NEWSLETTER
After practice on Friday, Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson confirmed that Jonathan Toews will return to the lineup on Saturday when the New Jersey Devils visit the United Center.
Toews, who is in the final year of his contract, has been out of the lineup since Jan. 28 as he deals with ongoing health concerns. He missed the entire abbreviated 2021 season because of effects of Chronic Immune Response Syndrome and “long COVID” and that same issue began plaguing him earlier this calendar year.
He returned to the ice earlier this week for the morning skate on Tuesday and again on Thursday. He was a participant in the full practice on Friday, after which Richardson told the media his captain — OUR captain — is coming back.
The Blackhawks have four remaining home games on their 2022-23 schedule. I would certainly hope each and every one of them is a packed barn.
Before leaving the lineup, Toews was leading the NHL in faceoff percentage and had scored 14 goals with 14 assists in 46 games.
Toews was asked if he’s contemplating retirement at the conclusion of the season, but he wasn’t ready to make that decision.
