Jonathan Toews Comeback Rumors: Everything We Know About the NHL Star’s Next Move

Hometown hero coming home: Jonathan Toews is poised to lace up for the Winnipeg Jets this fall after reaching a reported one-year agreement that will become official when NHL free agency opens on July 1, according to multiple league sources and insider Pierre LeBrun. The move ends a two-year hiatus for the three-time Stanley Cup champion, who stepped away from the Chicago Blackhawks following the 2022-23 season to focus on recovery from long COVID symptoms and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. Agent Pat Brisson confirmed late last month that his client was “100 percent…moving forward” with an NHL comeback after declaring he “wasn’t satisfied” with how things ended in Chicago. Why Winnipeg makes sense • Hometown connection: Toews grew up in St. Vital, just 15 minutes from Canada Life Centre, giving the Jets an instant marketing boost and a surefire ticket-sales bump. • Center-depth upgrade: Winnipeg has searched for a reliable two-way pivot behind Mark Scheifele. Toews, still an elite faceoff specialist (59.4 percent in his last full season), slots naturally on the second or third line and can anchor the penalty kill. • Leadership infusion: Head coach Scott Arniel inherits one of the most respected captains of the salary-cap era, a timely addition after veteran departures last offseason. Projected contract & cap fit Early whispers suggest a base salary in the $3-3.5 million range with performance bonuses tied to games played. The Jets enter July with roughly $10 million in cap space, so a bonus-laden deal allows flexibility for additional depth signings while insulating the club in case Toews’ workload must be managed. Health update Toews, who turns 37 in April, spent the past year on a global “healing journey” that included extended stints in India and Indonesia. Conditioning sessions have reportedly ramped up since March, and Brisson says the veteran has “more energy than he’s felt in years.” Winnipeg’s sports-science staff will monitor his minutes, but sources emphasize that Toews has been skating four times a week and scrimmaging without restrictions. What it means for Chicago The Blackhawks officially closed the dynasty chapter when they declined to re-sign their longtime captain in 2023. While Connor Bedard is now the face of the franchise, Chicago fans will circle Nov. 12 on the calendar—the Jets’ first visit to United Center—for what promises to be an emotional return. Jets depth chart snapshot 1st line: Ehlers – Scheifele – Vilardi 2nd line: Connor – Toews – Perfetti 3rd line: Niederreiter – Lowry – Iafallo 4th line: Barron – Gustafsson – Appleton Power-play net-front: Toews / Perfetti swap; PK 1A duo: Toews–Lowry Legacy in focus • 3× Stanley Cup champion (2010, 2013, 2015) • 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy winner • 2013 Selke Trophy winner • Olympic gold medals in 2010 & 2014 • 883 career points in 1,067 NHL games Next checkpoints • June 25: Medical evaluation and informal skate in Winnipeg. • July 1, 11:00 a.m. CT: Contract can be filed with Central Registry. • Mid-July: Appearance at Jets development camp to mentor prospects. • Sept 18: First on-ice session of training camp; club expects full participation. Bottom line Jonathan Toews’ return is no longer a question of “if” but “where,” and all signs point to a storybook chapter with his hometown Winnipeg Jets. If his body cooperates, the perennial Selke candidate could transform the Jets from playoff hopefuls into legitimate Central Division contenders—while giving NHL fans one more chance to watch Captain Serious in prime time.