The Blackhawks return to action on Saturday vs. the Islanders. Toews is expected to be OK after a scary hit on Thursday night. Monitor his status during Saturday’s morning skate.
Toews was hit head-first into the end-board by Bruins' blueliner Dennis Seidenberg. Toews was shaken up and left the game late in the second period. Seidenberg was assessed a two-minute minor on the play, but is expected to avoid suspension. “We’ll see how he is tomorrow,” Coach Joel Quenneville told reporters. “Looks like he’s going to be all right.”
The Blackhawks signed Patrick Kane to the exact same contract. The ,deal does not kick in until the 2015-16 season, but the annual cap-hit will make them the highest paid players in the NHL. When Toews and Kane joined the Blackhawks they had not reached the Finals since 1992, but since drafting Toews (third overall) in 2006 they have won two Stanley Cups and reached the Western Conference Final on two other occasions. Toews had 28 goals and 40 assists (68 points) with a plus-26 rating in 76 games last season. Toews has scored on a 74.5 point per 82 game pace in the first seven years of his career. He is one of the most reliable centres in the league and should be a top-15 pick in fantasy drafts next season.
The Blackhawks decided to sit Toews the rest of the regular season and make sure he was fit for the playoffs. ‘’I don’t feel like I lost anything,’’ Toews said. Toews generally is one of the last players to worry about making that adjustment. In 2012 he missed the final 22 games of the regular season with a concussion, then scored a goal 4:04 into the Hawks’ playoff opener against the Phoenix Coyotes. Toews was a plus-4 in the first two games of that series. If anything, it’ll be up to Toews’ teammates to follow his lead.
Toews skated in Chicago yesterday and coach Joel Quenneville said that everything went well. The Hawks are still hoping to have Toews back in the lineup for game 1 of the playoffs.
Originally the Blackhawks said that Toews injury was not that serious, but it will cost him at least the next two weeks. Reports are that Toews will be 100 per cent for playoffs, so you can't blame the Hawks for playing it safe and shutting him down when they have playoff spot locked up. The Blackhawks recalled Joakim Nordstrom on Wednesday, but there is no word how their lines will shakeout without Toews and Patrick Kane.
Toews was injured on Sunday and could miss Thursday's game. A number of Hawks players were absent at this morning's practice, so we will have a better idea of Toews' status on Thursday.
Toews was drilled by Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik with 6:30 remaining in the second period on Sunday night. The two were going for a loose puck. Toews got up slowly and was seen holding his left arm on the bench before heading down the runway. Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville says he doesn't think the injury is serious, but the team would know more on Monday.
The Blackhawks will rest a lot of their star players tonight.
It will be interesting to see how he performs after 22 games off, but as of now he will be playing.
Good news for the Hawks but Toews remains a risky fantasy play after missing the final 22 games of the regular season with a concussion.
Toews is currently practicing on the top line, which could be a good indication that he can play during the playoffs. The Blackhawks' captain previously reported he still had concussion-like symptoms as recently as Saturday.
Toews will not be able to play tomorrow and is questionable for the playoffs as well. Drop him now while you still can.
Toews continues to skate, which is a great sign. He remains an option to play in the Blackhawks' final game.
As we expected, Toews won't play on Thursday. He remains an option to draw in on Saturday.
Not a good indication that Toews will play on Thursday. Check back for an official confirmation from the team.
Sounds like Toews is hoping to play before the end of the season. If he draws in Thursday, he will play two games before the end of the regular season.
Toews continues to progress and should be playing this week.
Toews likely returns within a week for either the last game of the regular season or the first game of the playoffs.
Toews continues to progress but there is no word if he will return during the regular season.
