Centre Jonathan Toews not cleared for contact yet, Chicago Blackhawks hope for early return-NHL News
Chicago Blackhawks’ captain and centre, Jonathan Toews, has not been cleared for contacts even though he skated hard for third successive day on Saturday, March 10, 2012.
The player has not played a single game or practised along with his teammates since experiencing concussion-like symptoms.
He, for the first time, showed up on the ice on Thursday, March 08, 2012, skating on his own and doing some light workout.
Following the encouraging skating and training session, it was hoped that he might be able to play the game on Sunday, March 11, 2012, but that did not happen, and he is still out of the squad.
The captain has so far missed 10 straight games, and two since turning to the ice for practice with his team since last week.
Now, it is expected that he will possibly return to the squad on Tuesday, March 13, 2012.
However, this might not be possible as well given that he has not yet been cleared for contacts, which will be a real test for his recovery and fitness.
Toews is said not to have suffered any concussion-like symptoms during the practice sessions and he remains confident of not experiencing the problem again in near future.
He was optimistic about his recovery and commented after skating on Saturday:
“If you can shoot for a date like that, even if it’s early, obviously you feel like you’re improving and you’re making strides and noticing a difference. People talk about setbacks, but I don’t feel like I’ve really had any.”
At the same time, he admitted that clearing the contact was the real way of proving the fitness.
He added:
“[Contact is] the real way of knowing. It’s when you’re turning around in the corner, and you’ve got a guy on you. You’re spinning around, and somebody hits you. Just those things that kind of move you really fast.”
The team has hoped for him to join the squad in the game against the St. Louis Blues, and it could only happen if he is cleared for contact.
Meanwhile, Toews recently said that he was in touch with Pittsburgh Penguins centre, Sidney Crosby, who is out of his team with the similar problem.
Blackhawks are hoping that their captain’s problem is not as prolonged as Crosby’s who is out of the team since December 05, 2012, especially when the playoffs are just around the corner.
The team’s run towards the second round of the National Hockey League (NHL) season 2011-12 has been affected to some extent since departure of their captain. They have come down at 6th in the Western Conference, from their earlier held 2nd
position.
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