It’s complete now. Coming into this season the Blackhawks had two guys left from the Cup years, and not just any two guys. Two guys that will have statues outside or inside the UC at some point; 88 & 19. Patrick Kane was traded earlier this year to the New York Rangers; he still has some good hockey left in the tank. Still, to see him play in another sweater… it just ain’t right. That left one guy remaining. The Captain played his last game donning the Indian Head in game 82 for the Hawks.
Is he or is he not retiring? That was certainly not clear, although we can make our assumptions, we can have our wishes. Because of the health issues over the last couple years, it would be totally understandable if Toews retired. If our Captain retired, we wouldn’t see him play hockey for another team. At this point, all we know for sure, is that he’s done with the Hawks, as they have decided to move on from another legend.
Captain Serious… He was a youngster too at one point; the youngest Blackhawk ever to wear the C on his chest. That move was just another of the many right moves that propelled the Hawks to success. Although he was young in age, it felt like he had wisdom beyond his years… hockey wisdom. He was one of the steadying influences for the up and coming Blackhawks; he was everything a Captain should be, and more. It wasn’t just his leadership; he could play a little hockey too. Faceoff winner, big goal scorer; he did his best work right in front of the net, in close quarters. Combine him with Patrick Kane, and man… we were lucky… and that’s not even mentioning the rest of that Cup core. With 19 & 88, the Hawks had a dynamic duo for the ages, another dynamic duo. Of course, Hull and Mikita are already encased in bronze outside the UC; will they have company?
I wished for another Cup run with these two. I wanted to see them on the big stage together one more time. It just wasn’t in the cards. The Hawks went full rebuild. Once that happened, the writing was pretty much on the wall for them. No way did we want to see either of them play for another team, yet at the same time, was it wrong to want the best for them? Was it wrong to not mind if they won another Cup, even if it wasn’t with us? I’m as selfish a fan as the next guy, but… they did bring us 3 Cups. The Blackhawks chose the path that didn’t necessarily include our legends. It’s not their fault, right?
It still doesn’t change the fact that it hurts. When Kane went, pain. Now that Toews is gone, more pain. This most recent pain represents the end of an era. There is nobody left on the Hawks from the 3 Cup teams; it was quite the ride. Now, we wait for the next ride; we can only hope we get as lucky to have another captain the level of Jonathan Toews. Good bye Jonny…
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