Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews left the team’s game against the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night with an unspecified injury. The captain headed for the locker room midway through the second period, and never returned in the 2-1 loss.
After the game, coach Joel Quenneville said the team is hopeful it’s not a major injury.
Coach Q on Jonathan Toews: “We’ll see how he is tomorrow. We’re hopeful that he’s ok and it’s nothing long-term or serious.” #Blackhawks
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) November 24, 2016
It’s unclear exactly what happened to Toews. He took a rough fall near the boards just prior to leaving the game, but it wasn’t immediately apparent that he had suffered an injury. After he left the game, there was initially some speculation that it might’ve just been an equipment issue.
Toews’ last shift in its entirety. Raised hand at end.
#Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/KzIa3y710D— John Dietz (@johndietzdh) November 24, 2016
Now it’s clear that it was more than that, although we don’t know much about the injury. The team said after the game that it was an upper-body injury.
Obviously, losing Toews for any extended period of time would be a major blow to the Blackhawks. The captain hasn’t been at his best this season, but Chicago’s depth up the middle would be challenged without him.
Let’s hope whatever’s ailing him isn’t too serious, as Coach Q suggested, and his absence will be only temporary.