Toews could be facing 'last few weeks here' with Blackhawks

CHICAGO --Jonathan Toews returned to practice with the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday for the first time in two months, hoping to come back and play before the end of what could be his final season with the only team he has played for in his 15 NHL seasons.

"It's definitely special for me," said the 34-year-old center, who has not played since Jan. 28 and announced on Feb. 21 he was stepping away from the Blackhawks to deal with effects of long COVID-19 and Chronic Immune Response Syndrome, which kept him out the entire 2020-21 season. "Regardless of what happens in the future this summer, it's definitely on my mind that this could be my last few weeks here in Chicago as a Blackhawk, and so that's definitely very important for me to just go out there and enjoy the game and just kind of soak it in and just really appreciate everything I've been able to be a part of here in Chicago and show my appreciation to the fans as well."
Toews helped the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup three times as their captain (2010, 2013, 2015), but Chicago is 24-44-6 this season and has been eliminated from playoff contention. After a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars at home Tuesday, the Blackhawks, last in the Western Conference, have eight games remaining.
Chicago has been aggressive in remaking its team this season, highlighted by the trade of franchise forward Patrick Kane to the New York Rangers in a three-team trade that also included the Arizona Coyotes on Feb. 28. Toews and Kane had been teammates since each entered the NHL with the Blackhawks in 2007-08 and played their 1,000th NHL game together in a 7-1 loss to the Rangers on Dec. 18. Toews is in the final season of an eight-year contract he signed on July 9, 2014.
"I would say, for myself, personally, probably, I was definitely shocked," Toews said in his first public comments since Kane was traded. "The possibility was there for a while, but, yeah, 'It's not actually going to happen,' you know? You just can't see a guy like him in another jersey. I heard he was flying home from San Jose to kind of wait things out until the trade was actually going through. I think it might have been Tuesday night or something. And then, I realized this is for real.
"All of a sudden, you see him in a New York Rangers jersey. It kind of looks good on him, to be honest with you. I hate to say that. Just happy to see him enjoy himself playing with some really good players and being reunited with a guy like 'Breadman' (forward Artemi Panarin). 'Kaner' is such a competitor that it's going to feel good for him to go out there and play some meaningful games in the playoffs and play on the big stage.

"So it's been tough though to watch the changes that our team has gone through. The guys that have been a part of this room these last few years, namely a guy like Kaner, who I've played with my whole career and come back in the locker room right now, and it feels a lot different."
Despite Toews being limited to 46 games this season with 28 points (14 goals, 14 assists), he said he was looking forward to trying to return for a few more spins on the ice with Chicago this season.
"Yeah, it's nice," he said. "It's something you take for granted. You definitely realize when you're out of the routine and away from the locker room, not going on the road with the boys, all that stuff, and you're just kind of on your own slugging through every day, so that part of it's not easy. So it's definitely nice to be back and be on the ice with the guys."
Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said Toews being around again is a boost.
"Didn't talk to him after skate
, who missed all of last season and this one with it.
"I know even Brandon Sutter was approached and talked to the media recently," Toews said, "and him and I have been in contact here and there, and even having someone like him to reach out to and we've dealt with a lot of the same similar symptoms over the last couple years. So I think it's helpful to hear from him, and I think for my situation, it's just trying to calm the symptoms and not put too much stress on my body, so I think these last few months have been good for that."