Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews quashed all trade rumors about him on Sunday by revealing in a statement that he has COVID.
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Due to an ongoing health issue, the nature of which the “Hawks” had yet to reveal, the Winnipeg native decided to take stock of his condition due to an ongoing health issue limited to 46 meets this season.
“First of all, I want to thank the fans and everyone who has been concerned about my absence,” he said. I am still suffering from long-term COVID symptoms and a form of immune-related chronic fatigue syndrome.
“Playing despite these symptoms was very difficult. In the past few weeks I’ve gotten to a point where I no longer have the choice to step back and focus on my fitness. I’m grateful for the patience and support of my teammates, the coaching staff and the entire Blackhawks organization.”
Toews has been plagued with problems related to his weakened immune system for some time. Because of this, he had missed the set in the shortened 2020/21 season.
To stay in Chicago
Like his lifelong companion Patrick Kane, Toews is spending the final year of the stunning eight-year, $84 million deal he signed in 2014.
Given that the Illinois team is more invested in derbying for Connor Bedard than chasing the playoffs, Toews and Kane’s names have logically ended up at the center of discussions over the trade deadline.
If Kane, who like Toews holds a vesting clause, hasn’t yet made up his mind about completing his season in Chicago, the number 19 definitely won’t be packing.
In the margins of the press release released on Sunday, a variety of sources, including specialist site DailyFaceoff, confirmed that Toews would not be swapped out before the fateful March 3 date. This decision was made jointly by the “Hawks” and the 34-year-old athlete.
This season, the three-Stanley Cup ring holder has 14 goals and 14 assists in 46 games.
In his career, he scored 371 goals and was an accomplice in 509 wins in 1,060 games, all played with the Blackhawks.