Three-time Stanley Cup winner Jonathan Toews is returning to the NHL after a two-year health-related absence.
He agreed to terms with the Winnipeg Jets on a one-year contract, which Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports is worth $2 million and loaded with incentives. Toews played youth hockey in Winnipeg is joining a team that won the Presidents’ Trophy as the top regular-season team.
“I’m grateful to be making my return to the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets,” Toews, 37, said in a statement. “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.”
He has 372 goals, 511 assists and 883 points in 1,067 career-regular season games, all with the Chicago Blackhawks.
He was the Blackhawks’ captain when that team won Stanley Cup titles in 2010, 2013 and 2015.
He won the 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after leading all postseason scorers with 29 points as the Blackhawks ended a 49-year championship drought.
Toews won the Selke Trophy as top defensive forward during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. The Blackhawks opened that season with a 24-game point streak and captured the Stanley Cup. He had 21 points in 23 games during the 2015 Cup run.
He also won Olympic gold medals with Canada in 2010 and 2014.
In recent years, he had dealt with health issues.
Toews missed the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season because of chronic immune response syndrome. He also sat out for two months in 2021-22 because of the effects of that and of long COVID. After playing in 2022-23, he skipped the last two seasons in order to get healthy.
“We are excited to add a proven winner like Jonathan Toews to the Winnipeg Jets,” Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said. “It will be a unique opportunity for Jonathan to play for his hometown team. His talent, drive, and experience will be a great complement to our club.’
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