Former Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews is signing with the Winnipeg Jets on a one-year contract, the team announced Friday.
The contract includes a $2-million base salary and includes several bonuses contingent on games played, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
Toews hasn't appeared in an NHL contest since the 2022-23 season due to health issues. His contract can't officially be registered until July 1, notes TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
"I'm grateful to be making my return to the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets," Toews said. "It's very special to come home and play in front of my family and friends in Manitoba. The Jets have been on the rise over the last few seasons and I’m eager to join the group and help however I can."
The 37-year-old revealed he was interested in an NHL comeback in December, then affirmed his commitment in May. Toews stepped away from the sport due to chronic inflammatory response syndrome and symptoms of long COVID, which made him miss the entire 2020-21 campaign plus two months of his most recent season.
Toews embarked on a five-week detox in India as part of his recovery.
Numerous teams reportedly expressed interest in signing Toews at the March trade deadline. However, he revealed he intended to wait until the 2025-26 season to resume his career.
Toews is one of the most accomplished players of his generation. He won three Stanley Cups as captain of the Chicago Blackhawks, as well as two Olympic gold medals and a World Cup of Hockey with Team Canada. Individually, Toews boasts a Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP and a Selke Trophy as the league's top defensive forward.
He's registered 883 points in 1,067 career games and has added 119 points in 137 postseason contests.
Toews is a Winnipeg native. The Jets, despite winning the Presidents' Trophy this past season, lack center depth. Winnipeg had approximately $26.4 million in cap space before agreeing to terms with Toews, according to PuckPedia. The club's most important free agents this offseason are Nikolaj Ehlers (unrestricted) and Gabriel Vilardi (restricted).
