Chicago Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson gave updates on a few injury timelines after practice on Monday.
The Chicago Blackhawks are in a bit of a “rough stretch”. Albeit somewhat by design, the Blackhawks currently find themselves amidst a new losing streak, and missing many key pieces of their lineup.
Following practice on Monday afternoon, head coach Luke Richardson shed some light on a couple of players currently missing time due to injuries.
The first name that comes to mind for many Blackhawks fans is the lone remaining member of the dynasty era, captain Jonathan Toews.
Toews has been sidelined since the All-Star break dealing with long-COVID symptoms alongside Chronic Immune Response Syndrome (CIRS). The veteran captain made the decision last month to stay with the Blackhawks for the remainder of the 2022-23 season while recovering.
As the clock winds down on Toews’ final season under contract with the Blackhawks, Richardson offered the following update regarding his “potential” return to the ice.
"He's still in that first step of just gym workouts. Unfortunately, it hasn't progressed to the ice. We don't have a timeline on that.”
As it stands, it still remains to be seen if Toews will appear in the Indian Head sweater again. With his contract expiring at the conclusion of the year, and the ongoing health issues, the sun may have already set on the Jonathan Toews era in Chicago.
Luke Richardson also provided an update on two trade-deadline acquisitions that are both also currently on the shelf. According to Richardson, Anders Bjork and Austin Wagner could return to action during the team's upcoming five-game road trip.
Bjork made an immediate impact upon arriving in Chicago, racking up three points in five games before suffering a groin injury during last Friday night’s game against the Florida Panthers.
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