Former Chicago Blackhawks great Jonathan Toews announced plans to sit out the upcoming season but stopped short of saying he’s retiring.
“I am taking time away from the game again this season,” Toews posted on his verified Instagram account Thursday. “I cannot deny my love for the game of hockey and still feel the passion for competing at my highest level. However, these last few seasons have been very difficult considering my health challenges.”
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Toews talked repeatedly last season about struggling with lethargy and other symptoms he attributes to long COVID-19 and a condition called Chronic Immune Response Syndrome (CIRS) that kept him sidelined for the entire 2020-21 season.
“My focus is to give myself the time and space to fully heal and enjoy life to the fullest once again,” Toews said in the statement. “Along the way I have met several people who have struggled with health issues pertaining to long COVID, chronic immune response syndrome and other similar cases that are quite complex. I now recognize the importance of one day sharing the details of my health journey with you all.”
The three-time Stanley Cup winner produced a career-low 31 points (15 goals and 16 assists) last season while playing in 53 of a possible 82 games.
Shortly before the season finale, the Hawks announced they wouldn’t re-sign Toews, who turned 35 in April.
Earlier Thursday, Toews hinted at his announcement in another Instagram post, which included an image of him lifting the Stanley Cup.
“It’s hard to find words to describe the 16-year journey that has made this city my home,” he wrote. “Aside from the 3 Stanley Cups, the parades and the countless memories made with my teammates, what is still most special to me was feeling a true connection to the people of this city.”
He addressed Hawks fans: “There was nothing like the roar of the Madhouse when we scored a big goal to tie it or win it late in a game. As players, we tried to reciprocate that heart-and-soul energy we felt from you. I honestly believe it’s what made us so tough to beat in the later games of a playoff series.”
He called former teammates “lifelong friends and brothers.”
“We share a bond that’s hard to break,” he wrote. “Whether you reach the mountaintop or not, we can all agree it’s grinding through the tough moments together that we’ll really miss.”
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