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Jonathan Toews Breaks Silence on NHL Return

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Treppedi | Last updated Mar 10, 2025 1:08 PM ET

Jonathan Toews has been away from professional hockey for two seasons.

The former Chicago Blackhawks captain, 36, last suited up in April 2023. On that same day, Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson confirmed that he was set to hit free agency, and would not be brought back for the following season.

Toews struggled with Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome in his last couple of seasons, which sidelined him for the entire 2020-21 campaign and again from late February to early April in 2023 as he managed lingering effects of long COVID-19.

Despite remaining unsigned and absent from play ever since, Toews has never made an official announcement regarding his retirement.

"I'm not satisfied the way things ended in Chicago," Mark Lazerus of The Athletic. "It's not about proving anything. It's just that there's something left in the tank, and I want to explore that. I want to go have fun, have a blast, play with passion.

"I want to be able to step away from the game having said that I've given it my all."

On Nov. 21, Toews posted to Instagram that he had spent roughly five weeks in India on what he described as "a healing journey."

According to The Athletic, he also took a surfing trip to Costa Rica and has recently been back on the ice, skating in Arizona over the past couple of weeks.

"Everyone just assumed I was retired, but I think in my mind, I wasn't too sure for a long time," Toews said. "I just needed to not think about it, to just give myself time and space. … Now I'm really missing hockey, and I think that's the biggest sign. I really miss the game and feel I have a whole different perspective and a new lease on things."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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