It appears that Jonathan Toews’ NHL career is at an end after a one-year comeback with the Winnipeg Jets.
“Nothing official, but at this point is seems likely Jonathan Toews is retiring,” TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger posted on X Wednesday.
“High-level source says it’s more likely than not that the 38-year-old will officially retire from the National Hockey League,” Dreger explained on Insider Trading Wednesday.
“Again, you’re right, talk about a real effort put in returning to the NHL, and he most definitely had his moments. The leadership qualities that Toews brought to the Winnipeg Jets dressing room, to the bench, on the ice, no doubt they were a real big asset to Scott Arniel and the overall team in Winnipeg. But 82 games is a long regular season. He does not go out the way that he was hoping or the organization had intended by missing the postseason.
“So we’ll let him formally announce, but that’s definitely the way that he’s leaning heavily today.”
Out of hockey for the previous two seasons managing Chronic Immune Response Syndrome (CIRS), as well as Long COVID, Toews signed with the Jets last summer following 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks with whom he won three Stanley Cups. He appeared in all 82 games for the Jets this season, scoring 11 goals and adding 18 assists.
Toews said in April he had yet to make a decision on his future but would have wanted to play with the Jets again if he returned for a 17th season.
“One hundred per cent if they’ll have me,” the 38-year-old Toews said of a potential return to his hometown team. “I loved being part of this locker room this year. That being said, if I decide to play next year, I’d love to be part of this group again, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
The 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the playoffs’ most valuable player, Toews has 383 goals and 529 assists in 1,149 games.
Internationally, Toews has represented Canada on numerous occasions, including gold medal-winning efforts at the 2006 and 2007 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships, the 2007 IIHF World Championship and at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics.
More details to follow.
