HIGHLIGHTS
- Jonathan Toews is “100% committed” to an NHL comeback for the 2025-26 season
- The 37-year-old former Blackhawks captain hasn’t played since the 2022-23 season
- Read below for the full scoop on Toews’ comeback plans and health journey
Former Chicago Blackhawks captain and 3-time Stanley Cup champion Jonathan Toews is itching to get back onto the ice. He made it clear today that he has his eyes set on the 2025-26 NHL season.
The news was first reported by TSN hockey insider Pierre LeBrun on X/Twitter. LeBrun explained that he spoke with Toews’ agent Pat Brisson.
Brisson confirmed that Toews is not only “100% committed” to an NHL comeback next season, but will also begin taking calls about the free agent forward in the lead-up to free agency on July 1st.
Toews, now 37 years of age, has not seen any hockey action since the 2022-23 season. That season, he scored 15 goals and 16 assists, good for 31 points in 53 games.
His lengthy absence stems from a battle with health problems from the effects of long COVID as well as Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS). These conditions saw him miss the entire 2020-21 bubble season.
He then returned to play out the final 2 seasons of his 8-year, $10.5M AAV contract. After that, he announced in an Instagram post that he would be stepping away from the game, but not retiring.
It was first reported back in December by GQ that Toews was planning an NHL comeback. The report revealed that he spent time in India on a healing journey involving an Ayurvedic Panchakarma detox designed for physical and mental healing.
Now that he is once again healthy, Toews is expected to garner a lot of interest heading into the NHL offseason and free agency.
With 3 Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe Trophy, a Selke trophy, and 2 Olympic Gold medals already to his name, he looks to conclude a legendary NHL career properly. Toews hopes to be once again that elite, clutch hockey player he once was.
