Toews’ Illness Means He Won’t Be Traded

Good morning and happy Monday, February 20th... & Presidents' Day for our American readers 🇺🇸🫡

Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews grew up together in the Chicago Blackhawks organization. They won together and became legendary figures in the team’s history.

But they won’t get to leave the team in the same manner.

Toews announced Sunday that he is dealing with long COVID and Chronic Immune Response Syndrome.

“It has been really challenging to play through these symptoms,” Toews said in a statement. “In the last few weeks, it has reached the point where I had no choice but to step back and concentrate on getting healthy.”

Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson told ESPN’s Emily Kaplan that Toews won’t be traded before the March 3 trade deadline because of the uncertainty of his health.

Before then, it was assumed that the rebuilding Blackhawks would trade both Kane and Toews as rental properties before the deadline. Both players have spent their entire careers in Chicago. They become unrestricted free agents this summer.

The presumption is Kane will still be traded, although he hasn’t officially given the Blackhawks his blessing. He has a no-trade clause.

Not long after Toews issued a statement about his illness, Kane delivered his ninth career hat trick to help the Blackhawks down the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3.

Several contenders are interested in acquiring Kane. The 34-year-old winger has 41 points in 52 games

The Toews’ illness came to light in late January. He missed a win against the Calgary Flames on Jan. 26, then played against the Edmonton Oilers two days later. The team went on its All-Star break. When the Blackhawks gathered for practice on Feb. 5, Toews was absent. He hasn’t played since.

Toews missed the 2020-21 season with Chronic Immune Response Syndrome.

🦁 Ryan Hartman scored with 21 seconds left to finish Wild game in Minnesota. The Minnesota Wild found themselves up 3-1 just 90 seconds into the third period thanks to Kirill Kaprizov's 2nd of the game and 33rd of the season. But the Predators didn't back down. Roman Josi made it 3-2 with just under 4 minutes left before Nino Niederreiter tied the game at 3-3 with only 47 seconds remaining in regulation. Ryan Hartman spoiled the Preds comeback, thanks to deflecting Jonas Brodin's point shot off of his chest and into the net just 27 seconds later to give the Wild the 4-3 win over the Preds.

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Mikko Rantanen's overtime bury gives him 36 goals on the season, tying his career high set last season. Who holds the Colorado Avalanche's franchise record for most goals in a single season, with 57?

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Michel Goulet scored 57 goals in the 1982-83 season as a member of the Quebec Nordiques, which still stands as the highest single season goal total by a member of the the Colorado Avalanche/ Quebec Nordiques franchise.