Report: Blackhawks will be without Toews, Dach and Seabrook for a long, long, loooong time

This just in, the Chicago Blackhawks have announced that forwards Kirby Dach and Jonathan Toews have been placed on long-term injury reserve (LTIR). Additionally, defenseman Brent Seabrook has been placed on injury reserve.

Dach's inclusion on LTIR is no surprised given that he broke his wrist last month while preparing to lead Canada as team captain for the World Junior Championships. His injury was particularly brutal and I don't think there were many, if any, Blackhawks fans holding out hope that he'd be in the team's lineup anytime soon.

Toews though... that's a tricky one.

The Blackhawks captain announced last month that he was suffering from a "mystery illness" that has left him lethargic and has given him chronic fatigue. Toews has yet to unveil his diagnosis and frankly I'm not about to speculate on another man's health. Whatever the issue is with Toews, he obviously prefers to keep it a private matter. However, I think there were still some Blackhawks fans out there holding out hope that Toews wouldn't miss too much playing time. Today's news though unfortunately squashes any hope left.

As for Seabrook... what can you say? The guy has been an absolute warrior for this team over the past decade and a half and will ultimately go down in history as one of the team's all-time greatest defenseman. But... let's face it... the guy is cooked. He's played the game the hard way, at the highest level for over 1,100 games and, unfortunately, it looks like his body is simply failing him. No shame in it and I do hope he can return to action, but it doesn't look good for the 35 year old native of Tsawwassen, BC.