The Blackhawks held a fantastic celebration of the three Stanley Cup champions on Saturday night. The game was disappointing, but the pregame was exceptional. The collection of former players who were part of the 2010, 2013 and 2015 championship Blackhawks rosters who were able to attend was impressive. And the moment Pat Foley invited them to raise the Cup on home ice one more time was stirring.
Appropriately, it was Brent Seabrook who raised it above his head. Seabrook was the quiet leader of those Blackhawks teams, who probably would have had a C on his chest in most other NHL cities. He was joined by his longtime partner on the blue line, Duncan Keith, as well as Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa as four of the seven players to win three rings were able to attend.
One of the three core members who wasn’t there was the gentleman to whom Gary Bettman presented the Stanley Cup three times. Jonathan Toews, the longest tenured captain in the history of the franchise, wasn’t there because he’s still playing.
On Monday night, Toews will be back at the United Center. And will enter the visiting dressing room and get ready for a game as a visitor for the first time.
Return of the Greats
I remember the emotions in the United Center on the night Patrick Kane made his return. That night was awkward; the Blackhawks retired Chris Chelios’ number earlier in the night. Chelios even made a joke about Kane’s return because the entire Detroit roster, like the Blackhawks, was on their bench for the ceremony.
The tribute video was on point. There were tears. And then the roar came.
And Kane had to take three laps to acknowledge the praise raining down from the Blackhawks fans who adored him.
Of course, Kane ended that game with the overtime game-winner. It was an appropriately stunning climax to a series of events at the United Center that were… awkwardly not appropriate.
During the Blackhawks’ dynasty run, the spotlight was always on Kane. Even future Hall of Famers Toews, Hossa and Keith took a backseat in the headlines, newspaper cover photos and marketing efforts to 88. Yet, on this night, he shared the spotlight with Chelios — another Blackhawks legend who played in both Chicago and Detroit.
Stacy Revere/Getty ImagesLeaving Chicago on Different Terms
The Blackhawks granted Kane’s wish and traded him to the New York Rangers, where he played the remainder of the 2022-23 season before signing with the Red Wings as a free agent. His return to Chicago was almost a full year after he was traded.
Toews wasn’t traded out of Chicago. His body betrayed him in the final years of his time with the Blackhawks, and he did his best to finish the 2022-23 season on the ice. The Blackhawks did not offer him another contract.
We didn’t know at the time if Toews would play hockey again. There were some who thought he might be a nice low-end rental for a team that was close to winning. But Toews opted to walk away from the game and work to get his body right.
This past summer, Toews surprised many when he announced he planned to come back. The less surprising part was where he would return: he came back to the NHL with his hometown Winnipeg Jets.
Fast forward to the middle of January, and here we are.
It’s finally here.
It will be 1,012 days between games at the United Center for Toews on Monday. But this will be a first for him, and the rest of us who watched him jump into the NHL and lead the Blackhawks franchise to one of the great resurrection stories in the history of professional sports.
It’s going to be an emotional night at the United Center on Monday.
There is no jersey retirement ceremony before this game. There is no Centennial chapter to close with a big pregame production. It’s a Monday night with two teams battling in the Central Division.
Unlike Kane’s return — ironically — Monday night is going to be all about Jonathan Bryan Toews, the greatest captain in the history of the Chicago Blackhawks. The Captain who never wanted it to be about him is going to have a night all to himself.
He deserves that. And I can’t wait to see, hear and feel the welcome home from Blackhawks fans.
Also Read
Thank You, Jonathan ToewsHence then, the article about jonathan toews coming home is going to be emotional was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Jonathan Toews Coming ‘Home’ is Going to Be Emotional )
Also on site :
- AS Roma vs. Torino FC Prediction, Picks, Live Odds – Jan. 18
- Rockstar Games Granted GTA 6 Early Access for Terminally Ill Fan
- AFCON final stadium cost £200m and sparked outrage after four tournament games