Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews issues update over prolonged absence

Jonathan Toews could be done for the rest of the season. He's sidelined with Long-Covid and Chronic Immune Response Syndrome, the Blackhawks forward announced on Twitter early Sunday afternoon.

It is to be seen whether the former All-Star has played his last game in a Blackhawks uniform, as his contract expires at the end of the season.

Jonathan Toews announces that he will be out indefinitely with symptoms of Long-Covid

The 34-year old Blackhawk has been inactive since January 28th. Jonathan Toews also missed the entire shortened 2020-21 season while dealing with complications due to the Covid-19 virus. Long-Covid does not affect everyone the same way, and can cause respiratory problems and general fatigue.

"It has been really challenging to play through these symptoms. In the last few weeks, it has reached the point where I had no choice but to step back and concentrate on getting healthy."

Jonathan Toews continued:

I am thankful for the patience and support of my teammates, the coaching staff, and the entire Blackhawks organization,” Toews announced in a twitter graphic through the Chicago Blackhawks account.

Before the post was made, NHL beat writers took to Twitter to announce that the Blackhawks did not intend to trade Toews by the NHL Trade Deadline. The Blackhawks are still in the market to be dealing fellow All-Star, Patrick Kane, in the near future. Chicago GM Kyle Davidson said in a press conference Sunday that the Blackhawks' only hope for Toews is a full recovery and hopefully to get him back in a few games down the stretch.

"We know this has been a real difficult period for him," Davidson said. "We miss him being around the team and we want to get him back around the team and on the ice. But in the meantime, we’re going to work with him and support him in whatever he needs to make sure he’s feeling good and feeling strong and in a spot where he can come back on the ice."

With Jonathan Toews not being traded at the deadline, it looks like Toews will be primed to enter free agency come July 1st, should the Blackhawks not re-sign the veteran. Toews is currently in the final year of his 10.5 million-dollar AAV deal.

In 71 games this season, Jonathan Toews had 12 goals and 25 assists in his return to NHL action. He also led the NHL in faceoff percentage, making him a possibly highly sought after veteran should he have a healthy recovery.