Jonathan Toews ruled out with illness; no timetable to return to Blackhawks

The Blackhawks’ forward group has been gutted, and the season hasn’t even started yet.

Jonathan Toews has been ruled out with an unknown illness and has no timetable to return, the team announced Tuesday, leaving the Hawks without their captain and No. 1 center for the time being.

“This offseason, I’ve been experiencing symptoms that have left me feeling drained and lethargic,” Toews said in a statement. “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.”

The Toews announcement comes just one day after the Hawks disclosed Kirby Dach, projected to be the No. 2 center, will miss four to five months after wrist surgery.

And the Dach injury news broke just days after Alex Nylander, who also likely would’ve held a top-nine wing spot, underwent knee surgery that will keep him out four to six months.

Minus Toews, Dach and Nylander, the Hawks are now down three of their top eight forwards in terms of 2019-20 points. They also have yet to agree to a contract with their fifth-highest scorer, Dylan Strome, and already traded their sixth-highest, Brandon Saad.

That essentially leaves them with Patrick Kane, Dominik Kubalik and Alex DeBrincat — none of whom play center — and an enormous jumble of bottom-six role players, some of whom will need to fill top-six spots.

Strome could begin the year as the Hawks’ top center if he re-signs soon. Recent developments likely have improved his leverage after his agent, Pat Morris, said two weeks ago that he was “jockeying for position” in negotiations.

New forwards Mattias Janmark, Lucas Wallmark and Carl Soderberg — who could be the No. 2 center — will compete with Ryan Carpenter, David Kampf and suddenly in-the-spotlight prospect Philipp Kurashev for the other center roles.

No matter how the depth chart sorts out, it won’t be pretty. The Hawks’ season appears destined for a bottom-of-the-league finish, although that wouldn’t necessarily be a terrible thing.

For Toews, though, the obvious priority is returning to full health. His announcement came with little clarity about his ailment, which is arguably more concerning than a specific diagnosis would’ve been.

“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,” Toews said. “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.”

Said general manager Stan Bowman: “Jonathan’s health is our top priority as he deals with this medical issue. The Chicago Blackhawks organization and our medical staff will provide all necessary resources to help him return to playing hockey. While he will not report to training camp on Jan. 3 and will be out indefinitely, we will continue to support him, as he is an important part of our family.”

NOTE: The NHL released its national-TV schedule Tuesday. The Hawks’ will appear on NBC Sports Network as part of a season-opening tripleheader at 7 p.m. Jan. 13 at Tampa Bay. The Hawks also will be on Ch. 5 on Jan. 24 against the Red Wings and on -NBCSN on Jan. 27 at Nashville, Feb. 17 at Detroit, Feb. 28 against the Wings and March 28 and April 21 against the Predators.