After an inconsistent season, Jonathan Toews will re-evaluate what he does off the ice to prepare for 2017-18.
The Blackhawks captain wasn't pleased with the way his body held up during the season, and though he wouldn't admit it, he was likely hampered by an injury during the first round of the playoffs.
"I'm definitely going to take a different approach the way I prepare for next season," Toews, 28, said Saturday as the Hawks held meetings and cleaned out their lockers at the United Center. "I didn't get to the level that I needed to be to help our team survive for a little bit longer in this last playoff series. I have to be responsible for that as well."
Toews said he would change "a little bit of everything" about his offseason regimen to produce more than the 21 goals and 37 assists he had in 72 regular-season games and one goal and an assist during the Predators' four-game sweep.
"I've always been that type of player who likes to play heavy and protect the puck down low in the corners," Toews said. "It seems the strength has been a factor but also the speed in my game that I used to have in my younger years.
"I have to get back to playing more puck possession, a little bit more speed on the rush. The skill part is another thing I'll have to focus on and try to get back to playing the way I know I can."
