Veteran NHL center Jonathan Toews has officially announced his intention to sign with the Winnipeg Jets when NHL free agency begins on July 1. The team shared the news via social media, confirming Toews’ return to professional hockey after a two-year absence.
The contract is reportedly a one-year deal valued at $2 million in base salary, along with performance-related bonuses. Toews, who spent his entire previous NHL career with the Chicago Blackhawks, is returning to the league after stepping away to address health concerns.
Toews Chooses Jets for Championship Potential and Hometown Pride Amid Career Revival
Sources indicate that Toews had multiple suitors but ultimately chose the Winnipeg Jets because of their strong competitive prospects. The Jets recently captured the Presidents’ Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s best regular-season team, although their postseason ended in the second round against the Dallas Stars.
Toews, 37, expressed a strong desire to compete for another Stanley Cup, making Winnipeg’s current contending status a major factor in his decision. Joining his hometown team also adds a personal layer of motivation to his comeback.
Jonathan Toews (NHL)Toews last played in the NHL during the 2022-23 season, after which the Chicago Blackhawks opted not to renew his contract. This marked the end of an era for the franchise, which also traded away Patrick Kane as part of a sweeping rebuild.
Health issues, including chronic inflammatory response syndrome and long COVID, limited Toews’ performance in his final seasons with Chicago. Despite these setbacks, he remained a beloved figure in the organization, remembered for leading the team to three Stanley Cups.
Spiritual Healing and Renewed Focus Drive Toews Toward NHL Comeback Journey
In late 2024, Toews shared details of a personal healing journey he undertook in India, lasting five weeks. In his social media post, he described the experience as a turning point, stating that his health was improving and that he was optimistic about his future.
This journey was part of a larger effort to address the immune and inflammatory issues that sidelined him. Since then, Toews has been diligently training, ramping up his physical preparation with an eye toward a full NHL return. Jonathan Toews has built an illustrious hockey résumé since being drafted third overall in 2006. He tallied 883 points in 1,067 games and captured two Olympic gold medals with Team Canada in 2010 and 2014.
His leadership and two-way play earned him recognition among the NHL’s elite, including being named one of the league’s 100 greatest players in 2017. With his return to the ice now imminent, Toews brings experience, leadership, and a winning pedigree to a Jets team eager to make a deeper playoff run.
