CSN reporter showing Toews' @suntimes Splash cover to his teammates. Toews jokes he was hoping none of them would see it. #Blackhawks

— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) March 13, 2013

In case you Missed Blackhawks Captain Jonathan Toews on the cover of the Sun-Times Splash magazine this past Sunday, here he is - and the cover story:

Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews was one of the 18 players to sit in on the NHL Players' Association's collective bargaining meeting with the NHL on Thursday in Toronto.

Two days after the NHL offered a proposal touting a 50/50 split and no rollback, the NHLPA, as expected, countered, but with three different proposals. The NHL, represented by commissioner Gary Bettman, rejected all four of their offers.

It's clear that each side wants to use their proposals as a basis for negotiations. And it's clear that each side is working from completely different philosophies.

In other words, there is no end in sight for the NHL's second lockout in eight years. More game cancellations are expected soon.

Here's what Toews said via text message from Toronto:

Blackhawks defenseman Steve Montador couldn't find any good words to describe the current situation the league, the players, fans and those who depend on hockey in some way to make a living are in right now.

More than 250 players will descend on New York on Wednesday and Thursday as the NHL Players' Association gathers days before an inevitable lockout.

The current collective bargaining agreement expires Sept. 15 and commissioner Gary Bettman said the league would lock out players if a deal is not reached. With only informal talks taking place recently -- formal discussions broke off on Aug. 31 -- it's apparent that deal is far from happening.

With the NHL and NHL Players' Association seemingly still far apart in their negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, multiple players have suggested that playing in Europe is a real option if a lockout shuts down the 2012-13 season.

Consider Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane among those who would consider playing in Europe if a labor dispute prevents them from suiting up for the Blackhawks.

Blackahwks star Jonathan Toews has taken an active role in the team's courting of free agents.

Toews told the Winnipeg Sun's Ken Wiebe during a charity golf tournament in his hometown that he has sent texts to some players as part of the Hawks' recruiting efforts.

The Hawks may have missed out on winger Zach Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter, but the courting of hard-nosed wing Shane Doan has just begun with the Phoenix Coyotes' future still in flux.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Jonathan Toews expected to be a target, so he wasn't all that surprised that the Phoenix Coyotes gave him a few licks in Game 1 on Thursday.

At times, it looked like the Coyotes made it a point to rough up Toews after whistles and away from plays in his first game back after missing 22 in a row with a concussion.

Although, that shouldn't be a surprise, either.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The wait is over. After almost a two-month layoff, Jonathan Toews will return to the Blackhawks lineup Thursday against the Phoenix Coyotes in Game 1 of their best-of-seven series.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Things are looking very good for Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews. It's now reached a point to where he'll be surprised if he didn't play in Game 1 of their first-round series against the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday.

DETROIT -- Jonathan Toews needs more time, so he will miss at least one more game and his regular season is over.