Coach Joel Quenneville was giving the latest update on Jonathan Toews, which has been a familiar one in recent days: no skating, no change.
Its frustrating news for Toews and the Blackhawks, for sure, but not all that surprising. Because when it comes to concussions and the ensuing recovery from them, the only thing that is certain is their uncertainty.
Hes a hockey player and he wants to play, Quenneville said of Toews, who skated four straight days last week but has now been off the ice the last four days. The process, Im sure in his mind, is not a fun thing to be dealing with. You want to be optimistic; there was that stretch there where he was getting close. Theres hope, and thats where were at.
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And thats all Toews and the Blackhawks can do with the injury right now. This isnt a timetable deal; youre not waiting for a bone to mend, a muscle to loosen up. A concussion, and how they affect each player, is unpredictable. Brent Seabrook has had at least three concussions and has missed just a few games combined. Dave Bolland suffered one last season and missed a month. Toews is coming up on a month out of the lineup; his last game was Feb. 19.
Bolland said he still thinks about his.
Its always in the back of your head, he said. Mind was pretty bad. You still get little things in the back of your head, if you get hit a certain way. Youre always thinking of it and hopefully it doesnt happen again.
Toews is probably a frustrated man right now. He was feeling good heading into last week, even eyeing the Blackhawks game against the Blues last Tuesday as his comeback date. Now his activity has quieted again. Unfortunately, its the nature of this beast. Its not about setting a timetable. Its about taking all the time you need to get healthy.
Im sure hes frustrated and Im sure he wants to be back on the ice, Patrick Kane said. Just talking to him, it seems like every next game he keeps saying he wants to come back. Thats his fighting spirit. Well make do without him here and when he comes back, well be a better team.