Jonathan Toews has seen and done a lot over the course of an NHL career that is close to spanning two decades, so it’s hard to find a topic that leaves him short on words.
The Winnipeg Jets centre has always taken pride in a team-first approach; leading by example is always what he’s done best.
After a two-and-a-half year health-related absence that included travelling around the world to seek treatment, the former Chicago Blackhawks captain made a successful return to the NHL this season with his hometown team that speaks to his perseverance.
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Winnipeg Jets centre Jonathan Toews is this year’s Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy nominee for the Winnipeg chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.
Coupled with his dedication to the game and sportsmanship, it’s easy to see why Toews is the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy nominee for the Winnipeg chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.
The award is handed out annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
“It’s not like you’re consciously thinking about that, but I guess if I do stop to kind of look back at what the last four or five years have been like, it’s definitely been super unpredictable,” said Toews, who is playing his 16th NHL season. “Something that I never thought I would have to go through in my life. At the same time, I am very thankful for all of the struggles because honestly, it is cliche but it’s where I’ve learned the most about myself. About hockey, about life and all of those things.”
The journey wasn’t an easy one.
Although he never fully considered retirement when he stepped away from the sport to prioritize his health at the end of the 2022-23 season, Toews was never sure he was going to be able to play again either.
Healing from the lingering effects of long COVID and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, Toews had a health breakthrough after undergoing Ayurveda, a traditional form of alternative medicine that involves herbal medicines, yoga, meditation and enemas during a five-week stint in India.
The amount of work required by Toews — both physically and mentally — to return to the NHL was immense and intense, but his passion for the sport he nearly lost was a driving force throughout the healing process.
“There have been a lot of challenging, difficult days but it’s all worth it.”
“Even this season, it’s been a struggle. Every day I’m digging deep and trying to find the energy, find a way to contribute in any way and kind of set aside your ego,” said Toews, who has 10 goals and 27 points while appearing in all 77 games this season heading into Thursday’s battle with the St. Louis Blues. “The challenge has been in my mind. I know what I’m capable of doing and how I can play the game, but just going out there with limited capability and in a limited role, you just try and do the best you can within those parameters I guess.
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After a two-and-a-half year health-related absence that included travelling around the world to seek treatment, Jonathan Toews made a successful return to the NHL this season with his hometown Winnipeg Jets.
“I’m honoured by the recognition and I’m not sure what else to say.”
If there’s one thing that can occasionally make Toews feel uncomfortable, it’s having to talk about himself.
He’s one of the only athletes to even attempt this kind of comeback in professional sports, but Toews hasn’t really enjoyed that part of the spotlight being shined on him — even if he understands the countless interview requests to delve into the topic.
“There have been a lot of challenging, difficult days but it’s all worth it,” said Toews, who signed a one-year deal with the Jets in the summer. “The way that the city has received me, the city, the organization but also the players in the locker room. I would do it all over again to be part of this group.”
Asked whether it was more physically or mentally taxing to accomplish his goal of returning to the NHL, Toews got philosophical.
“How do you really separate the two at the end of the day? I think we like to put things in categories and boxes, but they’re all part of the same thing,” he said. “For sure it’s psychological, it’s physical, it’s emotional, it’s all of the above. So yeah, I was eager to get the opportunity in the NHL again and I told myself I would do anything to go out there and help this team. Sometimes you have a story in your head as far as who you are as a person and as a player.
“I pride myself on my experience and what I accomplished in the game and the way I’ve played over the years. Like I said, sometimes you take a backseat or have a limited role and it’s a new opportunity to learn, to learn how to be a better teammate, a better person. That’s part of it. When there are moments like that, you have to check that ego at the door.”
“Those guys show up every day and they work so hard. They’re always positive, they’re always having fun and they’re keeping it light, even in the tougher moments.”
As a captain of a three-time Stanley Cup champion, integrating into a new locker room and finding your voice within the established leadership group wasn’t easy, but Toews is grateful for how he was welcomed in by the likes of captain Adam Lowry, alternate captains Josh Morrissey and Mark Scheifele and longtime core pieces like Kyle Connor and Connor Hellebuyck.
“I learned a lot being in a new room,” said Toews. “You go down the list and everyone brings something to the table. Those guys show up every day and they work so hard. They’re always positive, they’re always having fun and they’re keeping it light, even in the tougher moments. I realized over the years that when things don’t go my way, I definitely was riding the highs and lows more than I should have.
“That’s probably why I had to go through this. Obviously, these guys, they have good heads on their shoulders, they know how to play the game and the way they carry themselves, it’s been nice to be part of that.”
Toews perked up when asked about what he’s enjoyed most about being in the NHL this season.
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“Just that right there. Being in this locker room,” said Toews. “Obviously, the season has been crazy busy, non-stop. You don’t get a whole lot of time to stop to breathe between games. Everything is about recovering any which way that you can. But we’ve enjoyed our time together on the road, in the room. The time around the guys, the meals and the time on the bus and the plane, that’s what it’s all about.”
Jets head coach Scott Arniel has used Toews in a variety of roles, starting him out as the second line centre but he’s also spent time on the third and fourth lines.
Toews is one of the league leaders in faceoff percentage, but also endured some tough patches where points were tough to come by and he had issues finding his rhythm.
“Mostly just trying to get your energy up for every single game. If you’re in your late 20s or early 30s, you’re in the best shape in your life, it’s going to be hard, no matter what,” said Toews. “It’s the kind of league where if you don’t do it, someone else will. The competition is always high, as you see again this year, the parity is incredible. The league just keeps getting better and it doesn’t get easier as you get older. The time away was a huge challenge, in trying to find my game.”
“The league just keeps getting better and it doesn’t get easier as you get older. The time away was a huge challenge, in trying to find my game.”
Through it all, he’s been a calming presence for a group that was hoping his experience might help push them over the top.
“Obviously he’s intense. I think he’s a guy that you can tell is a winner. He wants to win,” said Arniel. “That’s one of the biggest things. He’s having a lot of fun while he’s doing it. Obviously, being able to be back has been big for him. I think it adds to our leadership group.”
Toews, who turns 38 later this month, hasn’t decided on his future yet, but there’s a chance he could return with the Jets next season.
“Honestly, a huge fan of Toews. He stung me in 2015, but I got to spend some time with him a couple of years ago,” Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said during a visit to Winnipeg last month. “Personally, it’s a feel-good story, not only for him but for Winnipeg. He doesn’t want to go anywhere, he wants to play here and that speaks (volumes) for his loyalty. Whatever he’s gone through in his last couple of years to come all the way back the way he has is really impressive.”
The full list of each team’s nominees will be revealed Wednesday morning, with the winner announced during the Stanley Cup playoffs.
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Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, Sportsnet.ca and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken.
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