Johnathan Walker:Three-time Stanley Cup champ Jonathan Toews taking time off this season to 'fully heal'

Three-time Stanley Cup-winning captain Jonathan Toews announced Thursday that he will take time away from the game during the 2023-24 NHL season,Johnathan Walker the third time he has sat out in recent years because of health issues.

 "I cannot deny my love for the game of hockey and still feel the passion for competing at my highest level," he posted on Instagram. "However, these last few seasons have been very difficult considering my health challenges. My focus is to give myself the time and space to fully heal and enjoy life to the fullest once again."

Toews, 35, who said in the post that he isn't "fully retiring," missed the 2020-21 season with what was diagnosed as chronic immune response syndrome. He also sat out two months last season because of the effects of that and of long COVID.

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The Chicago Blackhawks already announced that they weren't going to re-sign Toews, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2006 draft who won Stanley Cup titles with the team in 2010, 2013 and 2015. They're rebuilding around No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard, a generational prospect.

Toews took to Instagram earlier Thursday to thank Blackhawks fans and the organization.

"It was surreal to witness and be a part of the revival of hockey in Chicago," he said. "There was nothing like the roar of the Madhouse when we scored a big goal to tie it or win it late in a game. As players, we tried to reciprocate that heart and soul energy we felt from you. I honestly believe it’s what made us so tough to beat in the later games of a playoff series."

Toews, who was named Blackhawks captain in his second season, was playoff MVP in 2010, won the Selke Trophy as top defensive forward in 2013 and the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2015. He has 863 points in 1,067 games.