What if Jonathan Toews has ALREADY Played His Last Game as a Blackhawk?
By Kyle Graden
![Chicago Blackhawks v Philadelphia Flyers Chicago Blackhawks v Philadelphia Flyers](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4500,h_2531,x_0,y_240/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/99/01gs191c7j8c33k4yc88.jpg)
At the moment the Chicago Blackhawks are gearing up to face the Winnipeg Jets (Jonathan Toews' hometown team). They are getting ready to face the Jets without their captain however. Toews has not played since the January 28th matchup against Edmonton.
Over the last month we have seen some big names moved (Horvat and Tarasenko) with more players likely to be moved soon. Is Jonathan Toews one of them? While he has been out with a "non-covid illness" there is still a chance of the following:
A: That a team could try and buy low while Toews is out and acquire the 3 time Stanley Cup winning captain at a discount (perhaps a 2nd round pick and C prospect even).
B: This is a bigger health issue stemming from his "chronic immune response syndrome" that kept him out in the past. If so, with his contract ending he could focus on simply getting healthy and walking away from the game at 35 years old (birthday is in 10 weeks).
Either of these scenarios is very plausible if you stop and think about it. We are only 20 days from the trade deadline after all. What rush is there to come back if he doesn't want to waive his no movement clause as well. He could use this time to be in the training room, working with team doctors, and improving his health.
Jonathan Toews is a competitor and a champion, but at what point is it too much on your body when your team isn't winning despite your best effort night in and night out? Jonathan Toews' doesn't need to play again for the Blackhawks if he so chooses.
All of this is speculation on my part, so take that as it is: an opinion. I do not wish that we've already seen our captains' final game, however I don't think it's out of the question either.