511 assists for 883 factors.

Moreover, Toews captained the Blackhawks to a few Stanley Cups, gained the 2009-10 Conn Smythe Trophy, 2012-13 Frank J. Selke Trophy and 2014-15 Mark Messier Management Award.

Nonetheless, he has regressed over the latter phases of his profession and even missed the whole 2020-21 season with persistent immune response syndrome.

He additionally missed a part of the 2022-23 marketing campaign with signs of lengthy COVID and persistent immune response syndrome, showing in simply 53 video games.

Toews will go down as probably the greatest gamers in Chicago’s historical past no matter his subsequent step, and there is little doubt his No. 19 will someday be hanging within the rafters of the United Heart.