Jonathan Toews’ ‘Long COVID,’ explained: Why Blackhawks won’t trade captain before 2023 deadline

Another name is off the 2023 NHL trade deadline target list, but not because a move was made.

Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews will not trade before the March 3 deadline. The upcoming free agent will remain in Chicago for the remainder of the season due to health issues.

Confirming reports that Toews would not be moved, general manager Kyle Davidson explained that the focus is on getting Toews back to full health, not a trade.

“We’re not thinking about trading Toews,” Davidson said. “We’re trying to help him get back to full strength and that’s completely secondary. We miss him on the team and we want him back on the team and on the ice.

But in the meantime we will work with him and support him with whatever he needs to make sure he is feeling good and strong and in a good place to get back on the ice. So we take it day by day. But the hope is that he can still play some games here later. Hopefully he’s here to end the season.

Toews, 34, should be a potential target for rivals due to his expiring contract at the close of trading. He has played in 46 games for Chicago this season, averaging 14 goals and 14 assists during that time. With 28 points, he ranks third on the team behind only Patrick Kane and Max Domi.

MORE: When is the 2023 NHL trade deadline?

The Sporting News has more details on Toews’ health condition preventing him from being traded.

How is Jonathan Toews’ health?

Toews released a statement on Sunday detailing his health issues, which he had been dealing with. He mentioned that he is looking into the long-term effects of COVID and Chronic Immune Response Syndrome.

“First of all, I would like to thank the fans and all those who have expressed concern about my absence,” Toews said in the statement. “I’m still dealing with the symptoms of Long COVID and Chronic Immune Response Syndrome.

“It was really challenging to act out those symptoms. It got to the point in the last few weeks where I had no choice but to step back and focus on getting healthy. I’m grateful for the patience and support of my teammates, the coaching staff and the entire Blackhawks organization.”

The Blackhawks captain missed the entire 2020-21 season with chronic immune reaction syndrome and the illness will keep Toews out of the game this season as well.

What is Chronic Immune Response Syndrome?

Chronic Immune Response Syndrome is also known as Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome or CIRS.

According to the Virginia Center for Health and Wellness, CIRS is a “progressive, multisystemic, multisymptomatic disease characterized by exposure to biotoxins. The ongoing inflammation can affect virtually every organ system in the body and, if left untreated, becomes debilitating.”

Toews first broke news of his illness in the summer of 2021 after missing the entire 2020/21 season. dr AMITA Health’s Greg Sharon discussed the causes and effects of the disease and how it may have affected Toews.

“He’s probably been exposed to mold all his life,” Sharon said. “(And) genetically, the more athletic and flexible you are, the more likely you are to develop some of these immune responses. This stress combined with lack of sleep can lead to mold sensitivity. When you overreact, you get tired and exhausted, joint pains, problems with your stomach and interestingly, it affects your brain.