Jonathan Toews' Return Could Put the Chicago Blackhawks over the Top in the West

The Chicago Blackhawks have had to make do without their captain for nearly two months. His return for the postseason seems imminent. Might a healthy Toews catapult the Hawks into serious contention for the Stanley Cup?

That depends on how healthy Toews is between the ears and how head coach Joel Quenneville uses him with Chicago's other top forwards.

If Toews can have a similar impact to Dave Bolland's return last spring, then there isn't a team in the Western Conference who the Hawks couldn't beat. After all, Bolland's return in the Vancouver series only helped pull Chicago from 0-3 to overtime in Game 7.

Of course, Bolland wasn't out nearly as long as Toews, who has been out almost two months with concussion symptoms. The Rat missed 14 regular-season games  and the first three of the Vancouver series before putting up six points in four playoff games.

The captain could make a monster return a la Bolland. He also could have a return like teammate Steve Montador, who was barely on the ice before concussion symptoms forced him back to inactivity.

All signs appear to be pointing to his ability to take to the ice. As Toews himself told the Chicago Tribune's Chris Kuc a few days ago:

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We wanted to kind of err on the cautious side by me not playing. I think I'm feeling a little more confident that Thursday might be the day, but we'll see when that time comes.

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After Tuesday's skate, Toews told Tracey Myers of Comcast Sports Net that he feels good and is hopeful about being in the lineup for Thursday's opening game in Phoenix. The team has said for a few days that it's now up to Toews to come back when he's ready. After missing 22 games, it looks as if that day is approaching.

Optimists out there will point to fresh legs for the captain after leaving the lineup February 19. The truth of the matter is that Toews will have to spend a few games getting his wind back. He also needs to get to a loose puck in the corners and take that first big hit.

Judging from the deliberate approach Toews has employed over the last few days, that first hit looms as large for him as it does for Hawks fans. Until Toews actually gets out there and experiences live hockey again, the impact of his return remains unknown.

If practice is any indication, the captain will be matched with Patrick Kane on the left and Marian Hossa on the right. This combination has not had long-term stability because it forces one natural right winger (in this case Kane) to play on the opposite side.

Coach Quenneville's reasoning for this seems to be that it allows him to keep a hot second line of Marcus Kruger, Patrick Sharp and Viktor Stalberg intact. I would think that at some point in the series, Quenneville will send out the fabled line of Sharp-Toews-Kane and let Hossa skate with the Swedes. That may also depend on how Toews handles game conditions.

If Toews is completely recovered and hits the playoffs running, Chicago's postseason fortunes just got a boost. If he clicks with Kane and Hossa, the Hawks could make a long run.

Right now we can't be sure of either of those things happening. We are, however, getting close to finding out on the ice.