This post is going to be about Jonathan Toews. Since we still know nothing about his medical condition, aside from its kept him out for all of this time and what was said in the official statement, I think we should start looking to a future without Toews. In the cases that you guys don’t quite remember what’s up with JT then here is his official statment:
"This offseason, I've been experiencing symptoms that have left me feeling drained and lethargic. I am working with doctors so I can better understand my condition.
Until I can get my health back to a place where I feel I can perform at an elite level and help my team, I will not be joining the Blackhawks for training camp. I do not have a timetable for when I will rejoin the team. I am extremely disappointed, but it wouldn't be fair to myself or my teammates to attempt to play in my current condition
I am grateful for the continuous support from and ongoing communication with the Blackhawks organization. Stan Bowman, Rocky Wirtz, Danny Wirtz, Jeremy Colliton and my teammates have been nothing but understanding of my situation, and I appreciate them standing by me.
To Blackhawks fans, I will continue to do whatever I can to get back on the ice and return to play the game I love for the team I love. I will not be making any further comment at this time and ask everyone to please respect my privacy as I focus on my health and recovery."
If you ask my opinion on this statement given how this situation has progressed, I would say that he had recently discovered some medical condition which he was hopeful he would recover from and be able to join the team after some treatment/help. Given how long Toews absence has been, I would guess that his condition has not improved to a level where he can play hockey. (I know this is groundbreaking insight). Since Jonathan has missed the entire season so far, I am somewhat pessimistic that his medical condition is something that will allow him to ever play hockey again although I hope I’m wrong. Assuming the worst, there are some implications for next season I want to go over.
Expansion Draft: Theoretically speaking we should not have to protect Toews in the expansion draft as he falls under the “Injured Player” requirements found at cap friendly’s expansion draft FAQ.
“ Players with potential career-ending injuries who have missed the previous 60+ consecutive games due to an injury, do not meet the criteria set forth by the league in respect to the minimum exposure requirements for players, and in certain cases these players may even be deemed as exempt from the Expansion Draft selection process.”
In this shortened season, the 60 game requirement is prorated to about 41 games which we have passed. Sure, the “potentially career ending injury” aspect could be argued against making this designation on Toews, but I don’t see how anyone can argue that point with the limited info we have.
Again, making the assumption that Towes has this designation we get an extra protection slot that can be used. If this were to happen I project the Blackhawks going 7-3-1 assuming the corresponding moves in this post are made.
Forwards
Kane
DeBrincat
Strome
Hagel
Borgstrom
Nylander
Gaudette/Kämpf (whichever one plays best down the stretch.
Note: To meet the 2 forward expansion requirement Blackhawks extend Hinostroza for 1 year 1 million prior to expansion draft making eligible players for this condition Carpenter and Hino.
D
Keith
Murphy
Stillman
De Hann is exposed to meet D requirement
G
Lank
Subban exposed.
NJD trade happens before expansion draft.
Here is the roster next season assuming Toews is done.
Danault is still a question mark. So are Armia, Tatar, Perry. I'm quite high on Gaudette. He can take Armia's spot for more than half the price.
That potentially takes the spot from Yelonen and Gaudette is an RFA this summer likely getting between 1.5 and 2.5 on his next contract about the same as Lehkonen. Yelonen would just be a better option IMO as he will still be on an ELC next season.
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