Insider delivers the latest update on UFA forward Jonathan Toews

There has been a lot of speculation this summer over what might happen with former Chicago Blackhawks captain and 3-time Stanley Cup winner Jonathan Toews. Some believe that if the Hawks kept a spot for him, he'd have returned, but with the organization pivoting in a different direction and embarking on a full top-to-bottom rebuild, Hawks GM Kyle Davidson opted not to bring their captain back, making him a UFA.

It's been mostly quiet on the Toews front this summer. There was some belief that he may opt to sign a short-term deal with his hometown Winnipeg Jets this summer, but with no such deal materializing thus far, it's looking less likely as more time goes by.

On the most recent edition of the DFO Rundown, NHL Insider Frank Seravalli revealed that he has heard "rumblings" that Toews, 35, is planning to retire this summer, but that he's not entirely sold on it yet. Seravalli wondered what sort of an "itch" that Toews might have come October/November, so this situation appears to be very much up in the air with no final decisions having been made.

Toews is, as previously mentioned, a 3-time Stanley Cup winner, a former Selke Trophy winner (2012-13), Conn Smythe Trophy winner (2009-10), and Mark Messier Leadership Award winner (2014-15). Toews played his entire 15-year NHL career with the Chicago Blackhawks after being drafted 3rd overall back in 2006.


His health is in question, as he has been battling CIRS for the better part of the last few years. His immune disease has wreaked havoc on his body and has left him lethargic and unwell, dating back to the 2020-21 season - a season which he sat out in its entirety. Toews did return in 2021-22, playing 71 games and accumulating 37 points.

Last season, Toews played in 53 games, scoring 15 goals and 16 assists for 31 points on a struggling Hawks team, so you know there's still plenty of talent there. Should he decide to continue his NHL career, I don't think he'll have any problem finding a new team for next season, even if just on a short-term "prove it" deal.