Everyone dreams of being able to write their own conclusion, and that’s a bit of what Jonathan Toews dreams of doing too.
His last game, he played it in April 2023, in the Chicago Blackhawks jersey, the only jersey he ever knew. He even took the opportunity to score, and succeed at the same time the 372e Purpose of his beautiful and long career, started in 2007. For many players, it would have been the ideal outing.
But not for him.
“It is an honor to be able to be here,” he explained on Friday afternoon, during a press briefing presented by the jets in Winnipeg. The closer we got closer to an agreement, the more the reality struck me. The memories of my youth, why I fell in love with hockey, it all started here, as a young supporter, and going to see jets at Winnipeg Arena. I caught the hockey stitching by living these moments, and it is surreal to be here right now and to be able to wear this jersey. »»
The jets officially presented their new player a new sweater, struck by number 19, the same number he worn in his good years in Chicago.
Expectations and pressure
We can probably argue that the 37 -year -old has come back from afar, but it is not the first time. In 2020-2021, he had to make a cross in the entire season due to the chronic immune response syndrome that afflicted him. In the winter of 2023, long covid symptoms forced her to miss several games, so many ailments that forced her to question himself, and also to seek different ways to regain health.
He concluded that season, that we thought was his last one forever, with 31 points in 53 games, but in his eyes, it was not goodbye. He also insisted on Friday to talk about this feeling of new start, obviously important in his eyes, especially after the health problems we know.
“It’s like a feeling of renewal,” he added.
It is as if I was now a young player who is drafted. I haven’t played for a few years so I feel very lucky than being able to play again.
Jonathan Toews
“It is a dream to come back here and to be able to play in front of my friends and my family … I knew that there would be enthusiasm when I announce the news of my new contract, but when I saw my phone explode with all these texts that were continuously entered, I said to myself OK, there is pressure and expectations when we play in a Canadian market … But I’m excited to be part. »»
Toews, the third choice of the 2006 draft, was one of the major blackhaw stars during the 2010 Stanley, 2013 and 2015 Stanley Cup conquests. In 1067 games in Chicago, he collected a total of 883 points. He also won the gold medal with Canadian training at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, as well as during the 2014 Games in Sochi.
He recently accepted a one -season contract with the jets, at the salary of two million dollars, in addition to the potential bonuses of five million dollars which can be added at the end of the season.
