August 17, 2023: Jonathan Toews warms up for his final game as a Chicago Blackhawks player on April 13, 2023, at the United Center in Chicago. - ZUMAm67_ 20230817_zaf_m67_050 Copyright: xJohnxJ.xKimx - ZUMA0820 0820940162st Copyright: xIMAGO/JohnxJ.xKimx
August 17, 2023: Jonathan Toews warms up for his final game as a Chicago Blackhawks player on April 13, 2023, at the United Center in Chicago. - ZUMAm67_ 20230817_zaf_m67_050 Copyright: xJohnxJ.xKimx - ZUMA0820 0820940162st Copyright: xIMAGO/JohnxJ.xKimx
The Chicago Blackhawks want to bring Jonathan Toews back for one last moment. General manager Kyle Davidson brought up the idea of a one-day contract on Friday, July 24, during a press conference for forward Patrick Kane.
Kane just signed a two-year contract worth $16 million on Thursday, July 23, to return to Chicago. The deal holds an $8 million average annual value. Just after that, Davidson broke the silence on Toews.
“We’d love to have Jonathan back and bring him back,” Davidson said. “We did it with (former forward) Marian Hossa. Nothing is set in stone or anything, but I think it’s likely we’ll go down (that path).”
March 28, 2023: Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews talks with a referee during a game against the Blues on Nov. 16, 2022, at the United Center. - ZUMAm67_ 20230328_zaf_m67_007 Copyright: xChrisxSwedax
March 28, 2023: Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews talks with a referee during a game against the Blues on Nov. 16, 2022, at the United Center. - ZUMAm67_ 20230328_zaf_m67_007 Copyright: xChrisxSwedax
Davidson's statement during the press conference, per NHL.com, might not be a surprise to the Blackhawks fans.
Chicago has used this same move before with another player. The team signed Marian Hossa to a similar one-day deal so he could retire as a Blackhawks player, back in 2022. Because of that, Davidson suggested a similar idea for Toews.
Davidson did not confirm any date or plan yet. Still, he expressed wanting Toews to come back and retire as a Blackhawks player.
He spent 15 seasons with the Blackhawks after Chicago picked him third overall in 2006. He and Kane won three Stanley Cups together, in 2010, 2013 and 2015. Chicago did not re-sign him even once after his eight-year contract ended after the 2022-23 season.
His fans gave him a standing ovation on April 13, 2023, during his final game in a Blackhawks uniform. His return to Chicago in a Winnipeg Jets uniform in January was marked by another ovation, this one lasting over three minutes.
“He’s a guy we want to recognize and make sure he’s honored like he was when fans got to send him off in a special way,” Davidson said. “Having him back with ’88’ (Kane) back in a Blackhawks sweater would be a pretty exciting thing to have them both back in the building as Blackhawks.”
Toews ranks sixth in Blackhawks history in both goals (372) and points (883). He sits eighth in assists (511) and fifth in games played (1,067). Across his full career, he finished with 912 points in 1,149 games for Chicago and Winnipeg.
Toews' journey comes full circle with retirement
Toews officially retired from the NHL on June 19. He announced at the Jonathan Toews Sportsplex in Winnipeg, the city where he grew up.
His final season came with the Jets, his hometown team. He scored 29 points in 82 games during the 2025-26 season, per NHL.com. That was after his two years away from hockey due to a chronic illness.
Toews waited to become a free agent in July 2023 but never signed anywhere else. He went on to wait three years before making his retirement official. In his career, he also won a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Selke Trophy, and even got two Olympic gold medals with Canada.
Now, Chicago hopes to give him one more moment as a Blackhawks player.
Do you think Toews should sign a one-day deal to retire as a Blackhawks player? Let us know in the comments below.
Read more at NHL Fan Central.
Written by
Aadhya Nalla
Edited by
Soheli Tarafdar