Jonathan Toews lands new contract and is back in the NHL

Jonathan Toews is back in the NHL. On Friday morning, reports emerged that Toews has decided to play for the Winnipeg Jets for the upcoming season, and has an agreement in place until he can sign with them once free agency opens on July 1st.

According to Pierre LeBrun, the deal is expected to be for one year.

The Jets themselves made the upcoming signing official on their social media accounts:

“I’m grateful to be making my return to the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets,” Toews said in a release. “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.”

Toews, whose recovery started with a trip to India where he underwent “an Ayurvedic detox called a Panchakarma”, has been training hard to return to the NHL . In 2022-23, he played out the last of an eight-year, $84 million contract he signed with the Blackhawks in 2014 that carried an AAV of $10.5 million, after missing the 2020-21 bubble season while recovering from COVID-19 and chronic immune response syndrome. He was then informed by general manager Kyle Davidson prior to the team’s final game of the season that he would not be re-signed. In August of 2023, Toews announced that he was stepping away from hockey “to give myself the time and space to fully heal and enjoy life to the fullest once again.”

The Blackhawks have released a statement on Toews signing in Winnipeg:

"The entire Blackhawks organization would like to congratulate Jonathan and welcome him back to the NHL. 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."

Other teams had expressed interest in Toews, including the Colorado Avalanche and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Here are some more details, via Chris Johnston, on the projected contract for Toews:

The veteran star forward is not eligible to sign a new contract until July 1, but will now do so with his hometown team.

Toews will be a tremendous addition to the Jets with his Stanley Cup three times (2010, 2013, 2015) he won with the Blackhawks. He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2009-10 and the Frank Selke Trophy in 2013. He has played his entire career with the Blackhawks after he was selected third overall by the club in the 2006 NHL Draft. He recorded a total of 372 goals and 511 assists over 1,067 games.