Chicago Blackhawks

Jonathan Toews isn't sure if he will play hockey next year.

The Chicago Blackhawks captain, who has suffered from chronic immune response syndrome for three years, told The Athletic's Mark Lazerus on Thursday that he has "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."

"... But at this point, I've realized there's no point in continuing to stomach this struggle," Toews said. "So if it's not a hell yeah, then it's a hell no."

He was absent the entire 2020-21 season due to CIRS and missed two months of this year's campaign because of its effects compounded with long COVID.

The center returned to the ice on April 1 at the United Center, where he skated 14 minutes in the Blackhawks' 6-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils.

In June 2021, Toews announced his CIRS diagnosis in a pre-recorded interview posted on his Twitter. CIRS is a condition triggered by the inhalation of biotoxins such as mold, which causes inflammation of the nervous system and debilitating fatigue, according to the Virginia Center for Health and Wellness.

"There's a lot of things that piled up, where my body just fell apart," Toews said. " ... I just couldn't quite recover, and my immune system was reacting to everything that I did. Any kind of stress, anything that I would do throughout the day, there was always that stress response."

Toews has not felt 100 percent since then, he told Lazerus.

The center returned to play in 71 games of the 2021-22 campaign. This year, he began at a fast clip—Toews put up seven goals in his first 11 games—but his pace began to slow as health problems returned.

In a February statement regarding his two-month leave of absence, Toews said he was still dealing with the symptoms of CIRS as well as "long COVID." Symptoms can extend from tiredness and fatigue to respiratory issues and brain fog, according to the CDC.

"It has been really challenging to play through these symptoms," Toews said in February. "In the last few weeks, it has reached the point where I had no choice but to step back and concentrate on getting healthy."

Although Toews will finish the tail end of the 2022-23 campaign, he is not committing to returning next year—but he's also not closing the door on the possibility.

"I can tell the media wants to ask me about my so-called 'pending retirement,' even though I never said those words," Toews said. "But it'll be a process of just feeling out what I truly feel inspired to do."

The Chicago Blackhawks will become the fourth team in the NHL this season to forgo wearing Pride jerseys during warmups when they take the ice on Sunday night at United Center against the Vancouver Canucks.

Chicago is opting against wearing the jerseys on the team's scheduled Pride Night because of safety concerns for Russian players, according to Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun Times.

A Russian law enacted in December expanded the ban on "gay propaganda" in the country, making it "illegal to promote or 'praise' LGBTQ relationships, publicly express non-heterosexual orientations or suggest that they are 'normal,'" according to CNN's Ivana Kottasova.

The Blackhawks currently have three players on their roster of Russian descent or who have family in Russia—defenseman Nikita Zaitsev, forward Philipp Kurashev and goaltender Anton Khudobin.

Zaitsev and Khudobin were born in Russia. Kurashev was born in Switzerland, though his parents are Russian.

While the team will not wear Pride jerseys, the Blackhawks will have several Pride-related initiatives during Sunday's game, including a performance from the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus and DJ Zel, who is a member of the LGBTQ community, according to Pope.

The Chicago Gay Hockey Association will also compete in an on-ice competition during intermission. Additionally, the Blackhawks intend to feature other LGBTQ performers and small businesses at the arena.

The Blackhawks said in a statement to the Chicago Sun Times:

"The Chicago Blackhawks organization is proud to continue its annual Pride Night celebration, an evening — alongside year-round efforts — fueled by partnership and LGBTQIA+ community engagement.

"Together, our activities will focus on fostering conversation and more equitable spaces in our pursuit to make hockey more inclusive. We do not condone anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric, and we stand firmly with the community."

"While we know game-day celebrations like these are an important way we can use our platform to bring visibility, it is the work we do together 365 days a year that can create true impact in ensuring all of our colleagues, fans and communities feel welcomed and safe within our sport."

Pride jerseys have become a contentious topic in the NHL since Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov, who is from Russia, opted against wearing a Pride jersey when the team held its annual Pride Night in January.

Provorov, who is Russian Orthodox, cited his religious beliefs as the reasoning for his decision to not wear the jersey.

The New York Rangers initially planned to wear Pride jerseys during warmups on Jan. 27 against the Vegas Golden Knights, but scrapped the plan, citing "everyone's individual right to respectfully express their beliefs."

