Jonathan Toews Expresses Gratitude as 3x Stanley Cup Champion Signs 1-Year Deal with Jets to Mark NHL Comeback

Former Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews is returning to NHL action next season after signing a 1-year deal with the Winnipeg Jets.

Jonathan Toews Expresses Gratitude as 3x Stanley Cup Champion Signs 1-Year Deal with Jets to Mark NHL Comeback

Jonathan Toews (Image via Imago)

Jonathan Toews is back in the NHL. The 3-time Stanley Cup champion penned a 1-year deal with the Winnipeg Jets and will make his comeback to the league next season. After signing this deal, he expressed his gratitude towards getting another chance.

Toews has been out of NHL action since the 2022-23 season. The former Chicago Blackhawks captain had been dealing with COVID-19, it’s long time side effects and other health problems.

In December last year, the Canadian international expressed his desire to return to the ice field. In an update on Instagram, Toews revealed that he had traveled to India and undergone Ayurvedic Panchakarma detox in Kerala.

After being away from the game for over 2 years, the 37-year-old was feeling better in recent times. He was also drawing up interest from several top names likes the Colorado Avalanche and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In the midst of these speculations, the veteran player agreed to join his hometown team, the Winnipeg Jets. The player penned down a 1-year, $2 million deal and will suit up for the Jets in the 2025-26 season.

After the deal was officially announced, Toews would speak with NHL insider David Pagnotta regarding his move. During this, the center player expressed his gratitude to play in front of his family, friends, and home crowd.

I’m grateful to be making my return to the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets. It’s very special to come home and play in front of my family and friends in Manitoba. The Jets have been on the rise over the last few seasons, and I’m eager to join the group and help however I can.

As per reports from PuckPedia, Toews will officially sign the contract on July 1 to a $2 million cap hit and $7 million Average Annual Value (AAV).

Blackhawks release heartfelt statement following return of Jonathan Toews to NHL

Jonathan Toews had been dealing with health issues for a while and had not hit the ice in a long time. All of this led many to wonder whether this was it for him. However, the Canadian international has come back strongly and will return to action next season with the Winnipeg Jets. Following his signing, the Chicago Blackhawks released a heartfelt statement.

Jonathan Toews
Jonathan Toews (Image via Toronto Star)

Toews was selected as the third overall draft pick in the 2006 draft by the Blackhawks. He would be nominated for the Calder Trophy, an honor given to the best rookie in the 2007-08 season, and was named as the team captain the following season.

He would lead the Blackhawks to Stanley Cup glory in 2010 and was named as the Conn Smythe Trophy winner, the award given to the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the playoffs. He would lift the Cup as captain two more times in 2013 and 2015.

In April 2023, it was announced that the team would not re-sign him once his contract expires. Since his appearance in that month, he had not played an official NHL game. Meanwhile, in August that year, Toews would announce that he is going on a break and not retiring.

On Friday, the Blackhawks would share a lengthy message on their social media accounts to express excitement regarding the return of their former captain to the NHL. In the statement, the team revealed that they will celebrate his return with his new team at the United Center, next season.

The entire Blackhawks organization would like to congratulate Jonathan Toews and welcome him back to the NHL. The work he’s done over the past two years to make his return is a testament to his resilience and determination — the same qualities that our fans fell in love with and continue to define him as a player.

In his time in the NHL, Toews has played 1,067 regular season games and has 883 points (372 goals and 511 assists). In his final season with the Blackhawks, he played 53 regular season games scoring 15 goals and having 16 assists.

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