I feel hypocritical saying that we need to let Jonathan Toews figure out his own health status and let him have the privacy he needs to figure out where his future will take him (and if rejoining the Chicago Blackhawks is a part of it). But every time anyone from the organization’s front office has a microphone in front of them, they are going to be asked about Toews and we are going to get something.
Even if it’s nothing, to most it is still something.
Many, including myself, are putting weight into Darren Dreger’s report that Toews’ health is heading in the right direction and he is reportedly expected to return to the Blackhawks next season if all goes well. I’m an optimist at heart.
In the exit interview process with Stan Bowman and Jeremy Colliton today, there wasn’t much added or taken away from what we know about Toews.
Bowman on Toews: "I talked to Jonathan a couple weeks ago. He's doing well. We talked for 15-20 about our team and non-hockey stuff… We're hopeful he'll be back, but we're going to let it play out and we'll see. It's uncharted waters here."
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) May 12, 2021
The Blackhawks have repeatedly said that they want to have Toews back for the 2021-22 season and beyond, but it’s still unclear if that’s a possibility. We don’t know what exactly has kept him away from hockey this season, and we may never know exactly what it was. All we have to know is that it’s enough to keep one of the most dedicated hockey players the team has ever seen away from the ice for what would be a full calendar year if he does indeed rejoin the team in the Fall for training camp.
Jeremy Colliton on the prospect of Jonathan Toews returning next season: "Of course we hope he’s going to be back. He’s a great player and he’d really help us. But we've got to give him time to sort things out and we’ll go from there."
— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) May 12, 2021
A possible return for Toews to the Blackhawks would be welcomed by everyone, there’s no questioning that. But it would make things complicated in a good way for the 2021-22 season when looking at how to construct that future roster and lineup.
The ultimate goal is that his health gets to a point where he is able to be happy and go about his life as he wants. If that includes coming back and playing hockey with the Blackhawks, all the better. That’s where we have to leave it in the end, for now.