CHICAGO — Jonathan Toews is sounding more and more like he’s not on board with the Chicago Blackhawks rebuild.
Toews was asked Wednesday whether general manager Kyle Davidson’s decision to trade three players for prospects and draft picks makes the 14-year veteran question his future with the only organization he has ever known.
“I wouldn’t say it makes me question it as much as (that) for the longest time, the thought never entered my mind to leave Chicago,” Toews said. “And in this case, you can’t help but picture yourself and what it’d be like to play for another team and what that experience would bring. That pops into your mind.
“But again, Chicago’s my home. I love the Blackhawks. I love the organization/It’s been my family for a long time, and I’m not ... getting ahead of myself in any way.”
Toews probably had to throw in that caveat so as not to set all of Madison Street ablaze.
But his response aligns with his initial reaction to a major trade last week, the blockbuster deal that shipped up-and-coming forward Brandon Hagel to the Tampa Bay Lightning in a package that included two conditional first-round picks and rookie forwards Taylor Raddysh and Boris Katchouk.
Toews told The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus on Friday that he’s focused on building back his game, but “if (Hagel’s) not a guy that’s a part of a rebuild, then I don’t know. I don’t know if anyone feels safe at this point, with the way he’s been playing and what he’s meant to our team.”
Toews’ stance carries even more weight after Monday’s deal that sent veteran goalie Marc-André Fleury to the Minnesota Wild for a second-round pick that can become a first if certain conditions are met.
That was predictable.
Toews is 33, has had to overcome a concussion this season and is dealing with chronic inflammatory response syndrome. The three-time Stanley Cup winner has one season left with the Hawks at $10.5 million before he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
The Hawks are in a different place.
Davidson and CEO Danny Wirtz said they’re launching a rebuild that has no timeline, but they threw out three to five years as an arbitrary benchmark to examine whether they’re on the right track to constructing a sustainable winner.
Through the trades of Hagel, Fleury and depth forward Ryan Carpenter, the Hawks have loaded up on picks and prospects: two first-round picks over the next two seasons, a second-rounder this season that has a slight chance to upgrade to a first, a 2024 fifth-rounder and young forwards in Raddysh and Katchouk.
“It’s become pretty clear the direction we’re heading in as a franchise, and I’m not going to lie: It was disheartening to see a couple of your really good friends go regardless of what’s to come in the future,” Toews said.
“This group has been through quite a bit this year, on and off the ice. Obviously life’s been weird. It’s been hard for a lot of people, but there’s a lot of challenges that these guys have grown through as a group, and when you cultivate that chemistry and that friendship and that connection with your teammates, you want to keep building off of it. So it’s definitely a little disheartening to see some key parts of our lineup traded away.”
Weeks before the trade deadline, Davidson said he informed Toews and fellow veteran Patrick Kane of his overall plan so it wouldn’t come as a shock to the future Hall of Famers.
And Toews credited Davidson for keeping him in the loop.
“I think Kyle is sincere,” Toews said. “He’s obviously had some tough decisions to make already. Looking forward to just being in touch with him on his thought process and what the near future looks like, at least this summer.”
Toews said he appreciates hearing what Davidson thinks about his game.
Toews started the season with a 25-game goal drought but had four goals and an assist in the last six games. And he remains the best option on faceoffs.
“It’s never easy,” Toews said. “It’s always good to hear some honest thoughts from his vantage point and go from there.”
He has said several times that his main focus is on regaining his overall game, and he reiterated that goal.
“My focus is just to continue to get back to where I know I can take my game,” Toews said. “Physically, mentally, I’m enjoying the hard work and the sacrifice it takes to get there, and that’s all I can really worry about.
“Beyond that, there’s a lot of things at play that I don’t control, and ultimately I just want to play great hockey and go out there and show what I’m able to do. It’s been a while since I’ve felt that way.”
