Jonathan Toews officially signs new NHL contract

After months of rumors, and years away from the game, it appears Jonathan Toews will return to the NHL next season.

Toews, 37, had indeed agreed to sign a contract with the Winnipeg Jets, but it can't be officialized until July 1st, per NHL rules. Meanwhile, fans are eagerly waiting to see what kind of deal Cheveldayoff offered him, but it certainly won't be over a year, and likely near the league's minimum wage.

The renowned insider Pierre LeBrun confirmed the news in a post on X:

Native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Toews joining the Jets marks his return to the city where his hockey journey began, something all fans can understand and appreciate, even those in Chicago or Colorado, who hoped for a different outcome.

It'll be interesting to see how Toews performs in his return. He hasn't played a game since the 2022-2023 season, after being forced to step away for health issues.

As for the Winnipeg Jets, they have been a great regular season team over the past years, but haven't been able to transpose their success in the playoffs, largely due to Connor Hellebuyck failing to perform under the post-season pressure.

Toews' winning pedigree, his leadership, and his experience could help the team reach the next level. In his career, he scored 883 points in 1,067 regular season games with the Hawks. He also won the Conn Smythe and Selke Trophies in addition to his three Stanley Cups.

However, he can't do it alone. Either the Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff will need to add other top talent, or the talent already in the team will need to perform with more consistency.