Former Blackhawks captain and Winnipeg native Jonathan Toews will be back in the NHL with the Jets next season.
The 37-year-old forward can’t officially sign the contract until July 1, the first day of free agency, but he had been free to talk to teams already. The Jets announced his decision Friday.
Toews grew up in St. Vital, a neighborhood on the south side of Winnipeg, so it’s fitting the Jets will become his second NHL team — after 15 seasons with the Hawks and the last two years away from hockey.
“I’m grateful to be making my return to the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets,” Toews 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.”
JONATHAN TOEWS IS A WINNIPEG JET pic.twitter.com/YY9JY0C0Xo
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) June 20, 2025
He spent the last two years traveling the world and exploring some unconventional medicinal approaches to treat long COVID and chronic immune response syndrome before resurfacing in January, the first time he indicated he was considering an NHL comeback.
The one-year contract will carry a $2 million base salary with up to an additional
$5 million in performance bonuses based on Toews reaching various thresholds of games played and the Jets advancing through the playoffs, PuckPedia reported.
It’s structured that way because it’s difficult — even for the Jets and Toews himself — to predict how effective he’ll be, although both numbers are considerably higher than expected. With the salary cap skyrocketing next season, his comeback comes at a conveniently lucrative time.
The reigning Presidents’ Trophy winners at least will be able to provide him with a strong supporting cast, but there’s a lot working against him. A comeback at his age, after this much time off, never has been done. He’s going to be one of the 20 oldest players in the league, and that number could fall depending on retirements this summer.
Toews holding his own against current NHL competition will have to be seen to be believed. But it seems like the Jets are convinced he can.
To start off the season — assuming everything goes smoothly during training camp — the Jets might try deploying Toews in the third-line center role typically occupied by their captain, Adam Lowry. Lowry will miss the first couple of months of the season recovering from hip surgery.
Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff (the former Hawks executive) said in a statement that Toews’ “talent, drive and experience will be a great complement to our club.”
When the NHL releases the 2025-26 schedule July 16, it will be interesting to learn the date of the Jets’ first visit to Chicago. Toews’ United Center return certainly will be a hot ticket.
“The entire Blackhawks organization would like to congratulate Jonathan and welcome him back to the NHL,” the Hawks said in a statement. “The work he’s done over the past two years to make his return is a testament to his resiliency and determination — the same qualities that our fans fell in love with and continue to define him as a player.
“The NHL is better with Jonathan on the ice, and we’re excited to celebrate him when he returns to the United Center with Winnipeg this season.”