Toews ‘moving forward’ with NHL return, agent says

Jonathan Toews is taking the following steps towards a comeback within the NHL subsequent season, in line with his agent Pat Brisson.

“Yes, 100 percent. Johnny is feeling great and we’re moving forward,” Brisson instructed NHL.com by way of textual content of the information, which was first reported by Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic on Thursday.

The middle, who turned 37 on April 29, final performed in 2023 for the Chicago Blackhawks. His ultimate sport was on April 13 of that 12 months, a couple of hours after common supervisor Kyle Davidson stated the Blackhawks wouldn’t re-sign Toews following that season.

That sport accomplished a two-season span throughout which Toews was restricted to 124 video games after Persistent Inflammatory Response Syndrome saved him out of the whole 2020-21 season. He additionally missed greater than two months in 2022-23 when he was coping with the results of lengthy COVID-19.

Toews turned an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2023. He didn’t signal with one other group but in addition by no means formally introduced his retirement from hockey.

On Nov. 21, 2024, Toews shared on Instagram that he spent about 5 weeks in India for what he known as, “a bit of a healing journey.” In December, he shared photographs on Instagram of him browsing in Bali, Indonesia.

In March, Toews instructed Mark Lazerus of The Athletic that he wasn’t completed with hockey.

“I am not happy the best way issues resulted in Chicago. It is not about proving something. It is simply that there is one thing left within the tank, and I wish to discover that. I wish to go have enjoyable, have a blast, play with ardour.

“I want to be able to step away from the game having said that I’ve given it my all.”

Toews, together with ahead Patrick Kane, was paramount in serving to the Blackhawks get again to prominence within the NHL. The No. 3 choose by Chicago within the 2006 NHL Draft, Toews had 883 factors (372 objectives, 511 assists) in 1,067 profession video games with them. He helped them win the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015 and was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner, awarded to probably the most useful participant of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, in 2010 when he had 29 factors (seven objectives, 22 assists) in 22 postseason video games.

He additionally gained the Selke Trophy, awarded yearly to the league’s greatest defensive ahead, in 2012-13.

Toews gained gold with Canada on the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and 2014 Sochi Olympics and was named one of many 100 Best NHL Gamers throughout the League’s Centennial Celebration in 2017.