The Rangers have several Russian players on their roster, including goaltender Igor Shesterkin and forwards Artemi Panarin and Vladimir Tarasenko.

The New York Islanders also made the decision to forgo Pride jerseys during the team's scheduled Pride Night on Feb. 9, citing its organizational policy as the reason for not doing so.

The Minnesota Wild also originally planned to have players wear Pride jerseys during warmups on March 7, but they ended up scrapping the plan over concern for Russian players. Some players still used Pride tape on their sticks during warmups.

In a report on the NHL and the Russian law on March 10, The Athletic noted forward Kirill Kaprizov had trouble returning to the United States for the beginning of the NHL season this fall, prior to the law being enacted.

Ben Noble, an associate professor of Russian politics at University College London, told The Athletic:

"These are legitimate fears. If you put on a Pride jersey, then there is uncertainty regarding how this would be interpreted by law enforcement in Russia — and that's a risk. The authorities have the power to enforce this and other legislation selectively. It's up to them to decide whom they go after."

It is worth mentioning that Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin, who is Russian, wore the team's Pride jersey during warmups on Dec. 12.

Most recently, San Jose Sharks forward James Reimer also opted against wearing the team's Pride jersey during warmups on March 18, citing his Christian beliefs for deciding not to do so.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman defended the way teams have handled situations that have arisen during Pride night celebrations during a news conference at the NHL's All-Star Weekend in February (h/t Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press):

"You know what our goals, our values and our intentions are across the league, whether it's at the league level or at the club level. But we also have to respect some individual choice, and some people are more comfortable embracing themselves in causes than others. And part of being diverse and welcoming is understanding those differences."

Several teams still have Pride night celebrations scheduled this season.

If it felt like Patrick Kane took the Vladimir Tarasenko trade to the New York Rangers extra personally, it's because Kane to New York was closer to happening than it appeared at the time.

"It's not, like, the happiest I've been to hear about a trade," Kane said, per Charlie Roumeliotis of NBC Sports Chicago. "I think the Rangers are a team that you definitely pay attention to and definitely are intrigued by, for obvious reasons."

Well, one hat trick, seven goals, 10 points and a little bit of patience later, Kane is more than just intrigued by the Rangers. The 34-year-old future Hall of Famer is a Blueshirt after all.

New York is expected to acquire Kane for a 2023 conditional second-round pick (which can become a first) and a 2023 fourth-round pick. The Arizona Coyotes will take on a portion of Kane's cap hit and will receive a third-round pick in 2025 for helping to get the deal over the line.

New York had to make several transactions just to get the numbers to work to add Kane. On Saturday, the Rangers unloaded fringe winger Vitali Kravtsov (three goals and six points in 28 games with the NHL club this season) and his $875,000 salary-cap hit to the Vancouver Canucks for prospect Will Lockwood and a seventh-round pick in 2026. They waived fourth-liner Jake Leschyshyn and sent down defenseman Braden Schneider on Sunday to clear cap space.

Kane, who had been with Chicago for his entire 16-season NHL career, waived his no-trade clause to join New York in a sort of bittersweet move as the star seeks one more Stanley Cup.

There were two big concerns of suitors when it came to Kane's potential role on a Cup contender: the acquisition cost and his hip injury. Clearly, Kane wanted to make it work with the Rangers, as they were the only team he was interested in. That gave them tons of leverage, and they didn't have to surrender another first-round pick. Doing that and shipping out players who struggled to stay in their stacked lineup was a big win.

As for the hip injury, Kane is starting to silence doubts and has said the situation is "overblown."

Kane was having a bad season—on pace for a career-worst year in points until recently. He did not look like the tough-to-play-against forward we've been spoiled with watching for almost two decades. But a week after it was reported that the Rangers opted for Tarasenko because of concern over Kane's hip, he exploded on the ice, including the hat trick and 10 points in his last four games.

It's a small sample size with recency bias, but Kane's ability to turn it on like that and play at an elite level has been what's separated him during his career, and it makes sense that a young team would want his experience and mentality in its locker room for the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Chicago is tanking, and Kane hasn't necessarily had the supporting cast or sense of urgency to unleash the three-time Stanley Cup winner within. His lackluster performance this season is not a true representation of what he can do on a good team with actual hopes and dreams. What he can do isn't worth $10.5 million either, but now that we know the Rangers are not paying everything under the sun, that's a non-issue.

