The Black Hawks wouldn’t re-sign Jonathan Toews, who ultimately scored

CHICAGO — Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews is not going to return to the group subsequent season, ending a extremely profitable streak that included three Stanley Cup championships in 15 seasons.

Normal Supervisor Kyle Davidson stated Thursday that the group is not going to re-sign his longtime heart, who turns 35 on April 29. He’s eligible without spending a dime company after agreeing to an eight-year, $84 million contract extension in July 2014.

“I feel the phrases fail to sum up all that Jonathan has achieved for the organisation, and the great reminiscences he has made,” stated Davidson. “It will likely be the Blackhawks without end.”

Chicago hosted Philadelphia in its season finale on Thursday evening, and the Flyers gained 5-4 in additional time. Toews gained its first championship when the Blackhawks defeated the Flyers within the 2010 Stanley Cup Ultimate.

He heard loud, lengthy cheers when he was introduced with the beginning lineup, and every time he appeared on the video overhead panel. The reception reached one other stage when Toews scored on a power-play within the second interval, which led to a thunderous spherical of applause.

It was Toews’ first objective since January 28 and his fifteenth of the season. He has 372 targets and 511 assists in 1,067 common season video games – all with Chicago.

As soon as dubbed the “critical captain” — a fame that has pale as he confirmed extra of his persona through the years — Toews might resolve to retire after lacking a part of the season with what he describes as a chronic and continual COVID-19 symptomatic immune response syndrome. He additionally missed the 2020-21 season because of the identical well being points.

“I don’t have a solution in the intervening time,” he stated Monday. “I’m simply attempting to take pleasure in the previous couple of days of the season right here with this equipment and never give it some thought too far.”

Davidson stated he believes Toews will play subsequent season. “However that’s a dialog for him,” stated the GM.

Toews was chosen by Chicago with the #3 choose within the 2006 draft, one of many first indicators within the group’s rise to the highest of the NHL. He was simply 20 years previous when he grew to become the thirty fourth captain within the group’s historical past in July 2008.

“He’s undoubtedly the captain on our group, and he’s been the captain right here for a very long time,” stated first-year head coach Luke Richardson. “It was all the time enjoyable to observe him play. I’ve all the time been a fan, however to get the possibility to work with him this 12 months has been so wonderful.”

Toews was a part of a core group that helped Chicago put collectively the very best stretch in franchise historical past, profitable Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013, and 2015. The Blackhawks additionally reached the Western Convention Finals in 2014, dropping to the Los Angeles Kings in an epic seven-game sequence. matches.

However the franchise has fallen on onerous instances these days. They’re among the many worst groups within the NHL this 12 months, within the mixture of the #1 general choose within the draft and an opportunity to take Connor Bedard.

Toews’ departure follows a deal in February that took celebrity Patrick Kane to the New York Rangers.

“I don’t know if that essentially places the previous behind us. It greater than clears the deck considerably to permit for the natural progress of younger gamers in management roles,” stated Davidson. “Give this new period of Blackhawks the identical alternative that Toyos, Kane, (Duncan) Keith and (Brent) Seabrook have been all supplied to them once they got here into the league.”

After a sequence of conversations, Davidson stated he advised Toews of the choice whereas the group was in Seattle final week. GM additionally stated it had spoken to CEO Danny Wirts, son of Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirts, concerning the transfer.

“Danny and Rocky talked to Jonathan, they didn’t discuss this, simply to sort of reminisce about what he lived and skilled and simply to point out that respect and share within the reminiscences that have been made collectively,” stated Davidson. “So, if you transfer on from somebody like Jonathan Toews, they should be concerned. They should be, given the stature and stature of the participant.”