Toews expected back Thursday vs. Coyotes
Jonathan Toews appears ready to play after dealing with an illness that kept him out of the All-Star Game.
The Chicago Blackhawks captain practiced on the top line with Andrew Shaw and Marian Hossa on Wednesday, according to CSN Chicago's Tracey Myers.
Toews wasn't exactly sure what was bothering him, but he felt it was worth missing Tuesday's win over the Colorado Avalanche to ensure he returned to full health.
"I was digressing more and more (before the break), and coming down to it in the bigger picture, it was the right thing to do to make sure I'm ready to play and be healthy coming out of the break," Toews told reporters after practice Wednesday.
He was required to sit one game after the All-Star break for missing the festivities, and was also held out of the third period in a 5-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 26., the Blackhawks' final game before the midseason hiatus.
"It's not an easy thing (to miss the All-Star Game)," Toews said. "You want to be there, you want to represent your team and be there for the 'Hawks fans that are behind you ... but it just got to the point where things were not getting better."
Toews said he had trouble sleeping, experienced body aches, a bad cough, and had trouble breathing on the ice over a two-week period.
The 27-year-old center has 19 goals and 16 assists in 53 games