Toews reveals chronic inflammatory response syndrome affects his game…

Jonathan Toews wants to do so much more for his Chicago Blackhawks this season, especially after missing all of the 2020-21 campaign with chronic inflammatory response syndrome.

The captain is not satisfied with his performances and revealed to Chicago Sun-Times’ Ben Pope how the syndrome is still affecting him on the ice.

“I’m definitely not satisfied or happy with where (my game) is at. Just got to keep working and stay patient and try to build up more energy, more pace, more speed on the ice,” he said Tuesday night after the Blackhawks’ 5-2 loss to the Calgary Flames.

Toews has never experienced the scoring drought he is currently on: he hasn’t found the back of the net in 19 games. The last time he managed to score what prior to his diagnosis, on Aug. 18, 2020, against the Vegas Golden Knights in the Edmonton playoff bubble… This is what he told insider Mark Lazerus of The Athletic about his lack of production:

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen a puck go in, obviously. Definitely like scoring goals,” Toews said. “So I’d like to get going in that area. Just got to keep working through it. I’m not really sure what else to say at this point.”

Toews has tallied eight assists, though we bet he’d prefer to have enough energy to score goals. And surely, the Hawks would benefit from it, as the team has scored the fourth-fewest goals in the league (41) and owns the third-worst goal differential (-21).

The Blackhawks currently sit second-last in the Central Division, ahead of just the listless Arizona Coyotes, with a record of 6-11-2, and would benefit from Toews’ production if the syndrome doesn’t get in the way.

We can only hope for him things get better.