Toews can't “stomach the struggle” of Blackhawks, talks about retirement

With Jonathan Toews on the IR the past month and a half and with Patrick Kane traded to the New York Rangers, the Chicago Blackhawks recently played their first game in 16 years without at least one of the two franchise icons in the lineup.

Indeed, it's the end of an era in Chicago and it's apparent to everyone around the NHL. Except to Toews himself, it appears.

Toews was asked last week about potentially retiring as a Blackhawk this summer and, honestly, he gave a pretty insightful answer:

“Regardless of what happens in the future this summer, it’s definitely on my mind that this could be my last few weeks here in Chicago as a Blackhawk.”

- Jonathan Toews

More from the captain:

Now, in a one on one interview with Blackhawks insider Mark Lazerus of The Athletic, Toews has admitted that he's considering retirement and that if his body doesn't tell him "Hell yeah!" for next season then the answer will be "Hell no!"

More from Lazerus:

“No idea whether I return to play for the Blackhawks next year, or play for another team, or I decide to move on to other things. I can tell the media wants to ask me about my so-called ‘pending retirement,’ even though I never said those words. But it’ll be a process of just feeling out what I truly feel inspired to do.

“But at this point, I’ve realized there’s no point in continuing to stomach this struggle. So if it’s not a hell yeah, then it’s a hell no.”

“There’s more to life than hockey, so it’s a weighing of my options and what feels right,” he said. “All these years, hockey’s been the One Thing. There hasn’t been much else in my life. And part of me is seeking some balance. So I guess we’ll see.”

- Jonathan Toews

Honestly, who would blame Toews if he walked away from the game this summer?

He's a three time Stanley Cup champion, a two time Olympic gold medalist and one of the most respected players of his generation. His body is failing him and he has nothing to prove to anyone in the hockey world. Take a bow, Jonny... you've done well.

Still, it sounds like he's still got some fire in him and I wouldn't be surprised if he does move on to play with another NHL team.

“There’s no doubt I’d love to know what that feels like again, to play hockey on the biggest stage and enjoy the spotlight and have an entire city on your back,” he said. “When you’re going through something real with your teammates, where you’re pushing through a lot and working through things together and figuring out how to reach the peak of the hockey world together. Nothing replaces that. You always kind of long for that experience.”

- Jonathan Toews

What's the plan, Jonny?