Jonathan Toews is a Chicago Blackhawks legend trying to squeeze a little more out of his brilliant NHL career with his hometown Winnipeg Jets.
For the first time since parting ways with his longtime franchise, Toews faces the club that made him famous when his Jets look to continue their strong start against the visiting Blackhawks on Thursday night.
Toews spent 15 seasons in Chicago between 2007 and 2023, captaining the franchise to three Stanley Cups while totaling 372 goals and 511 assists in 1,067 games. He is headed to the Hall of Fame, but not before trying to go out in style with the Jets.
After missing the last two seasons while dealing with long COVID and chronic immune response syndrome, the 37-year-old Toews has two goals and three assists in 10 games for Winnipeg — all while helping the Jets open 7-3-0.
On Thursday, Toews will have to address his past with the Blackhawks, with whom he last took the ice for on April 13, 2023. At the time, it appeared Toews was headed for retirement, but he felt if he were healthy, there was more left in the tank before hanging up the blades for good.
“I’m not satisfied with the way things ended in Chicago,” Toews told The Athletic earlier this year.
Toews recently spoke with The Athletic again, and noted he still follows the Blackhawks and understands the personal importance of this matchup, though likely not nearly as emotional as it will be when he and the Jets visit Chicago on Jan. 19.
“I’ll be ready, that’s for sure,” Toews told The Athletic of this week’s meeting.
His Jets are just 3-3-0 at home, but looking to build on Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime victory at Minnesota after blowing an early 2-0 lead.
“Good start, but we’ve got to find a way to play 60 minutes of hockey,” Winnipeg’s Nino Niederreiter, who forced overtime with his third-period equalizer, told NHL.com.
“There’s times we showed what we’re capable of doing and then there’s times where we’re trying to be too cute.”
Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor scored his fifth goal of the year 46 seconds into the extra period, while Mark Scheifele, who assisted on it, has five points in the last three contests.
Connor has four goals with 12 assists in his last 10 games versus Chicago, which is just 2-11-3 against the Jets since Feb. 9, 2020.
These Blackhawks, however, have been an early surprise at 5-3-2 and look nothing like the last time Toews was in that sweater. They are 2-1-1 away from home and now open a six-game road swing coming off a 7-3 victory over Ottawa on Tuesday.
Chicago’s current budding superstar Connor Bedard recorded his first career hat trick and added an assist against the Senators. He’s recorded six goals with six assists to open his third NHL season.
“I think Connor’s had a great start to the year,” Chicago coach Jeff Blashill said. “He’s done so many things the right way.
“He’s doing a lot of things to create that are winning hockey habits.”
Bedard has four goals and two assists in six career games versus Winnipeg.
His Blackhawks teammate Spencer Knight is 4-0-1 with a 1.76 goals-against average in his last five games after losing his first two starts of the season.
