Jonathan Toews says playing for a new team might be a good thing for himself and the Chicago Blackhawks.
In the final year of his contract, Toews’ future has been a major question hanging over the rebuilding Blackhawks this season.
“… There’s a part of myself that still doesn’t really want to admit the situation and also wants to continue being a Blackhawk and finish my career here,” Toews told NBC Sports Chicago. “But at the same time, there’s a part of me that sees the writing on the wall and sees that this team, this organization is trying to hit the reset button and that maybe a change for everybody is not such a bad thing, and that goes for myself as well.”
The Blackhawks (11-26-4) have the worst record in the league, so Toews and fellow longtime Chicago star Patrick Kane, also in the final year of his contract, are going to be major stories heading toward the March 3 trade deadline.
Toews, a five-time All-Star, has 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points in 40 games this season.
“For myself, it’s just kind of a tricky situation, the last year of my contract and I haven’t played my best hockey in some time, so I’m not sure what the opportunities or what’s going to come knocking,” Toews, 34, said. “But there’s no doubt in my mind, again, I’m focusing on my game, trying to improve that every single day and trying to enjoy just playing the game, being a Blackhawk as long as I can, for however long that is and while it still lasts.”
The losing hasn’t been easy for Toews.
“For myself personally, these last few years have been pretty challenging,” Toews said. “You always have a standard in your mind of goals you’ve set for yourself that you put your mind to and you work towards, and obviously there’s a lot of unpredictable things in the game of hockey. It’s a team game ultimately. As long as the team is winning, sometimes those goals don’t matter as much.”