In acquiring Kane, New York solidified one of the most eventful trade deadline outings in recent memory. It now boasts Kane, Tarasenko, Tyler Motte and Niko Mikkola. What could that look like?

The Rangers have been deploying Tarasenko in different spots since acquiring him Feb. 9. They started the right winger out on Mika Zibanejad's line, to the right of countryman Artemi Panarin. They've since swapped Chris Kreider for Panarin on that line, and most recently have played Panarin, Tarasenko and Vincent Trocheck together. Jimmy Vesey is the other right winger bouncing around in this equation, but with the acquisition of Kane, he will get bumped down to the bottom six.

I bet the Rangers will continue to play around, and we might see combinations such as Kreider-Zibanejad-Kane, Panarin-Trocheck-Kane and Kreider-Trocheck-Kane.

To spell it out, we are looking at Panarin-Trocheck-Tarasenko and Kreider-Zibanejad-Kane. That is a star-studded top six, no matter how you splice it.

Personally, I've enjoyed watching the chemistry between Panarin and Tarasenko, and I'm sure they've enjoyed playing together. But when I think about what could make the Kane trade a gigantic success, it's the versatility now available to Gerard Gallant when a line goes cold during the playoffs.

The concern about Kane's hip remains, and the Rangers will have to be smart about deployment and maybe not rely too heavily on Kane to be the guy. But the beauty of this deal, and their huge trade deadline, is they don't have to. They can slot in Kane on the first or second line and let him snipe on the power play alongside a bolstered supporting cast.

While teams such as the Boston Bruins have made tweaks and there's an understated value in not doing too much, the Rangers became a superteam in front of our eyes. It feels like their bold moves and cap maneuvering could set a precedent, as more teams will be able to go for it when the cap rises in the coming years.

We'll see how it plays out when the playoffs come around.

Patrick Kane has played his entire NHL career for the Chicago Blackhawks, but recent trade rumors suggest he may be on his way to the New York Rangers, a move that would prove best for both the player and his prospective new suitor.

Talks of a trade intensified over the weekend when the 34-year-old left the team ahead of Saturday's game against the San Jose Sharks.

Kane was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NHL draft and went on to win the Stanley Cup with Chicago on three different occasions (2010, 2013, and 2015).

The Blackhawks are a losing team here in the 2022-23 season, though, and second-worst in the Western Conference. Add in the fact that Kane is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, and it makes sense that Chicago would look to deal him elsewhere and get something in return for one of the greatest in franchise history.

For the nine-time All-Star, a move to the Rangers would give him the opportunity to continue his career for a playoff contender.

New York is a top-six team in the Eastern Conference and poised for a postseason appearance. That is far from the case in Chicago, and if the Blackhawks are looking to move him, the Rangers are the right team at the right time.

New York moved pieces Sunday to help creates cap room and roster space for Kane, waiving Jake Leschyshyn and trading Vitali Kravstov to the Vancouver Canucks for forward Will Lockwood and a seventh-round pick in 2026.

The move freed up funds, but the Rangers are still looking for a potential third team to facilitate the deal and help soften the impact of Kane's $10.5 million contract.

For the contending team, adding the Buffalo, New York native to the roster benefits it on several fronts.

Kane knows what it takes to win the Stanley Cup, something New York has not achieved since Mark Messier led the team in 1994. His veteran leadership in any locker room is invaluable, and what he brings to the ice also helps.

Through 54 games played this season, he has 16 goals and 29 assists, accounting for 45 points. He would instantly improve New York's current crop of forwards and add a championship-winning name to a team that will have to compete against the speedy Toronto Maple Leafs and a potentially historic Boston Bruins squad.

A move to New York gives Kane an opportunity to win a fourth cup and further strengthen his legacy as one of the elite players of his generation.

For the Rangers, his leadership and postseason expertise give them the piece that could prove the difference between an early playoff exit and a deep run that ends a long-term championship drought, making the risk of a late-season deal well worth it for both parties.

