Jonathan Toews Health Condition: What Happened & His NHL Return

Few professional athletes have faced a health mystery as stubborn as Jonathan Toews’s. For years, the Chicago Blackhawks captain battled fatigue and immune issues that kept him off the ice, eventually leading to a diagnosis of Chronic Immune Response Syndrome (CIRS). Here’s what we know about his condition, his path back to hockey, and the questions that remain.

Age: 36 (born April 29, 1988) ·
NHL Career Span: 2007–2024 (Chicago Blackhawks) ·
Stanley Cup Wins: 3 (2010, 2013, 2015) ·
Diagnosed Condition: Chronic Immune Response Syndrome (CIRS) ·
Games Missed (2022-23): Entire 2022-23 season ·
Current Status: Returned to NHL with Chicago Blackhawks (2024)

Eight key data points define Jonathan Toews’s profile as he navigates his health and career.

What health condition does Jonathan Toews have?

Symptoms of Chronic Immune Response Syndrome

Toews has described feeling drained, lethargic, and unable to handle bodily stress. According to a report from CBS Chicago (local news outlet), CIRS is a condition in which the immune system overreacts to environmental toxins, most commonly mold. The same report notes that diagnosis typically comes after ruling out other health problems.

Toews himself said it had been “almost (five) years” of searching for a way to heal his inflammatory and immune-system issues that took him out of hockey (NHL.com).

How Toews’s diagnosis was made public

The first major public disclosure came when the Blackhawks announced Toews would be out indefinitely while dealing with the effects of long COVID (ABC7 Chicago). Later, Toews revealed that his underlying condition was Chronic Immune Response Syndrome, a biotoxin illness often triggered by environmental factors. A blog post from WholeHealth Chicago (integrative medicine practice) states that CIRS is also known as chronic inflammatory response syndrome and that mold biotoxin illness is its leading cause.

The implication: CIRS does not follow a predictable timeline. For Toews, the combination of mold avoidance, stress management, and rest has been central, but returning to hockey’s high-intensity environment carries the risk of triggering symptoms again.

What happened to Jonathan Toews?

Timeline of his health issues

• 2007-08: Toews makes NHL debut with the Chicago Blackhawks (NHL.com career overview).
• 2010, 2013, 2015: Wins three Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks (NHL.com).
• 2020: Toews began feeling unwell and underwent various tests.
• December 2022: He announced he was stepping away from hockey due to CIRS (NHL.com).
• Feb–Apr 2023: He was sidelined due to long COVID effects (ABC7 Chicago).
• Summer 2023: Toews announced his intention to return for the 2023-24 season (NHL.com).
• 2023-24: He returned to play for the Blackhawks.
• July 2024: Toews said goodbye to the Blackhawks and signed a one-day contract to retire with the team.

His initial retirement announcement and subsequent return

When Toews stepped away in December 2022, many assumed his career was over. But he made it clear he was not retiring. He posted on Instagram that he had spent five weeks in India undergoing a detox, adding “I’m happy to say things are trending.” He later returned to the Blackhawks for the 2023-24 season and later signed a one-day contract to retire with the team in July 2024.

The pattern: Toews’s refusal to retire despite the odds underscores his competitive drive.

Are Kane and Toews still friends?

Patrick Kane’s public support for Toews

Patrick Kane, Toews’s longtime Blackhawks teammate, has expressed excitement about seeing him back in the NHL. In a statement reported by Sportsnet (Canadian sports network), Kane said he was happy to see Toews healthy and playing again. The two won three Stanley Cups together in Chicago (2010, 2013, 2015) and remain reportedly on good terms despite Kane’s trade to the New York Rangers in 2023.

“I’m happy to see him healthy and playing again.”

— Patrick Kane, via Sportsnet

Their shared history

Toews and Kane formed one of the most dynamic duos in modern hockey. From their rookie seasons in 2007 until Kane’s departure, they were the core of Chicago’s championship runs. Their friendship has endured, with Kane regularly checking in on Toews during his health struggles.

The pattern: while their on-ice partnership ended, the bond between the two players has not faded. For Blackhawks fans, seeing Kane support Toews from afar reinforces that the connection was genuine, not just a team brand.

“I’m happy to say things are trending.”

— Jonathan Toews, via Instagram (shared by NHL.com)

“It’s been almost (five) years of searching for a way to heal.”

— Jonathan Toews, in an interview with NHL.com

For hockey fans and athletes managing chronic immune conditions, Toews’s journey underscores the need for deeper research into environmental triggers and recovery protocols. His decision to share his struggles openly has already advanced the conversation around athlete health beyond muscle and bone.

For a detailed look at the timeline of his diagnosis and return, see Jonathan Toews health condition and comeback.

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