Following a pair of seasons away from professional hockey, Jonathan Toews is anticipated to rejoin the NHL, reportedly reaching an agreement with the Winnipeg Jets. Official contract registration awaits the commencement of free agency on July 1. Toews, who spent his formative years in Winnipeg, will have the opportunity to compete for his hometown team.
Toews’ most recent professional season was in 2022-23, during which he amassed 31 points (15 goals and 16 assists) across 53 games with the Blackhawks. He achieved 14 goals and 14 assists in his initial 46 games of the 2022-23 season; however, health concerns played a significant role in the latter part of the year.
In February of 2023, Toews disclosed that he was still encountering symptoms related to COVID-19, but he eventually made his way back into the lineup in April. After the Blackhawks announced that they would not be re-signing him, Toews revealed his decision to sit out the 2023-24 season to prioritize his health — though he stopped short of announcing his formal retirement.
Toews, currently 37 years of age, has had a decorated and successful career to this point. The Winnipeg-born athlete played a key role in guiding the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup victories. Moreover, he was selected to six All-Star Games, received the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs (2010), and earned the Selke Trophy as the league’s best defensive forward (2013).
Throughout his NHL career, Toews has accumulated 883 points (372 goals and 511 assists) in 1,067 regular-season games played. With respect to the Blackhawks’ franchise records, he currently holds the fifth position in games played, sixth in total points, sixth in goals scored, eighth in assists recorded, and third in game-winning goals (69).
At this stage of his career, it is uncertain what Toews will contribute to the Jets, who secured the Presidents’ Trophy with a total of 116 points in the 2024-25 season. Winnipeg obtained the top seed in the Western Conference, although their playoff run was halted by the Dallas Stars, who eliminated them in six games during the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
