Jonathan Toews Questions Blackhawks Future With Apparent Rebuild Looming

Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews returned to the ice this season after sitting out in 2021 due to a bizarre muscular injury.

But the team he returned to was a mere shell of the juggernaut that dominated the NHL in the 2010s, securing three Stanley Cup Championships in six season.

No, in fact, the team Jonathan Toews now captains contains a who’s who of scrappy players and failed projects from other teams around the league. And after Kyle Davidson was named the GM last month, he admitted that the team is headed for a full-blown rebuild.

In Davidson’s first Trade Deadline, he shipped away veteran goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and fan-favorite winger Brandon Hagel, which undoubtedly left a sour taste in Toews’ mouth.

This week, Jonathan Toews admitted that the Blackhawks’ current direction has him envisioning what a future in another city could be like for the first time since he was drafted by the team in 2006.

“It’s become pretty clear the direction we’re heading in as a franchise and I’m not going to lie, it was disheartening to see a couple of good friends go, regardless of what’s to come in the future,” Toews said via NHL.Com. “I think this group has been through quite a bit this year on and off the ice. Obviously, life’s been weird, it’s been hard for a lot of people.

“There have been a lot of challenges that these guys have grown through as a group and when you kind of cultivate that chemistry and that friendship and that connection with your teammates, I think you want to keep building off it. So it’s definitely a little disheartening to see some key parts to our lineup and our group get traded away.”

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“For the longest time the thought never entered my mind to leave Chicago. In this case, you can’t help but picture yourself and what it would be like to play for another team and just what that experience would bring. … But, again, Chicago’s my home.”—Jonathan Toews on pic.twitter.com/1X4aQ6ib9L

— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) March 23, 2022

During his Hall of Fame career, Jonathan Toews has scored 840 points (353 goals, 487 assists) in 995 regular-season games and won the Stanley Cup with Chicago in 2010, 2013 and 2015. Even though he clearly isn’t the same player he was in his prime, Toews would likely draw heavy interest from teams looking to add a veteran presence.

While he didn’t directly ask to be moved, Toews admitted that it’s a large possibility that day may be coming sooner rather than later.

“I wouldn’t say it makes me question it as much as, for the longest time the thought never entered my mind to ever leave Chicago,” Toews said. “In this case, you can’t help but picture yourself and what it would be like to play for another team and what that experience would bring. “The thought pops in your mind, but again, Chicago’s my home. I love the Blackhawks, love the organization. It’s been my family for a long time and I’m not putting the cart before the horse or getting ahead of myself in any way.”

As the disappointing season comes to an end for the Blackhawks, Jonathan Toews will likely start having some more serious conversations with Kyle Davidson about his future in Chicago.

“I think Kyle is sincere,” Toews said. “Obviously, he’s had some tough decisions to make already and (I’m) looking forward to being in touch with him on his thought process and what the near future looks like, at least this summer. At the end of the day, just hear what he thinks about my game. It’s never easy, but it’s always good to hear some honest thoughts of his vantage point and go from there.”

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