Captain Jonathan Toews will return to the Chicago Blackhawks lineup for Saturday's game against the New Jersey Devils, head coach Luke Richardson confirmed after practice on Friday.
Toews has not played a game since Jan. 28 while dealing with complications from COVID-19 and chronic immune response syndrome.
In 46 games this season, Toews has scored 14 goals and 28 points. The long-time captain of the Blackhawks has been dealing with multiple injury problems all year and did not play the entire 2020-21 season due to chronic immune response syndrome.
The 34-year-old is in final year of his contract that carries a $10.5-million cap hit.
Toews hinted that this season could be his final one with Chicago who selected him with the third-overall pick in the 2006 NHL Draft.
“You can’t really explain because people won’t understand,” he told reporters back on March 28. “It’s not like a knee injury or shoulder injury where you lay under an MRI and your proof is right there. It has been one of those complicated things. Even for me, it’s been really challenging at times to figure out what’s going on.”
After watching his long-time teammate Patrick Kane get traded to the New York Rangers ahead of the deadline, Toews said his future with the Blackhawks is up in the air as well.
“Regardless of what happens in the future this summer, it’s definitely on my mind that this could be my last few weeks here in Chicago as a Blackhawk,” he told reporters.
“So, that’s definitely very important for me to just go out there, enjoy the game, soak it in and just really appreciate everything I’ve been able to be a part of here in Chicago — and show my appreciation to the fans, as well.”
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