Jonathan Toews’ NHL career appears to be coming to an end after a one-year comeback with the Winnipeg Jets, according to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, who said Wednesday that retirement now seems likely, though nothing has been made official. Toews, 38, spent the previous two seasons away from hockey while dealing with Chronic Immune Response Syndrome (CIRS) and Long COVID before signing with the Jets last summer, returning to the NHL after a long stint with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Toews played all 82 games for Winnipeg this season, finishing with 11 goals and 18 assists. It was a full season that marked an important return for the veteran center, who last summer joined his hometown team after 15 seasons in Chicago. During his time with the Blackhawks, Toews became one of the most accomplished players of his era, helping the franchise win three Stanley Cups and earning a reputation as a leader, two-way center and championship performer.
In April, Toews said he had not yet decided whether he would continue his career, but he made clear that he would have liked to return if he played another season. He said he would be open to staying with the Jets, noting how much he enjoyed being part of the locker room and emphasizing that any future decision would be made later.
Across his NHL career, Toews has totaled 383 goals and 529 assists in 1,149 games. He also had a decorated international career for Canada, winning gold medals at the 2006 and 2007 IIHF World Junior Championships, the 2007 IIHF World Championship and the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics. He was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner in 2010 as the playoffs’ most valuable player.
If Toews does retire, he would close a career defined by elite play, championships and leadership, both in the NHL and on the international stage.
