Toews calls Blackhawks trades 'disheartening,' uncertain about future

Jonathan Toews said it was difficult to watch the Chicago Blackhawks trade Marc-Andre Fleury and Brandon Hagel prior to the NHL Trade Deadline on Monday.

"It's become pretty clear the direction we're heading in as a franchise and I'm not going to lie, it was disheartening to see a couple of good friends go, regardless of what's to come in the future," the Blackhawks captain said Wednesday. "I think this group has been through quite a bit this year on and off the ice. Obviously, life's been weird, it's been hard for a lot of people.
"There have been a lot of challenges that these guys have grown through as a group and when you kind of cultivate that chemistry and that friendship and that connection with your teammates, I think you want to keep building off it. So it's definitely a little disheartening to see some key parts to our lineup and our group get traded away."
Patrick Kane said Hagel's trade was a "bit of a shocking move," but the rebuild isn't making the Blackhawks forward rethink his future with Chicago.
"I mean, that's a discussion for another day or over the summer, whatever it is," Kane said after the Blackhawks defeated the Anaheim Ducks 4-2 on Wednesday. "I'm happy I'm here right now and just going to try to finish out the season strong."
The Blackhawks (23-32-9) are seventh in the Central Division and have qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs once in the past four seasons.
Fleury was traded by Chicago to the Minnesota Wild on Monday for a conditional first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. He was 19-21-5 with a 2.95 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and four shutouts in 45 games this season for the Blackhawks.
Hagel, a forward, was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 18 with a fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft and the 2024 NHL Draft, for forwards Taylor Raddysh and Boris Katchouk, and a first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and the 2024 draft, each top 10 protected. Hagel, 23, scored 37 points (21 goals, 16 assists) in 55 games before the trade.
Forward Ryan Carpenter was traded by Chicago to the Calgary Flames for a fifth-round pick in the 2024 draft. Carpenter scored 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 59 games.
Selected by Blackhawks in the first round (No. 3) of the 2006 NHL Draft, Toews won the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015. The center missed last season because of chronic immune response syndrome and 11 games this season with a concussion. He has scored 26 points (eight goals, 18 assists) in 53 games and has one season remaining on the eight-year contract he signed July 9, 2014.
Toews, who turns 34 on April 29, was asked if the recent trades have him questioning his future with the Blackhawks. He could play his 1,000th NHL game as early as March 31 at the Florida Panthers.
"I wouldn't say it makes me question it as much as, for the longest time the thought never entered my mind to ever leave Chicago," Toews said. "In this case, you can't help but picture yourself and what it would be like to play for another team and what that experience would bring. The thought pops in your mind, but again, Chicago's my home. I love the Blackhawks, love the organization. It's been my family for a long time and I'm not putting the cart before the horse or getting ahead of myself in any way."
Kane leads the Blackhawks with 74 points (20 goals, 54 assists) in 60 games. The 33-year-old, who also has one season remaining on the eight-year contract he signed July 9, 2014, said he's not looking long term.
"I mean, we'll see," he said. "As a player, you're always trying to win and who knows what could happen. If we start the season next year hot, we could get into a playoff spot and see what happens. You don't want to think too far ahead even to next season. Just try to be engaged here for the rest of the year, finish strong, be a pro. Playing in the NHL, so have fun doing that."
Toews and Kane said they'll have further discussions with Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson about the team's direction. Davidson took over as GM on Oct. 26 after Stan Bowman stepped down as president of hockey operations and GM; the Blackhawks announced March 1 that Davidson would remain GM. Chicago fired Jeremy Colliton as coach and replaced him with Derek King on Nov. 6 after starting the season 1-9-2.
"I think Kyle is sincere," Toews said. "Obviously, he's had some tough decisions to make already and [I'm] looking forward to being in touch with him on his thought process and what the near future looks like, at least this summer. At the end of the day, just hear what he thinks about my game. It's never easy, but it's always good to hear some honest thoughts of his vantage point and go from there."