Is Jonathan Toews considering retirement? Exploring the reasons behind Blackhawks star's recent comments

Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews has opened up about his battle with Long COVID and Chronic Immune Response Syndrome. He revealed that he considered retiring from hockey as a result of his health issues. The 33-year-old forward has been out of action since January 28th, missing the entire 2020-21 season. He recently joined the team for morning skate as part of his recovery process.

Toews spoke candidly about the struggles he has faced over the past few months, saying that he had reached a point where he "couldn't move on the ice" and didn't even want to put on his skates or leave his bed to go to the rink. He admitted that he had been wrestling with the decision of whether to continue playing through his symptoms or to "pull the plug" and focus on getting better.

Although Toews acknowledged that retiring would be a difficult decision, he emphasized that his health was his top priority.

"I've gotten to the point where my health is more important," he said. "I know I could...perform at the level I know that I can, but when day after day is just you're just pushing through pain, it's just like, to what end?"

Toews also acknowledged that the possibility of this being his last few weeks with the Blackhawks was on his mind, and that he wanted to make the most of his time on the ice. He has had an illustrious career, winning gold medals at World Juniors and at the Olympics for Team Canada, as well as three Stanley Cups and a Conn Smythe. He will undoubtedly be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Despite his impressive track record, Jonathan Toews is facing a difficult decision about his future in the game. He wants to return to a level where he can enjoy playing hockey and have energy left over for his personal life, but is unsure whether the mental and physical grind is worth it beyond this season.

An overview of Jonathan Toews' professional ice hockey career

Jonathan Toews was drafted as the third pick in the 2006 draft and played for the Chicago Blackhawks for 15 years, helping to turn the team's fortunes around. He has won three Stanley Cups, the 2009-2010 Conn Smythe, and the 2012-2013 Selke Award. He was also elected to the All-Star Team in 2012-13.

In 2017, Jonathan Toews was recognized as one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players as the NHL celebrated its 100th anniversary. Two other Blackhawks players, Duncan Keith and Patrick Kane, were also included in the list, but their inclusion was controversial.