Jonathan Toews has officially called it a career, announcing on Friday he won’t return to the Winnipeg Jets for a second season.
Surrounded by family and friends at his namesake Jonathan Toews Sportsplex inside Dakota Community Centre in St. Vital, Toews said his next move will be retirement from the game.
Nicknamed “Captain Serious,” the three-time Stanley Cup winner signed a one-year deal with his hometown Jets last summer after taking a two-year hiatus from the league. Toews, now 38, stepped away from the NHL to heal from Chronic Immune Response Syndrome (CIRS) and Long COVID.
While with the Jets, Toews played all 82 regular-season games during the 2025-26 NHL season, recording 29 points (11 goals and 18 assists) with a -20 plus-minus rating.
Before returning home, Toews celebrated a run with the Chicago Blackhawks, in which he was first drafted third overall in 2006. He earned a Calder Trophy nomination for top rookie that season.
“I would have loved to have played longer and maybe hit a few personal milestones but, at the end of the day, I’m thankful for the team success I was able to be a part of,” he said. “That means the world to me.”
Former Winnipeg Jet and Chicago Blackhawk Jonathan Toews embraces his parents Bryan and Andree before announcing his retirement from the NHL during an event at the Jonathan Toews Sportsplex in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Friday, June 19, 2026. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods)
The Blackhawks named Toews captain in 2008 at age 20, making him the youngest captain in franchise history at the time. He went on to lead Chicago to three Stanley Cup championships, in 2010, 2013 and 2015, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2010. He added 119 points in 137 career playoff games.
Internationally, Toews won two Olympic gold medals with Canada, in 2010 and 2014, along with World Cup, World Junior and World Championship gold. He is one of 30 players in hockey’s Triple Gold Club, having won a Stanley Cup, Olympic gold and World Championship gold.
Toews received the Order of Manitoba in 2015.
Toews said he has no immediate plans for his future. He hopes to enjoy his retirement but will miss the camaraderie in the NHL.
Watch highlights from Friday’s news conference:
Tazer, congratulations on a remarkable hockey career!
Your love for the game, and your passion for this city has forever left a mark on our community ? pic.twitter.com/oxBuSOjxDm
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) June 19, 2026
— With files from The Canadian Press
