Toews, Kane decision expected to be made by mid-February

The 2023 NHL trade deadline is about six weeks away, yet the futures of Chicago Blackhawks legends Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews remain murky.

Kane and Toews are both 34, both in the final year of identical eight-year contracts, both pending unrestricted free agents and both have full no-movement clauses, which means they both ultimately control where they’ll each end up.

“All the parties by now thought the picture would be a little more clear,” Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek said Saturday during the 32 Thoughts segment of Hockey Night in Canada, when discussing Chicago’s trade deadline approach. “It doesn’t sound as if Patrick Kane or Jonathan Toews are prepared to make any type of decision until mid-February.”

Between a number of notable injuries and all the parity among teams vying for a playoff spot, this year’s deadline is shaping up to have plenty of intrigue. Marek also suggested the season-ending injury to Hurricanes forward Max Pacioretty could have an impact on deadline activity, as teams jockey for position down the stretch.

Kane has eight goals and 29 points in 40 games this season, while Toews has 13 goals and 27 points in 42 games.

“For myself, it’s just kind of a tricky situation, the last year of my contract and I haven’t played my best hockey in some time, so I’m not sure what the opportunities or what’s going to come knocking,” Toews said in an interview earlier this week. “But there’s no doubt in my mind, again, I’m focusing on my game, trying to improve that every single day and trying to enjoy just playing the game, being a Blackhawk as long as I can, for however long that is and while it still lasts.”

The Blackhawks were in last place in the Central Division and had the NHL’s third-worst points percentage heading into the weekend.

Chicago selected Toews with the No. 3 pick in 2006 and then Kane with the No. 1 pick in 2007. The pair helped lead the franchise to Stanley Cup championships in 2010, 2013 and 2015.

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