CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 13: Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) looks on after a game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Chicago Blackhawks on April 13, 2023 at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Jonathan Toews will sign with his hometown Winnipeg Jets on July 1
  • The three-time Cup winner hasn’t played since April 2023 due to health issues
  • Read below for contract details and what this means for the Jets’ Cup chances

Jonathan Toews is finally coming home.

The Winnipeg Jets announced Friday that the three-time Stanley Cup champion has agreed to join his hometown team for the 2025-26 season. The deal can’t officially be registered until July 1, but Toews has made a verbal commitment.

“The kid from St. Vital is coming home,” the Jets posted on social media.

The 37-year-old center hasn’t played since April 13, 2023. He stepped away from hockey to battle the effects of long COVID and chronic immune response syndrome.

According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, it’s a one-year deal. PuckPedia reports the contract carries a $2 million cap hit but could reach $7 million with bonuses.

The incentives are massive. Toews gets $2.75 million for hitting various games-played milestones, $1.25 million in playoff bonuses, and a cool $1 million if the Jets win the Cup and he plays at least half the Finals.

That’s a lot of faith in a guy who hasn’t laced them up in over two years. But this is Jonathan Toews we’re talking about.

The former Blackhawks captain won three Cups in Chicago and took home the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2010. He’s got 883 points in 1,067 career games and won the Selke Trophy as the league’s best defensive forward in 2013.

18 June 2015: Chicago Blackhawks Center Jonathan Toews (19) [5535] delivers the Stanley Cup to the fans during the Chicago Blackhawk’s celebrate their Stanley Cup win at a victory rally at Soldier Field, Chicago, Il
But let’s be honest about this “comeback”. Toews didn’t exactly light it up in his final season, managing just 31 points in 53 games. And he’s been away from NHL hockey for what will be three full seasons by the time he suits up again.

Some Jets fans are already joking they’ll sign Mark Stone in four years after his next back surgery. Others can’t believe they actually landed a big-name free agent, even if he’s 37 and coming off a two-year sabbatical that included a five-week detox in India.

Yeah, you read that right. Toews spent time in India undergoing what he called “a healing journey” that involved some pretty intense traditional treatments.

The Jets are taking a calculated risk here. They’ve got Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor locked up, so Toews won’t need to carry the load. He’ll likely slot into a second or third-line role behind Adam Lowry.

If he’s got anything left in the tank, Toews could provide valuable veteran leadership for a team that just won the Presidents’ Trophy. If not? Well, at least the base salary is only $2 million.

It will be strange for hockey fans to see “Captain Serious” in another jersey. But watching Toews battle Patrick Kane and the Red Wings will be appointment viewing. The old Chicago duo will be reunited as division rivals in the Atlantic.

The Jets are clearly pushing for a Cup run in 2026. Adding a guy with Toews’ championship pedigree can’t hurt, even if we’re all curious how he will look after such a long layoff.

Will there be rust? Absolutely. But if anyone can shake it off and contribute to a contender, it’s a two-way workhorse like Toews.

The Jets get their hometown hero. Toews gets another shot at the Cup. And hockey fans get to see if one of the game’s great leaders has one more run left in him.