After a 16-season NHL career, Jonathan Toews officially announced his retirement on June 19. He made this announcement at a press conference in his hometown of Winnipeg.

Within just a few hours of announcing, his longtime teammate, Patrick Kane, shared a tribute that resonated with their relationship deeply.

Kane posted a message on X. "Congrats to this legend on retirement. One of the best leaders the game has seen. I could not have asked for a better teammate to come into the league with, and I'm proud of all our success together over the years."

Kane and Toews both entered the NHL during the 2007-08 season, right after being selected in the 2006 draft. They went on to play together for many years and even shared their successes. 

Despite holding a strong career like this, there were plenty of reports that pointed towards retirement well before Toews even made it official. 

TSN's Darren Dreger reported that retirement was expected, and the Winnipeg Jets scheduled a press conference at the Jonathan Toews Sportsplex to announce it.

Around the league, Toews was well known for his defensive play and the standard he holds for everyone else on the team. Kane’s words perfectly reflected the same. 

A career filled with championships and milestones

Chicago selected Jonathan Toews third overall in the 2006 NHL draft, which was even before naming him the captain in 2008 at 20 years old. He was once one of the youngest captains in league history at the time. 

And exactly two years later, he led the team to its first Stanley Cup championship since 1961 and won it again in 2013 and 2015.

But multiple health challenges played a big role in his decision to step away. Toews missed the entire 2020-21 season due to a condition called Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS).

He later stepped back again in 2022-23 because of long COVID symptoms; the conditions he was facing drained his energy, giving him a lot of difficulty in playing. He returned to playing with Winnipeg for the 2025-26 season and even played in all 82 games, but the lingering effects of his health issues remained.

Although his recent season numbers weren't the best, they can not erase what he already earned. Toews won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2010 and the Selke Trophy in 2013 as the league's top defensive forward. He is also a member of the Triple Gold Club; he won Olympic gold with Canada in 2010 and 2014, along with a World Championship title.

 Kane's tribute to Toews was extended beyond the numbers; it reflected the legacy of a player who spent 16 seasons building up his reputation and respect on the ice.

Read more at NHL Fan Central!

Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Ankita Yadav