Jonathan Toews is ready to play in the NHL again after taking two years away from pro hockey.
Toews, an unrestricted free agent this summer, has not taken the ice since an April 13, 2023, appearance for the Chicago Blackhawks. The 37-year-old forward stepped away from the game to recover from the effects of long COVID and chronic immune response syndrome.
According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, Toews reached out to his agent Pat Brisson on Wednesday to confirm that he is “100 percent committed” to making his return next year. Darren Dreger added that the three-time Stanley Cup champion will have a long list of interested teams, including his hometown Winnipeg Jets.
Toews, who has only played for the Blackhawks during his 15-year NHL career, recorded 31 points (15g, 16a) in his final season with the club. The long-time top center made headlines when he revealed to GQ that he spent some time in India undergoing a “five-week Ayurvedic detox called a Panchakarma,” which involved induced vomiting and daily enemas.
More recently, Toews told The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus in March that he was putting himself through grueling conditioning skates in Arizona as he explored comeback options. He’ll be eligible to sign his first NHL contract since 2015 when the calendar flips into July later this summer.
During his career, Toews has played in 1,067 games and recorded 883 points (372g, 511a). The six-time NHL All-Star has also won the Conn Smythe Trophy (2010), Selke Trophy (2013), and Mark Messier Leadership Award (2013).
