Jonathan Toews' homecoming: 'I couldn't see myself wearing any other jersey'

Jonathan Toews homecoming press conference was celebratory in tone, beyond that of any Winnipeg Jets player signing that came before it.

It was attended by Mayor Scott Gillingham, Premier Wab Kinew, Toews parents, extended family and a group of Jets season-seat holders who won a contest the first of its kind for Winnipeg, with the right to attend Toews unveiling as the prize.

The media contingent was outsized, buoyed in part by the Mayor and Premiers attendance the first-ever player signing announcement that either had attended larger than the contingent that covered Game 7 between Winnipeg and St.

Louis.

When Toews name was announced, most of the gathered crowd cheered.

Advertisement Such was the unveiling of Toews, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and immediately the Jets most decorated signing.

He was born and raised in Winnipeg, speaks English and French fluently and has as many Cup rings as the rest of Winnipegs roster combined.

Toews name is on the Dakota Community Centre and a lake, some 95 kilometres north of Flin Flon and, from this day forward, it is on Jets jerseys stitched with the No.

19.

After 15 years with the Chicago Blackhawks and two years spent searching the world for answers to his health problems, Winnipegs most accomplished NHL hockey player has been unveiled as one of its own.

Toews told the sizable audience that, despite interest from multiple teams, Winnipeg felt like the only choice.

It really got to a point where I couldnt see myself wearing any other jersey, Toews said.

It wasnt something where you write down the pros and cons on a piece of paper.

To me, it wasnt rational at all: It was more of an intuitive thing where it just felt right.

Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff was the first to speak at length, sharing a story from the press conference that first announced his hiring.

Cheveldayoff recalled that, in a back room away from the gathered media, True North Chairman Mark Chipman had asked him: Do you think that Jonathan Toews would ever wear a Jets jersey? Do you ever think he would come home? Cheveldayoff then shared his pride in sending Chipman a text last week confirming that Toews was a Jet.

His voice broke as he did so, conveying the realization of a long-held Jets dream.

One of the most decorated hockey players in the history of our province is coming home pic.twitter.com/45l53ZRmUz Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) July 4, 2025 Toews, 37, may not be capable of delivering the Conn Smythe level of performance from 2010, back when he was 22 years old.

His dream, at this stage of his career, is different.

Toews nearly had his career taken away from him by Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome and symptoms of long COVID.

His digestive system stopped working the way it was supposed to.

There were times he couldnt get out of bed .

Toews last NHL game was on April 13, 2023, and hes been all over the world in search of medicine that works for him.

Advertisement When asked about his decision to pursue an Ayurvedic detox called a Panchakarma, Toews says a big part of the decision was that nothing else was working for him.

When you try enough things and they dont work, its frustrating, Toews said.

I got to the point where there was no rhyme or reason, so whatever showed up, I was like, Alright.

Ill give it a shot.

The broad strokes of Toews journey are known ...

Hes achieved a level of health that has allowed him to train as an elite athlete again.

Most importantly for Toews, hes in position to find out what kind of NHL player he can be.

At 37 years old, can he still help a team win hockey games? Can he endure the rigors of an NHL season? What about the playoffs, where Toews career points-per-game is even higher than it is during the regular season? When Toews talks about the challenge in front of him, his approach sounds like a homecoming on a personal and professional level.

There were times when the demands of an NHL season lost their charm, particularly when his health was failing.

Toews framed his homecoming in terms of gratitude, invoking his childhood joy upon discovering hockey as a passion before it became a career.

The closer I got to making a decision, the reality started sinking in how special it was, Toews said.

And all the memories flooded back from my childhood of why and when I fell in love with the game of hockey.

It all started by being a young kid and going to the Winnipeg Arena.

Toews says he was caught up in the atmosphere of the Winnipeg Whiteout as a kid, even before fully understanding what was happening on the ice.

A trip down memory lane with Tazer pic.twitter.com/cc3Yq2BoRV Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) July 5, 2025 Its just surreal to be sitting here right now, putting this jersey on, Toews said.

Its that new feeling, like youre getting drafted again.

Youre a young kid.

Theres definitely that excitement, that motivation to come in.

I havent played in a couple of years, so Im just really, really blessed to be able to have the chance to play the game of hockey again at this level, let alone for the Winnipeg Jets.

Advertisement There are many levels on which Toews homecoming has the potential to be a perfect story for Winnipeg.

That he signed with the Jets at all bucks a trend among free agents.

Nikolaj Ehlers departure from the Hurricanes was emotional, for example Scott Arniel said on Friday that Ehlers called him, almost in tears, to let him know hed chosen a change of scenery but it was still a departure.

Toews, 37, may not be capable of the impact Ehlers has, but hes a Winnipegger who chose Winnipeg and is more accomplished by leaps and bounds.

Fridays enormous media contingent, with interest from the mayor and premier, reflects the existing enormity of the story; if Toews proves himself capable of influencing the outcome of a playoff series like he could in his younger days, the story will grow well beyond its already large scope.

Arniel felt thrilled when the possibility of signing Toews emerged and again after speaking to captains Adam Lowry, Josh Morrissey and Mark Scheifele, among Winnipegs other leaders.

It was unanimous, Arniel said.

It will be a big benefit for us both on the ice and off the ice.

We just went through free agency, I mean, theres a lot of names at the top of the list of who is a free agent, but Id like to think we got the best one.

Arniel declined to detail his plans for Toews minutes, load management, and linemates, but admitted hes started to think about all of it.

He shared that, during his first conversations with Toews, the 37-year-old Winnipegger insisted that he earn whatever opportunity he receives.

Ill start on the fourth line,' Arniel recalls Toews saying.

Im thinking, Yeah I dont think that will go over very well.

Lowrys recovery from hip surgery creates an opening at centre, whether you refer to his job as second-line or third.

Toews will most likely step into a middle-six role, with an abundance of wingers for Arniel to choose from, including Cole Perfetti, Gustav Nyquist, Alex Iafallo and Nino Niederreiter.

For Toews, it doesnt matter who he plays with.

It matters that he has the opportunity to play NHL hockey at all.

He says he is not the same person or player that he used to be.

At one point, while describing the challenges of his health journey, Toews said, Youth is wasted on the young.

He spoke to the way life can throw curveballs, while stressing that he doesnt see himself as a victim and wants to keep growing as a person.

Advertisement Im just happy to get the chance to play hockey again and just have that energy and that enthusiasm, Toews said.

Knowing that, regardless, we all retire at some point.

Who knows when that will be, but for now, I get to go out and put this sweater on and be part of this team and just enjoy all the good, and maybe the not-so-good, of what it takes to be an NHL hockey player and knowing that the time is limited for all of us.

Just really connecting with that childhood passion again is really important.

(Photo: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images).

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