Jack Johnson is headed back to Colorado after the Chicago Blackhawks defenseman was traded to the Avalanche on Sunday, according to an announcement by the organization. In return, Chicago received 27-year-old defenseman Andreas Englund.

Johnson, 36, will now begin his second stint with Colorado after having played a key role for the organization during its run to its first Stanley Cup title in over two decades last season.

He signed a one-year, $950,000 deal with Chicago this past offseason but still managed to make it to the banner-raising ceremony for the Avalanche earlier in the year.

Johnson has been a solid presence since he first entered the league in the 2006-07 season with the Los Angeles Kings. Over his decade-plus professional career, he has also spent time with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers.

He has 316 points over his career and had just four points with Chicago in 58 games. He'll look to give some depth to a Colorado team that sits in third place in the Central Division with 71 points, just three points behind first-place Dallas and one behind Minnesota.

Meanwhile, Englund, who has struggled to find his footing in the league, will look to carve out a sizable role for himself in Chicago. He's played in just 69 NHL games since being taken in the second round of the 2014 draft by the Senators.

He played 36 games with Colorado this season and amassed three points on three assists. Prior to 2022, Englund played in just 33 NHL games and spent a lot of time with AHL affiliates.

Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane will not play in his team's road game against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday evening.

TSN's Pierre LeBrun provided remarks from Kane's agent, Pat Brisson, alongside further context.

Kane holds a no-movement clause, but there's momentum toward him being dealt to the New York Rangers, as ESPN's Emily Kaplan noted:

TSN's Darren Dreger added that it's believed Kane has returned home and left the team.

The NHL trade deadline is Friday at 3 p.m. ET.

The 34-year-old Kane is a three-time Stanley Cup winner and four-time All-Star who has played his entire 16-year career with Chicago. He has 16 goals and 29 assists for 45 points this season. For his career, Kane has posted 446 goals and 779 assists for 1,225 points.

Chicago is playing out the string of a lost season at 20-32-5, and Kane is an impending free agent. He'll forever be a franchise legend but is best suited competing for a contender at this stage while Chicago gets assets in return for a rebuild.

The Rangers, who sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 75 points, have already been active before the deadline by adding Vladimir Tarasenko from the St. Louis Blues and Tyler Motte from the Ottawa Senators. They're clearly shooting for a deep playoff run but have struggled of late with three straight losses entering Saturday's road game against the Washington Capitals.

New York could certainly use more scoring depth and help, and adding Kane would be a major win for a team looking to turn things around before the playoffs.

Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane still has yet to decide whether he wants to be traded ahead of the NHL's March 3 deadline.

As of Friday, the star winger hadn't waived his no-movement clause to facilitate a deal, per TSN's Chris Johnston. However, Johnston adds that a resolution could come in the next 24 hours.

Kane's agent, Pat Brisson, also told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun on Thursday that the three-time Stanley Cup champion remained undecided on waiving his no-movement clause.

The 34-year-old has spent his entire 15-plus-year career in Chicago. In addition to helping the franchise win three titles, he has also won a Hart Trophy, Art Ross Trophy and has been named to the All-Star Game nine times.

Kane has been most heavily linked to the New York Rangers this winter.

While the Blueshirts already acquired Vladimir Tarasenko from the St. Louis Blues, Larry Brooks of the New York Post reported Wednesday that New York has "signaled they will try to make" a deal for Kane if he is willing to waive his no-movement clause to join the franchise.

"We are told interest has not waned in the least since the acquisition of Vladimir Tarasenko from St. Louis on Feb. 10," Brooks wrote.

The Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers also have interest in acquiring Kane, per LeBrun. However, it's unclear if he would waive his no-movement clause to go to either of those franchises.

Kane has been vocal about his interest in joining the Rangers if he were to waive his NMC, telling reporters they are "definitely" a team he is paying attention to and is "intrigued by."

The Buffalo, New York, native has notched 16 goals and 29 assists in 54 games with Chicago this season. While his numbers are down from years past, he'd still be a significant addition to any contending squad.

Kane is in the final season of an eight-year, $84 million contract with the Blackhawks. If he's not traded this winter, it's unclear if Chicago will re-sign him during the offseason as it enters a full-scale rebuild.