Jonathan Toews to Focus on Health - Will Not be Dealt

Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews is stepping away from the game of hockey as he continues to battle the effects of long-COVID. Having missed the entirety of the 2021-22 NHL season with chronic immune response syndrome, the 34-year-old Winnipegger has not played since January 28, when his Blackhawks lost 7-3 to the Edmonton Oilers. He has been away from the team since February 5. "First of all, thank you to the fans and all those who have shown concern about my absence," Toews wrote in a statement he shared this past week. "I'm still dealing with the symptoms of long COVID and chronic immune response syndrome. "It has been really challenging to play through these symptoms. In the last few weeks, it has reached the point where I had no choice but to step back and concentrate on getting healthy. I am thankful for the patience and support of my teammates, the coaching staff, and the entire Blackhawks organization." In the final season of an eight-year, $84 million contract signed back in 2014. Both he and longtime teammate Patrick Kane have been the topic of trade talks over the past few months, as the Blackhawks' season continues to spiral off the deep end. Currently sitting last in the Central Division, Chicago has the third-best odds of earning the first-overall selection at the 2023 NHL Draft - where the lucky 'winner' will have the opportunity to select Connor Bedard first overall. Both Toews and Kane were thought of as trade chips to teams looking to make a strong playoff push, in exchange for some future pieces. But with Toews' most recent setback, the Blackhawks have decided to kibosh that idea, stating they will not be moving their captain come the March 3 deadline. Kane, on the other hand, may have already played his final game in Chicago. “We’re not thinking about that. We’re trying to help him get back to full strength, and that's totally secondary,” general manager Kyle Davidson said. “We miss him being around the team, and we want to get him back around the team and on the ice. But in the meantime, we're going to work with him and support him in whatever he needs to make sure he's feeling good and feeling strong and in a good spot where he can come back on the ice. So, we'll take it day by day. But the hope is that he can still play some games here down the stretch... Hopefully he’s here to finish out the season.” For Toews, the thought of a trade was never a legitimate, materialistic thought - a pipe-dream, maybe, but to leave the only club he has ever known via trade? Highly unlikely. What becomes of him this offseason will be a totally different story. "It's definitely been interesting to kind of hear some rumors," Toews said of trade rumours following his last game with the team in January. "That stuff's always kind of funny and entertaining. I've never really been in this position in my career, so I'm obviously thankful for that. I think my motto has just been focus on today and keep my energy and my focus and my attention in this locker room and on my game. That isn't really changing. Obviously, people want to talk as we get closer to the deadline and stuff like that." He has 14 goals and 28 points in 46 games for Chicago this season, while putting up 371 goals and 880 points in 1,060 career regular season NHL games.