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Grading Jonathan Toews’ First Season with the Winnipeg Jets

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Old Prof | Last updated Mar 30, 2026 8:09 PM ET

There’s something kind of fitting about the way Jonathan Toews came back this year. No grand announcement, and no dramatic “I’m still the guy” tour. That’s not his way. He just played steady, useful hockey. The kind you notice more in April than you do in November.

If you’re looking at his stat line, it sits at nine goals and 23 points in 68 games. That doesn’t jump off the page. Same with the minus-18. But numbers like that don’t really tell you what his season was about. This wasn’t about being the engine anymore. It was about being part of it.

The Bottom Line? Toews Mostly Did His Job with the Jets

The bottom line is that he mostly did his job. Start with the obvious: the faceoffs. He’s still really good there. When a coach needs the puck, especially late in a period or on a power play, Toews is still the guy you trust. That hasn’t gone anywhere. You could almost see it — those little moments where a clean win settles everything down.

Beyond that, it’s the small stuff. Smart passes. Being in the right spot. Not forcing plays that aren’t there. On the power play, he chipped in a bit — nothing flashy, but useful. A tip here, a setup there. He still sees the ice like a veteran who’s been through everything.

And he doesn’t cheat the game. He blocked some shots, took his hits, got his touches. There’s an honesty to how he plays now. He knows exactly what he is, and he sticks to it.

Still, Toews Shows His Age and Rust

Still, for what he brought, you can see the miles and the rust on Toews. The speed isn’t quite there anymore. The game can catch him now and then. There were stretches where he just kind of disappeared offensively. He had long, quiet runs where you forgot he was in the lineup. And defensively, while he’s still smart, he’s not erasing mistakes the way he once did.

That’s the trade-off. He’s thinking the game more than he’s driving it. Still, context counts here. This is a guy who stepped back into the league after a long time away and slotted into a middle-six role for a team that needed stability. And for the Winnipeg Jets, that’s what he gave them. Not every night, not perfectly — but often enough.

What’s Toews’ Grade on His First Jets Season?

A big faceoff win. A calm shift when things were getting messy. The occasional timely goal when the game needed one. That stuff adds up over a season, even if it doesn’t show up in bold print.

So where does that leave the grade?

B-

He wasn’t out there being flashy or playing just like the old Toews everyone remembered. He just understood what the team needed from him and delivered more nights than not. If you were expecting the old Jonathan Toews to magically reappear, you were going to be let down.

If you were looking for a veteran who could still help you win in the margins, Toews worked.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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