(670 The Score) Former Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews is stepping away from the NHL this upcoming season to focus on his health but is “not fully retiring,” he announced on social media Thursday.
Toews, 35, is currently an unrestricted free agent after spending his first 15 NHL seasons playing for the Blackhawks, whom he helped lead to three Stanley Cup wins.
"I cannot deny my love for the game of hockey and still feel the passion for competing at my highest level,” Toews wrote on Instagram. "However, these last few seasons have been very difficult considering my health challenges. My focus is to give myself the time and space to fully heal and enjoy life to the fullest once again.”
Toews had 15 goals and 16 assists in 53 games for Chicago last season. He has dealt with various health problems in recent years, which included him missing the entire 2020-’21 campaign with what he later called a diagnosis of chronic immune response syndrome. Toews also dealt with long-COVID symptoms, which hampered his ability to perform at the highest level.
"Along the way, I have met several people who have struggled with health issues pertaining to long COVID, chronic immune response syndrome and other similar cases that are quite complex," Toews wrote on Instagram. "I now recognize the importance of one day sharing the details of my health journey with you all.”
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