With two games left in the regular season, Toews has reached a point to where coach Joel Quenneville said the team will let him decide if he's ready to join the lineup after missing 20 consecutive games with a concussion.

"It's up to him," Quenneville said Tuesday after practice. "He's progressing enough that he'll make that call."

Toews was recently cleared for contact and took part in the Hawks' optional practice at Johnny IceHouse West, even propelling himself into the boards at one point after a goal.

Toews said afterward that he's hopeful he can Thursday against the Wild in Minnesota. He last played Feb. 19 against the St. Louis Blues.

"Even when I'm ready to start playing again, there's still going to be some days where you're going to have to progress towards feeling like myself again," Toews said. "I haven't made that decision for Thursday yet. I have another full day before that. I'll practice with the guys and we'll see how that goes and come Thursday we'll make a decision."

Toews has always stressed that he'll take a cautious approach with his recovery. He doesn't want to rush his return. But after a setback weeks ago, there's only been positive steps.

"It's tough to say," Toews said about knowing when he's fully ready. "It's tough to really know 110 percent if the time is right to go back in and play. I've just got to know that you've got to have that gut instinct that feels right that it's time to play. Today was a good day and hopefully tomorrows the same way and [after that] we'll see."