Blackhawks' plan for 2021-22 season without Toews

The 2021 season has been hard on everybody, especially Chicago Blackhawks fans. We have been without any news from captain Jonathan Toews ever since he said he had been “experiencing symptoms that have left me feeling drained and lethargic” back in December. There is no timetable for his return. 

Following a swarms of unfounded rumors on social media that the team knew more about Toews and why he couldn’t play, the Blackhawks responded to the chatter by insisting that the circumstances of Toews’ medical absence remain the same as before.

We barely know what that means since no information has been given on Toews’ condition. And what’s making fans worried now is the article from team insiders Mark Lazarus and Scott Powers of The Athletic, who state the look of the lineup without Toews for the upcoming season. 

DeBrincat – Dach – Kane
Lukas Reichel – Suter – Kubalik
Kurashev – Strome – Hagel
Janmark – Kampf – Carpenter
Extra: Nylander
Keith – Mitchell
de Haan – Murphy
Zadorov – Boqvist
Extra: Beaudin

This is what Lazarus and Powers said about the possibility of another season without Captain Serious in Chicago:

“The Blackhawks still hope and seem to expect Toews will return at some point, but the truth is we still don’t know if he is returning next season. If he doesn’t, that obviously changes the outlook. If he’s out of the mix, it’s possible the Blackhawks would accelerate Reichel’s timetable. He seems like he’s NHL ready now. Where Nylander fits into the picture will be interesting, too. He was going to be given another large opportunity this season before his surgery. Will he be given the same next year?”

The insiders also speculated on what could take place in the expansion draft and which players could be headed to Seattle. 

However, fans are focused on Toews and cannot wait to get a real update to see if he will be in the Hawks’ lineup next season and we can all forget about the aforementioned roster above.