Livescore
Another name is off the 2023 NHL trade deadline target list, but it’s not because a move has been made.
Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews is not going to be traded ahead of the March 3 deadline. The pending free agent is going to remain in Chicago for the remainder of the season due to ongoing health issues.
General manager Kyle Davidson confirmed reports that Toews would not be moved, stating that the focus is on getting Toews back fully healthy, not a trade.
“We’re not thinking about (trading Toews),” Davidson said. “We’re trying to help him get back to full strength, and that’s totally secondary. We miss him being around the team, and we want to get him back around the team and on the ice.
But in the meantime, we’re going to work with him and support him in whatever he needs to make sure he’s feeling good and feeling strong and in a good spot where he can come back on the ice. So, we’ll take it day by day. But the hope is that he can still play some games here down the stretch. Hopefully he’s here to finish out the season.
Toews, 34, was expected to be a potential target for contenders at the trade deadline due to his expiring contract. He has played in 46 games this season for Chicago, totaling 14 goals and 14 assists during that time. His 28 points rank third on the team behind only Patrick Kane and Max Domi.
MORE: When is the 2023 NHL trade deadline?
The Sporting News has more details on Toews’ health condition that is keeping him from being traded.
What is Jonathan Toews’ medical condition?
Toews released a statement on Sunday detailing his health issues that he has been dealing with. He mentioned that he is dealing with long-term effects from COVID and chronic immune response syndrome.
A statement from Captain Jonathan Toews ❤️ pic.twitter.com/tn7CP57bQN
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) February 19, 2023
“First of all, thank you to the fans and all those who have shown concern about my absence,” Toews said in the statement. “I’m still dealing with the symptoms of long COVID and chronic immune response syndrome.
“It has been really challenging to play through these symptoms. In the last few weeks, it has reached the point where I had no choice but to step back and concentrate on getting healthy. I am thankful for the patience and support of my teammates, the coaching staff, and the entire Blackhawks organization.”
The Blackhawks captain missed the entirety of the 2020-21 season due to chronic immune response syndrome, and the condition is going to keep Toews out of game this season as well.
What is chronic immune response syndrome?
Chronic immune response syndrome is also referred to as chronic inflammatory response syndrome, or CIRS.
According to the Virginia Center for Health and Wellness, CIRS is a “progressive, multi-system, multi-symptom illness characterized by exposure to biotoxins. The ongoing inflammation can affect virtually any organ system of the body and if left untreated becomes debilitating.”
Toews first made the news of his illness public in the summer of 2021, after he missed the whole 2020-21 season. Dr. Greg Sharon of AMITA Health discussed the causes and effects of the disease and how it may have impacted Toews.
“He was probably exposed to mold his whole life,” Sharon said. “(And) genetically, the more athletic, the more flexible you are, the more likely you are to develop some of these immune reactions. That stress combined with lack of sleep can lead to mold sensitivity. When you overreact you get tired, fatigued, joint aches and pains, difficulty with your belly and interestingly, this affects your brain.”
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