Toews plays in Blackhawks' preseason opener

The Chicago Blackhawks got their captain back for the team's first preseason game against the Detroit Red Wings.

Jonathan Toews was forced to miss the 2020-21 campaign due to chronic immune response syndrome. He last suited up for a game on Aug. 18, 2020, when the Vegas Golden Knights eliminated the Blackhawks in the playoff bubble.

"We want to get everyone in, and he's one of them. It'll be a step up in the load, being in a real game ... so we'll see," head coach Jeremy Colliton said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times' Ben Pope.

As training camp opened last week, Toews said he was taking his recovery "one day at a time" and wasn't yet firing on all cylinders.

Chicago positioned Toews between Dominik Kubalik and Philipp Kurashev at practice. Since it's still the preseason, the lines were missing other roster regulars such as Patrick Kane.

The Blackhawks will play six preseason contests, including two games each against the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild. Their preseason slate ends on Oct. 9.